*Deadline: 30 April 2026* // *Hybrid format — online & in-person* // *Open worldwide*
A new educational programme is opening its doors — and it needs passionate people ready to pass on the living heritage of African languages and cultures to the next generation.
As part of the ongoing development of our educational activities, City of Ubuntu Cameroon is launching a call for applications for teachers of African languages and cultures.
Before teaching begins, City of Ubuntu Cameroon will organise a capacity-building programme for all selected teachers. Participation in this preparatory phase is part of the commitment expected from applicants.
The programme will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining online sessions via digital platforms with in-person meetings, adapted to the availability and location of both teachers and learners.
The programme is open to applicants worldwide, regardless of nationality. If you grew up speaking Ewondo with your grandmother, or if you are a Yoruba speaker living in London, or a Swahili teacher in Nairobi — we want to hear from you.
Are you ready to apply? Check the details below!
A Continent of Voices: African Languages at a Glance
For non-African readers, the sheer richness of African linguistic heritage can be surprising. Africa is home to an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 languages — roughly a third of all languages spoken on Earth. These are not regional dialects of a single linguistic family, but fully distinct languages with complex grammars, rich oral and written traditions, and profound cultural depth.
Cameroon alone is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, often referred to as “Africa in miniature.” More than 270 local languages are spoken within its borders alongside French and English, the two official state languages. Among them:
- Ewondo, spoken primarily in the Centre Region is widely used as a vehicular language in the south of the country.
- The Bamiléké languages form a group of closely related but distinct languages spoken in the West Region. The communities that speak them have a strong cultural presence both in Cameroon and in the diaspora.
- Shüpamom (also known as Bamoun or Bamoum) is the language of the Bamoum kingdom and holds a remarkable place in African history: in the early 20th century, Sultan Njoya invented an original script for it, one of the rare instances of an African writing system created in the modern era.
- Basaa is spoken in the Littoral and South regions of Cameroon.
- Duala, spoken in the Littoral Region, was historically used as a coastal trade language and retains significant cultural importance.
- Fulfulde (also called Fula or Pulaar) is spoken across a vast territory stretching from West to Central Africa. It serves as an important trade and religious language in northern Cameroon and the wider Sahel region.
Beyond Cameroon, the programme also includes Swahili — with over 200 million speakers across East and Central Africa, it is the most widely spoken African language on the continent — as well as Yoruba and Igbo, two of Nigeria’s major languages, each with tens of millions of speakers and long literary and oral traditions.
For diaspora communities living outside of Africa, these languages are often the most direct thread connecting younger generations to their families, communities, and cultural identity. Their transmission is not only a question of heritage: it is also a matter of belonging.
- Many African languages are endangered or underrepresented in formal education systems.
- For diaspora communities language is a critical link to identity, family, and community.
- Preserving a language means preserving the stories, philosophies, and knowledge systems encoded within it.
- Intercultural understanding begins with the courage to learn from each other’s words.
We are looking for YOU!
We are looking for people who have a genuine command of one or more African languages — fluent, native speakers — and who are motivated to pass on the cultural knowledge that comes with them. No specific academic degree is required: mastery of the language and a commitment to its transmission are what matter.
The programme is open to a wide range of African languages. We are particularly looking for teachers of the following:
- Cameroonian languages, including Ewondo, the various Bamiléké language varieties, Shüpamom, Fulfulde, Duala, Bassa, Eton, and others
- Swahili
- Yoruba and Igbo
- Any other African language, accompanied by its cultural expressions
Candidates should:
- Be fluent, native speakers of one or more African languages
- Have a genuine interest in transmitting African cultures and traditions
- Demonstrate a sense of pedagogy and patient, active listening
- Be available for the agreed duration of the programme
- Be willing to participate in the capacity-building sessions City of Ubuntu will organise before the start of teaching
- Share the values of City of Ubuntu: human dignity, solidarity, and the common good
The call is open to anyone, regardless of nationality. Whether you are based in Cameroon, elsewhere in Africa, or in the diaspora in Europe, Asia or America, we welcome your application.
How to Apply
Please send the following documents to office@cityofubuntu.org:
- A cover letter clearly indicating the language you would like to teach
- An updated CV
- A note on your level of proficiency and any relevant experience
- Your availability (days and hours)
The deadline for applications is 30 April 2026 at 5:00 PM (Cameroon time).
“Africa is not a problem to be solved, it is a potential to be realized.”
— Kofi Annan
For any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Armand Blaise TAGNE LIENOU, PhD in African Literatures and Cultures at office@cityofubuntu.org.
Together, let us preserve and pass on the African heritage.