From the Republic of Mozambique, I had an in-depth conversation with the African Union Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Ms. Angeline. In this discussion, we explored the diversity of African societies’ cultures—even prior to the arrival of European colonial powers in 1884–1885.
One of the most striking points Ms. Angeline shared with me was that the language imposed by the colonizer had a significant impact on the culture embraced by the political elites. This, she explained, is what accounts for the profound cultural differences between Francophone societies in Central and West Africa, Anglophone societies in East and Southern Africa, and the Lusophone African communities in certain other African countries.
— Dr. Amina Al-Araimi
