Recording and performing artiste Angela Nyirenda has temporarily stepped away from music conversations to raise concern over a growing cultural challenge—the declining use of local languages among younger generations.
Speaking on Radio 4’s “All…” programme, Angela observed that many children today struggle to communicate effectively with their grandparents due to an overdependence on English. She warned that this language gap is weakening family bonds and eroding meaningful intergenerational relationships.
Angela noted that older generations freely expressed themselves in local languages, mastering nuances, idioms, and cultural expressions that carried deep meaning. However, she cautioned that as these words and expressions fade from everyday use, Zambia risks losing not just language, but the cultural richness and identity embedded within it.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as India and China, Angela highlighted how these nations have embraced modernization and global development without abandoning their native languages and cultural values. She emphasized that development should not come at the cost of cultural erasure.
The artiste urged parents, educators, and society at large to intentionally teach and encourage children to speak local languages at home and in communities, stressing that preserving language is key to preserving identity.
