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Hachioji CampusDr. Oussouby Sacko Delivers Special Lecture at Teikyo University

November 2, 2022. Teikyo University's Atsuko Ukai, a lecturer at the Department of Language Studies, invited Kyoto Seika University Professor Oussouby Sacko to deliver a special lecture as part of her French Affairs II course. Mr. Sacko, who was born in Mali, West Africa and spent his college years in China, has been a resident of Japan for over three decades. During this time, he has served as President of Kyoto Seika University, a position he held from April 2018 to March 2022.

On the day of the event, attendees had the opportunity to tour the OUCHI COMMONS, a global space featuring Japanese-style architecture, and the Japanese Language Education Center, where international students study Japanese. Afterwards, Professor Sacko delivered a lecture titled "My Position on France and the Francophone world," in which he explored the relationship between French language, culture, and Malian culture, as well as the diversity of language and culture in the former French colony of Mali.
Mali is a part of the francophone community, a former French colony made up of people who use French as their main or secondary language. As French is the official language of Mali, education in schools is conducted in French, but the native language (Bambara in Mr. Sacko's case) is used at home. Mr. Sacko, who was raised in an environment where he was exposed to multiple languages and used them appropriately in daily life, reflected on his linguistic experiences at the time, saying "French felt like a non-reality, while Bambara felt like reality." Furthermore, Mali is rooted in the courtyard culture, a culture in which people share their lives with strangers around a courtyard, so there are always strangers in the house. Dr. Sacko introduced the culture of Mali, saying "I was scolded and taught things not only by my parents but also by adults close to me, and I was raised by complete strangers." Dr. Sacko explained that in today's increasingly globalized society, it is important to raise awareness among the majority in order to create a society that is inclusive of all. He emphasized the need to recognize and acknowledge diversity in terms of race, gender, religion, and ethnicity, citing his own experience as an international student in Japan. 
As globalization continues to bring together people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, the challenges of maintaining one's own identity can become increasingly complex. During the lecture, the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the diversity of others was emphasized as a key step towards creating a cohesive society. Dr. Sacko drew upon his own experience as an international student in Japan to illustrate the importance of this concept. In his concluding remarks, he highlighted the African saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Lecutrer Uki emphasized the need to broaden perspectives when studying French language and culture. "While France is often the first thing that comes to mind, it is important to also consider the countries of the francophone world." She encouraged students to use the lecture as a starting point for further learning and exploration. 

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