One thing is certain; 'we' all seem to agree that an afrikan language should be used as a means for afrikan folk, on the motherland and in the diaspora, so that we could communicate with each other. And let me reiterate, that I am not suggesting nor implying that afrikan folk, wherever they are give up their first tongue. I recall dr. clarke talking about a conference he attended, where among other issues being discussed, one was a language that afrikan folk would use to communicate across the afrikan world. He was buggin' on afrikan heads of state arguing over what european language should be used and not an afrikan language.
With all due respect, that's a nasty comment--and I write that to be polite, not accurate. "Petty local pride?" To uphold your ancestry is 'petty local pride?' It's evident why people say Africans are not unified in thought. Some among our numbers have such low considerations for us.
Yes, I realize and I disagree with it. Truly, even Arabic has its recent African roots (especially the script), but I do not see that as either here nor there. The language is to boldly say that we are an independent Africa. For instance, it's better for China when the United States doesn't understand a lick of what they are saying. A 'private' language that includes Musta'rabs does not fortify an African language. And on the "East African ancestry," it's presumed that, that east is the Nile River, not the Swahili regions. I was truly puzzled with whether we should adopt more a Nilotic language than the Swahili, which was, I say, lingua franca because of the Arabic tie rather than the African tie (being that it was originally presumed an Arabic variant rather than a Bantu variant.)
With due respect, you are speaking too quickly. Africa should be united for Africa is being attacked every second of every hour and without a unity Africans are sitting ducks to Europe. In the 90s, you could name individual countries in Africa which were attacked by the "powers that be" and today you can name individual countries in Africa which were attacked by the "powers that be:" Libya being very recent. You should realize that the indigenous Africans in Libya are being brutalized as a result of that destruction, and the deposed dictator there was not only murdered in cold blood, and paraded after such, but his grand children and children were murdered too. To say that Africa should not be united is to endorse a constant bombardment against them. As to the reason for a single language, it's because Africans globally should be able to communicate with one another. Just as you with a German background, if you saw a person of German descent, and assuming you could speak German, could communicate with that person; African people, stolen from Africa, and forced to the lowest positions of every society, should be able to, at least, speak with their removed neighbors. You do not realize the privilege you have in voluntarily migrating. But imagine it this way. If someone kidnapped a member of your family, you would be devastated. But Africans in America were not only kidnapped, but their whole families were kidnapped, and after this kidnapping, they were taught to not look at their family members as family, preferring instead the very kidnapper who raped, abused, stole and harassed them. That's why we should have a language. At least then we can be a family--you understand? My issue is how do we honor our ancestors in creating this family. Kind of like--how do we preserve our last name? It is my understanding that you are not a Pan-Africanist, but perhaps before you comment, you should question why this is a Pan-Africanist question, instead of answering it outside of the paradigm.