Target groups and literacy levels
School and university students
Non-formal education and literacy programs for youth
Non-African students and scholars of African languages, teachers of African languages
Topics/ themes
Education, health/sanity, literature, business from a wide range of materials:
post-literacy materials (e.g. booklets on small enterprise activities, health, human rights, etc.);
newspapers for (and sometimes edited by) the newly literate;
religious materials (e.g. texts from the Koran and the Bible);
poetry;
information on AIDS awareness and prevention;
folktales and epics;
African language translations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
articles on oral history and culture.
Aim and content of the application
This application is a multilingual digital library gathering electronic West African publications. It aims at increasing the dissemination of and access to materials published in indigenous African languages, thereby supporting the retention of literacy in Africa.
For each publication a first introductory page is available, presenting a brief bibliographic entry and three summaries (in the language of publication, English and French).
Illustrated texts in PDF format.
The database of publications can be searched by titles, authors, languages and through the use of keywords. (12 documents in Wolof, 10 in Pulaar and 10 in Mandinka).
Remark:
It clearly demonstrates that African languages have an important role to play in responding to the regions’ information needs. Its greatest benefit is probably to inspire and encourage similar and even more ambitious projects.
Technology
Developed with File Maker Pro 5.5
Publications were scanned from the original text and are presented in PDF format.
Remarks:
Adobe Acrobat and File Maker Pro plug in are included in the application.
Self/ group learning
This application is suitable for individual consultation, but teachers could incorporate it as a learning resource in the lessons, for instance as a handout.
Regional focus