French, one of the world’s most spoken languages, is undergoing a transformation in Ivory Coast, particularly in the city of Abidjan. A 19-year-old rapper named “Marla,” whose real name is Mariam Dosso, rehearses her show on a rooftop surrounded by friends and empty soda bottles. While her words are mostly in French, she incorporates Ivorian slang and English words, creating a new language.
The French language is being influenced by African words and expressions due to the growing population of young people in West and Central Africa. More than 60% of daily French speakers reside in Africa, and 80% of French-speaking children are in Africa. In fact, the number of French speakers in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is equivalent to the number in Paris.
Platforms like TikTok and YouTube have allowed African influencers to spread their language and reshape the French language. Rappers and artists like Marla have created their own words and expressions that reflect their realities and experiences. For example, the word “enjailler,” meaning “having fun,” originated in Abidjan to describe the adrenaline-seeking young Ivorians who jumped on and off buses in the 1980s.
The youth population in Africa is growing rapidly, while the rest of the world is aging. By 2060, it is predicted that up to 85% of French speakers will be in Africa, a significant shift from the 1960s when 90% of French speakers were in European and Western countries.
The evolution of the French language in Africa has sparked debate and even resentment in France. Some countries in Africa have evicted French ambassadors and troops, while others have targeted the French language itself. However, the influence of African languages on French is undeniable, as seen in the slang and expressions used by African youth.
In the markets of Abidjan, a slang called Nouchi has emerged and become popular in the country. Former members of Abidjan’s gangs, who helped create Nouchi, now work as guards in the market where new expressions are constantly being born and used. Professor Germain-Arsène Kadi has written a Nouchi dictionary, documenting the ever-changing language.
New words from Abidjan, such as “enjailler” and “mon pain” (meaning girlfriend and boyfriend, respectively), have already made their way into the French language. These expressions spread through social media and reach neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While the French language has a painful colonial past in Africa, it continues to be significant in maintaining national identities and resisting the dominance of other languages, such as English. However, African countries still face challenges in providing quality French education, and many people view French as the language of the colonizer.
The influence of African languages on French has the potential to change not only the language itself but also the ideologies it carries. As French continues to flourish in Africa, it reflects the diverse realities and experiences of African people.