The Arabic language spread across West Africa primarily through faith, trade and education, according to some of the continent's leading linguists.
Appearing in a session on Friday as part of the Sharjah International Book Fair, academics from Mali and Nigeria to Senegal spoke about the various ways the Arabic language penetrated their respective societies and the challenges facing its viability today.
According to linguist Abdulqader Idris Mega, Arabic initially flourished in Mali due to trade.
"So we are talking about a time before the 9th century when Islam came to Mali," he explained.
"Writing and historical sources state that the language came primarily from groups from the Arabian Peninsula who initially mobilised from North Africa and went further west."
However, it was through the spread of Islam, Mega notes, that the Arabic language became a prevalent feature of everyday life in Mali.
"And this is not really surprising because when Islam came, the Arabic language automatically came with it," he said.
"People began paying attention because it was linked with faith. And through that notion the language spread through religious teachings and general education in the sciences.”
With Mali divided into tribes, each with their own dialects, Arabic served as a unifying language in the country's internal and external affairs.
"Diplomatic correspondence with kings and empires in North Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania were done in Arabic," Mega said. "While in the country it was also a language of official instructions and guidance.”
He is satisfied with the state of the Arabic language today in Mali.
"The language is still being taught in high schools," Mega said. "What is also encouraging is that it is the leading language students choose after French.”
Nigerian researcher and author Omar Adam Mohammed says it was through faith and education that Arabic came to his homeland.
"Islam is the main factor, because the language is encapsulated within the faith," he said.
"It was initially through traditional Islamic institutions where the language was primarily taught to understand the faith.
Such schools are now non-existent as modern day requirements require schools to also teach English, mathematics, geography and the sciences.”
Senegalese linguist Mohammed Niang also noted that Arabic language also spread to West Africa from the travels of non-Arabs.
"It is known that Africans came to Yemen during ancient times and then left to Egypt, Ethiopia and beyond," he said.
"So the relationship between Arabic and Africa is old and rich and it’s not a surprise that it also appeared in the west in places like Senegal.”
That said, Niang warns against taking the language’s prevalence for granted.
More needs to be done to ensure it plays a strong role in today's society to serve some of the modern needs of the continent.
“We have cases in Senegal where people study Arabic abroad and when they return home they can’t find the type of work opportunities they are looking for,” he says.
“So we do need more Arabic education institutions to come to Senegal and work within the existing educational systems in order to create more viable opportunities for students when they graduate.”
Mohammed agrees and points to similar experiences of Nigerian students.
"We need to strive and make the teaching of Arabic language relevant to today's needs," Mohammede said.
"Because if you study and graduate from university and have no job where you can use your Arabic skills, then it will discourage others.
“There is no point in graduating with an Arabic tongue, but [get] no job.”
The Sharjah International Book Fair continues at the Expo Centre Sharjah until November 13. More information is available at www.sibf.com
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Harbh, Pat Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
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Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Business Insights
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
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Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
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Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
