Description

Examining the impact of French language in Nigeria, this book discusses the prospects of French language use for development as well as its connection to literature and translation. Despite its ambiguous and indistinct official status in the country, French remains the preferred foreign language in Nigeria and academia. Michael Akinpelu and Tunde Ajiboye's, French in Multilingual Anglophone Africa: Language, Literature, and Translation in Nigeria discusses how the French language is not only taught as a foreign language in Nigerian higher education, but is also an important linguistic code for literary creation, translation, and interpretation, blending local and international francophone cultures. Part I explores issues related to bilingualism, language resource management, and comparison between French and local languages. Part II considers the French language's exploitation in relation to translation and interpretation with particular interests in cultural challenges. Part III provides historical context tracing the evolution of literary engagement of Nigerian writers' contact with French and evolving perspectives on the language in Nigerian literature from the 1930s to present day. Using case studies, classroom fieldwork, and policy analyses, this book shows how French in multilingual Africa is not just a mode of communication, but a powerful instrument of socio-economic integration and mobility in a globalized world.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
About the Editors and Contributors
Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I: Prospects of French Language in Nigeria

Chapter 1: Bilingualism and the Prospects of French in Nigeria
Musibau Olatunji Adesola (Lagos State University, Nigeria)
Chapter 2: French Language and Human Resource Development in Nigeria: An Appraisal
Ifeoma Mabel Onyemelukwe (Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria), Pascal Iheanacho Ohanma (Achievers University, Nigeria), and Michelle Onyedikachi Ohanma (Achievers University, Nigeria)
Chapter 3: Optimizing Japaism by Leveraging Bilingualism: A Case for the French Language towards Human Capital Development of Nigerians
Olayemi Esther Akinrinmade (Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Nigeria) and Segun Afolabi (University of Regina, Canada)
Chapter 4: A Contrastive Analysis of French and Anaang Pronominal Inflections
Miriam Stephen Inegbe (Akwa Ibon State University, Nigeria)
Chapter 5: Contributions of RANEUF to French Studies in Nigeria: A Critical Review
Abdulrahman Burour Ibrahim (Kwara State University, Nigeria) and Tajudeen Abodunrin Osunniran (Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria)

Part II: French Language in Translation / Interpretation

Chapter 6: Translations of Yoruba Literatures into French: Tunde Ajiboye and Olaoye Abioye as Cultural Mediators
Olusegun Adegboye Gbadegesin (Ekiti State University, Nigeria)
Chapter 7: Cultural Challenges in Translating African Literary Texts: The Case of a French – English Translation of L'ambassadeur by Eke
Nkechinyere Obiageri Chidi-Mbah (Abia State University, Nigeria)
Chapter 8: An Evaluation of Ezeh's French-Igbo Translation of Molière's Les Femmes Savantes (Filamint Na Ndi Otu Ya)
Ihechi Obisike Nkoro (Abia State University, Nigeria)
Chapter 9: Translation and Interpretation in Nigeria: A Comparative Study of French and Yoruba Proverbs
Uzoma Patience Agwu (National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria), Monisola Ronke Fáladé (National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria), and Olubunmi Okeowo Femi-Amao (National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria)
Chapter 10: Concept Narrowing and Broadening in Subtitle Translation of Compliments from English into French in Nigerian Selected Movies: A Relevance-Theoretic Approach
Olukayode Temidayo Babatunde (Landmark University, Nigeria)

Part III: French Language in Literary Works

Chapter 11: A Historical Overview of Nigerian Literary Works Written in French: Translated From or Into French (1930-2023)
Ihechi Obisike Nkoro (Abia State University, Nigeria) and Ugonna Ezinne Ubah (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria)
Chapter 12: Evolving Perspectives of French Language in Nigerian Literary Creations
Ikechi Gilbert (Imo State University, Nigeria)
Conclusion

Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 04 Sep 2025
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 224
ISBN 9781978771499
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 9 bw illus & 14 tables
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

Michael Akinpelu

Michael Akinpelu is Associate Professor of Socioli…

Anthology Editor

Tunde Ajiboye

Tunde Ajiboye is retired professor of French Langu…

Contributor

Segun Afolabi

Contributor

Ikechi Gilbert

Related Titles

Environment: Staging