A few days ago, I walked into a grocery store here in Dubai to buy fish. It was supposed to be a quick, ordinary errand, the kind of routine moment that usually passes unnoticed. But sometimes, life hides powerful reflections inside the simplest experiences.
As I approached the fish section, I noticed two African men standing nearby. They were also buying fish while talking to each other in Swahili. Their conversation instantly caught my attention. There is something deeply comforting about hearing familiar African languages while living abroad. It creates an invisible bridge between strangers.
Out of curiosity and warmth, I politely approached them to say hi.
At first glance, they assumed I was Nigerian, a common guess when Africans meet abroad. I smiled and gently corrected them, explaining that I am from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their faces immediately lit up with excitement. They told me they were from Kenya, a country geographically close to mine.
Within seconds, the distance between strangers disappeared. We began exchanging stories with enthusiasm, sharing our experiences of living and working far from home. It was one of those beautiful moments where African identity rises above national borders.
Then our conversation took an unexpected turn.
One of them asked me a question that many Congolese people living abroad have heard before: “Congo speaks French. How come you can express yourself so fluently in English?”
I smiled because that question carried memories of struggle, adaptation, and perseverance. I honestly admitted that my first six months in the United Arab Emirates were extremely challenging. Communicating in English daily felt exhausting and intimidating at times. I made mistakes. I doubted myself. I often felt limited in professional and social interactions.
But like many immigrants determined to grow, I forced myself to learn. I listened carefully, practiced constantly, and accepted embarrassment as part of the learning process. Slowly, confidence replaced fear.
As I shared this journey, one of the men, who appeared older and perhaps more experienced looked at me thoughtfully and said something that stayed in my mind long after we left the store: “You guys should make English your official language. You studied in a French system, but French is not very helpful here.”
His statement was direct and perhaps controversial. My immediate response was diplomatic. I explained that French would still be extremely useful if I were living or working in Europe. And that remains true.
However, deep inside, his words triggered a complex reflection. For a brief moment, I felt a sense of frustration toward our educational and political systems. I wondered whether we are adequately preparing young people for an increasingly globalized world.
The truth is uncomfortable but difficult to ignore.
Even in many European countries traditionally associated with French influence, English has become widely spoken. International business, aviation, science, diplomacy, technology, and global media operate largely in English. It has evolved beyond being just a language. It has become a bridge, a neutral meeting point where people from different cultures can communicate
Today, English plays the role of a global mediator among nations. It connects economies, cultures, and opportunities. While French remains a beautiful and historically rich language that continues to hold significant global influence, statistical studies consistently rank English as the most widely spoken international language, while French remains among the top global languages.
This reality does not mean that one language should replace another. Language is deeply connected to identity, culture, and history. French is part of the heritage of many African nations, including my own. Preserving it is preserving a piece of who we are.
However, embracing English as an additional working tool can open doors that many young Africans desperately seek. Doors to employment, international collaboration, education, and global dialogue.
My encounter in that grocery store reminded me that language is more than communication. It is access. It is empowerment. It is sometimes the difference between being heard and being overlooked.
As Africans continue to migrate, work, and study across continents, multilingualism is no longer a luxury. It is becoming a necessity.
Personally, learning English was not easy. It required humility, discipline, and courage. But today, it allows me to share ideas, build connections, and participate in conversations that go beyond borders.
That simple meeting, while buying fish, became a reminder that growth often begins when we step outside linguistic and cultural comfort zones.
Perhaps the real lesson is not about choosing between French and English. It is about preparing future generations with the tools needed to navigate a globalized world confidently.
And sometimes, those lessons begin in the most unexpected places, even in the seafood section of a grocery store.
