The history of teaching of African languages in Russia

Abstract

© Serials Publications. The article highlights the history of studying of African languages in Russia, since the late 18th century to the present day, including the basic information about the staff, educational institutions, scientific and educational publications on Africa. The main centers of African studies previously were in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, as well as in Kharkow and Kazan universities. Nowadays Kazan Federal University is becoming the third center in Russia were African languages are taught. This article also highlights a problem of lack of modern researches on African languages issue and teaching books of these languages taking into consideration that Russia today has its own interests in East, West and South African regions, and at the same time is experiencing staff shortage for specialists with knowledge of various African languages. The article presents changes in approaches regarding the study of African culture and its problems in modern Russia, and shows the need to create a new attitude in organizing of teaching of African languages: opening new centers of African studies all over Russia, not only in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, taking into account growing relations between Russian regions and African countries. The materials of the article may be useful in preparing of new materials and methods for teaching the African languages, as well as in the development of training courses in various aspects of African life: "Literature of African peoples", "African Culture" etc. which need the knowledge of African languages.