Please donate to help keep the Boa language in Congo alive!
It’s almost unimaginable that large groups of people cannot read or write in their own language. This hampers their development. The lack of an alphabet threatens their cultural identity and sense of self-worth.
Three years ago, the Leiden University Fund successfully launched a crowdfunding project to secure a future for the Boa language in Congo (Kinshasa).
Since then, the Boa community has developed an alphabet for their language, a spelling guide, and a Boa-French dictionary. A teaching method, "Learning to Read in Boa," has been created, complete with a teacher’s guide and a workbook for learners. Boa authors are writing booklets of traditional folk tales, which were previously passed down only orally. They are also translating books requested by the Boa community, such as an informational book on AIDS and portions of the Bible. At Leiden University, the first Research Master’s thesis on Boa has been completed. These achievements are contributing to the preservation of the Boa language and the cultural identity of the Boa people.
If no added value is created, even a relatively widespread language like Boa remains at risk. This new project supports Boa writers and literacy teams in generating value for their language. It offers training in Congo, on-the-job coaching, the publication of dictionaries, and the education of a linguist from within the Boa community itself. The Leiden University Centre for Linguistics is a key contributor to this effort.
"I have been working with the Boa team since 2018, alongside Congolese linguist Dominique Banotanea. I am deeply impressed by the interest and motivation within the Boa community, and even more by the dedication of the Boa teams. Momentum has been created, and we must keep it going. This new project will make the Boa community more self-sustaining." — Gerrit de Wit
As a donor, you provide a quarter of a million Boa speakers in Congo with the opportunity to take the next essential step in their development, following the first historic milestone. Your contribution supports linguistic research at Leiden University that is directly relevant to Boa speakers and linguistics students alike. Thanks to your support, you help keep the Boa language alive in Congo!
Thank You = Modo in Boa
Thank you for your help.
Thanks to your support, you help keep the Boa language alive in Congo!We’re excited to share the following video with you. In it, you’ll see and hear Madelaine Moloka reading a story. The story reflects concerns about the disappearing rainforest. It was written by Philémon Telemitaba, who calls on his community to protect their environment.
Below, You Can Follow Along with Moloka—See the Green Frame:
In the 1990s, my wife and I lived in Congo for three years, conducting language and dialect research. Until 2015, alongside my job in ICT, I devoted about one day per week to developing the language of the Lika people, who also live in the Congo rainforest. For years, I spent roughly one month per year living in a Lika village, where they even built a small house for me.
In 2017, a Congolese organization approached me with a request to contribute ideas for a Boa project. Together with the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), we established the initiative. The first results have now been achieved, and there has been plenty of positive spin-off, which is incredibly rewarding. However, I remain focused, together with the Congolese team, on the development of the Boa language, training and coaching Boa linguists, writers, and members of the literacy team. Without proper follow-up, too much value is lost.
A Congolese professor, Dr. André Motingea Mangulu, serves as a pro bono advisor. As for me, I dedicate one unpaid day per week as a guest researcher to this project. Additionally, I work as a freelancer, taking on linguistic assignments as well as consultancy or project management roles in ICT.
The Boa project has three key stakeholders:
- The Boa community
- CITBA, a local Congolese organization
- The Leiden University Centre for Linguistics
“Collaborating based on mutual respect is enriching and gives me immense satisfaction.”
Linguistic Research with Added Value for the Entire Community
The team includes a Congolese linguist, a Boa linguist in training, several Boa teams, and Dr. Gerrit de Wit (LUCL). The project aims to strengthen the Boa language, which, without intervention, remains at risk. The project's outcomes will ultimately benefit 250,000 people.
Key Objectives Through 2025:
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Writer Training
Ensure teams in three Boa language variants (Leboale, Yewu, and Bati) master writing with near-perfect accuracy while preserving the unique stylistic features of their language. -
New Reading Materials
Publish both printed and app-based books that contribute to preserving cultural heritage, much of which has been passed down orally until now.Include books on contemporary topics to broaden the reading options for Boa speakers. -
Training Congolese Linguists
Provide high-quality French-language training in Cameroon. Dominique Banotanea and Dieudonné Tazanaba, a Boa linguist in training, will attend this program for two months annually in 2024, 2025, and 2026. During interim periods in Congo, they will apply what they have learned. -
Development of Materials to Empower Women
Integrate women-focused themes into the content of new reading materials. -
Availability of Dictionaries
Create dictionaries for all Boa language variants, including Leboale, Yewu, Gbe, Nganzolo, Kiba, Kango, Bati, and Benge. -
Research on the Boa Language
Conduct in-depth studies on the linguistic variations of Boa, with findings shared through presentations or publications to advance language knowledge and research.
