Spanish language defended in Senegal as a tool against racism and for development

The Spanish language serves as a vital "area of understanding" in the face of "so much temptation toward racism, contempt, and closed borders," stated Luis García Montero, director of the Cervantes Institute. Speaking at the second Congress of Spanish in Sub-Saharan Africa (CELEAS) in Dakar, Senegal, he emphasized that Spanish is not only a cultural domain but also a pathway to economic and professional resources.

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an area of understanding

Under the theme 'Spanish as a Tool for Work,' the congress brought together specialists to analyze the strategic advantages of the language. García Montero noted that Spanish is perceived in Sub-Saharan Africa as a bridge to Europe and Latin America, significantly enhancing its strategic value. The president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Senegal echoed this, highlighting that language proficiency is the easiest way to build trust and accelerate economic and business negotiations at a lower cost.

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so much temptation toward racism, contempt, and closed borders

CELEAS aims to promote Spanish as a practical tool for employment, professional growth, and regional cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bacary Diatta, a professor at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, believes Spanish holds a strategic advantage over other languages. He explained that it does not carry the same historical burden as dominant colonial languages in Senegal's education system.

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a cultural domain

"It can therefore appear as a language of diversification, of openness, of cooperation, not as a language of colonial substitution, but as a language to broaden the scope of action for young Africans in the world," Diatta added. The congress follows the recent inauguration of a Cervantes Classroom at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, strengthening the institution's presence and supporting the growing interest in learning Spanish across the region.

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a pathway to economic and professional resources