African Conference on Stuttering Recap

By Joseph Lukong

Secretary & Board Member of the International Stuttering Association Coordinator General of Speak Clear Association of Cameroon

The International Stuttering Association (ISA) and Stuttering Association of Burkina Faso (Action Contre Le B'gaiement - ABC) organized and sponsored the Second African Conference on Stuttering in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso during October 27th - 30th. The conference explored Stuttering In Africa: Strategies for Effective Reawakening.

The opening ceremony took place at the auditorium of the Burkinabe Shippers Council (Conseil Burkinabe des Chargeurs) and was chaired by the Representative of the Minister of State in Charge of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Burkina Fas Speeches were made by Dr. Moussa Dao, Conference Convenor and President of the Action Contre Le Begaiement; Thomas Krall, Coordinator of the Board of Directors, presented Benny Ravid's speech as ISA Chairman Ravid was unable to attend. All the major newspapers, television and radio stations in Burkina Faso were present and carried the story of the conference.

The twenty-one presentations were made by leading members of the international self-help movement for people who stutter, renowned speech language pathologists, researchers, and leaders of existing national stuttering associations in Africa. Fourteen African delegates recounted their personal experiences as people who stutter and what the situation is for those who stutter in their respective countries.

The following resolutions were made -

The need for collaboration among African stuttering associations to share information on self help issues, treatment and research in stuttering with each other.

The creation of a Federation of African Stuttering Associations. A provisional committee of three persons was formed: Moussa Dao from Burkina Faso, Joseph Lukong from Cameroon and Zan Camera from Mali.

Emphasis on the need for training of African speech pathologists who specialize in stuttering. Advocacy efforts to be made toward African governments in view of recognizing stuttering as a communication disorder and for it to be given due attention.

The ISA and other international bodies should offer financial and other assistance to young African associations to enable them to take off and work for PWS in their respective countries.

The wish to continue hosting African conferences on stuttering for African PWS to meet and learn from each other. To this effect, it was resolved that the next African conference will take place in Kenya, East Africa in 2011.

A million thanks to the International Stuttering Association and the Stuttering Association of Burkina Faso for organizing and sponsoring this conference.

The Representative of the Minister in charge of Basic (Primary) Education of Burkina Faso presided over the closing ceremony promising that much attention would be given by her ministerial department to stuttering in Burkina Faso.

Certificates of honor were given to people and organizations in Burkina Faso to Anne Marie Simon from France to the ISA representative, Joseph Lukong, for the ISA's support of conferences on stuttering in Africa.

World Event
Approximately 230 delegates attended the conference with 60 delegates from Burkina Faso. Other countries represented were Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Cote D'Ivoire ( Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin, Chad, DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, Germany, France, the United States of America, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom.

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles, a former player for The Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers, made history in 2007 when he became the first player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game. In 2021, he was selected to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Jack Paar

While Jack Paar is among the most prominent of the entertainers on the Stuttering Foundation’s list of Famous People Who Stutter, he deserves special recognition as he was among the first to openly address his stuttering in public. As host of The Tonight Show from 1957-1962, he spoke of his difficulties as a stuttering child and teenager, giving hope to young people.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

Bob Love

Bob Love has dreamt about being a great public speaker since his early days in Bastrop Louisiana, even though, as a young man, he could barely put two words together, let alone speak a full sentence.

In spite of his severe stuttering disability, Bob Love, the son of a sharecropper, rose to become a Chicago Bulls NBA superstar, whose records were eventually surpassed by Michael Jordan. Throughout his entire athletic career, Bob Love kept his stuttering a secret from the fans who adored him, thinking he could do his “talking” on the basketball court.

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.