The day we finally understand that English is not a measure of intelligence, but simply a language like Shona, Nyanja, Tonga, Ndebele, that’s the day Africa will finally detox from its colonial hangover.
But ahh, the comments I received on that post! People said, _“_If it’s a subject, surely it shows intelligence.” Another said, “If you speak a language you weren’t born into, that’s brilliance.” Some were even ready to fight me using Queen’s English itself.
Relax, my people let’s talk about it calmly, like adults who know the difference between grammar and greatness.
THE PRESSURE OF ‘GOOD ENGLISH’ PARENTING
These days parents say, “I want a school where my child speaks fluent English.” Schools proudly say, “We are a 100% English-speaking environment.” Then the same children go to the rural areas and suddenly become tourists:
“Gogo… uhm… do you have… Wi-Fi?” Meanwhile, Gogo is just asking them, “muzukuru wangu kurisei kumba?”, and they look confused like someone asked them to solve a quadratic equation.
But here’s the question: Can we call it intelligence when a child cannot speak their own mother tongue?
How can someone fail the language of their bloodline, but be labelled intelligent because they can pronounce “butter” like “bataa”?
THE RICH DON’T ALWAYS SPEAK ENGLISH BUT THEY SPEAK MONEY
Let’s be honest. Some of the wealthiest people in Zimbabwe can’t construct a perfect English sentence. Some pronounce “entrepreneurship” like a medical condition. But these same people own fleets of cars, farms, companies, and employ PhD holders who speak English like BBC presenters.
So tell me Is the man who failed English but succeeded in life not intelligent?
Because last time I checked, intelligence includes:
- Street smarts
- Financial wisdom
- Survival skills
- Social intelligence
- Creativity
- Problem solving
All of which don’t require British grammar.
THE SHONA LEGENDS WHO PROVED US WRONG
Look at our own literary giants: A.C. Moyo, Ignatius Mabasa, and many others. These people wrote masterpieces in Shona. Books that became part of our national identity. Books that shaped generations.
Are they not intelligent simply because they didn’t package their brilliance in English?
My friend, intelligence is not the language it’s the depth of thinking.
THE AFRICAN MINDSET THAT NEEDS DECOLONISING
We must change the way we think as Africans.
We clap hands when a child speaks English perfectly. But we beat them when they fail english. We proudly say, “My child doesn’t know vernacular,” as if it’s an achievement yet in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, children speak their languages confidently without shame.
It’s time we stop treating our languages like outdated software.
We need curriculums made by Africans, for Africans, about African realities. Languages rooted in who we are not who colonised us.
THE REAL TAKEAWAY
English is not intelligence. It is simply a communication tool.
The real intelligence is: Can you think? Can you create? Can you solve problems? Can you build? Can you innovate? Can you make an impact?
If yes, then whether you speak English, Shona, Tonga, Nyanja, or Venda… Your brilliance doesn’t need an accent to shine.
Africa will rise the day we stop equating English with intelligence and start valuing the mind, not the mouth.
If you want practical thinking that challenges outdated mindsets and builds real skills for today’s Africa, get in touch with us. We assist with sales training, entrepreneurship coaching, leadership development, and strategy formulation tailored for African realities not borrowed theories. Call or WhatsApp +263 77 961 9739 or +260 972 936 033 and let’s develop minds that think, build, and grow beyond accents.
By The Chartered Vendor
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