Polyglots, Vernaculars and Global Markets: Variable Trends in West Africa

Abstract

Using a framework from cultural studies and focusing on theories put forward by Pierre Bourdieu, the goal in this paper is to consider how some West Africans interact with foreign languages and cultures in an era of global capital, especially when it comes to the activities of migrants venturing into overseas labour markets and to the production of cultural commodities at home. Looking at the language practices of members of Senegalese religious brotherhoods who migrate to various locations in theWestern world, and the language practices of Nigerian and Ghanaian urban musicians, involved in the production of Hip Hop, I will argue that citizens of poor countries who operate in markets impacted by global capital have reason to learn new languages, but also to retain distinct and localised identities.

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