Soyinka, govs canvass development of indigenous languages

Soyinka, govs canvass development of indigenous languages

by Sunday Aborisade, Akure

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Minister of Culture, Edem Duke, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, tasked Nigerians with the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages in the country.

They said since languages were part of the culture of the people, efforts should be made to ensure that they do not go into extinction.

They spoke at an international conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the Yoruba literary icon, the late Chief Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa.

Mimiko said there was the need to encourage the use of mother tongue and the development of the culture of the people.

He said the state government had recommended the use of Fagunwa's works in secondary schools across the state, saying the books were capable of preserving Yoruba language and culture.

He noted that many Nigerian authors had contributed to the socio-economic development of the country and should therefore be celebrated.

Fayemi also noted that the contributions and impact of Fagunwa's poetry prowess could not be over emphasised.

He said efforts should be made to ensure that indigenous languages were not allowed to die in the country.

According to him, there is the need for government to preserve the culture of the people, adding that language was part of the culture of the people.

The minister, however, said the Federal Government had commenced the process of teaching of indigenous languages across the country.

He said the ministry was ready to ensure the preservation of the culture of the various ethnic groups in the country.

Soyinka, Ishola Make Case For Yoruba Language

Soyinka, Ishola Make Case For Yoruba Language

First Published Thursday, April 4, 2013
BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN-NOBEL Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has urged Yoruba sons and daughters to ensure that the language and culture of the Yoruba land do not go into extinction.
Soyinka, whose comments aligned with that of a foremost writer, Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola, spoke at the inauguration of Odu'a Hall of Fame and Museum at Cocoa House, Ibadan, yesterday.

At the programme organised by Odu'a Investment Company Limited, Soyinka lamented the extent to which things had derailed for the Yoruba nation and the country at large when peoples' heritage and monuments were allowed to waste away.
Soyinka, who was a special guest at the event, said: "This cooperative building (Cocoa House) was a victim of deterioration simply because the normal facilities that were in place at inception had decayed. Cocoa House could not save itself.

"There is need to right the wrongs. With this initiative (Hall of Fame), I see the beginning of Yoruba technology. I am happy that appeal had been made earlier on the need to develop our culture.

"There is one negative aspect. Not just Ibadan, not just the South-West, but the country and its institutions just went into downward spin, including the premier university."
He, however, expressed optimism that things had begun to take shape, saying "what I have seen today shows that things are being brought into proper shape. We can say that Cocoa House is the contemporary Opa Oranyan of the Yoruba."

Soyinka commended the management of Odu'a Investment for "resuscitating and re-invigorating what is so essential to us as a people."

Ishola said: "The idea behind setting up the Hall of Fame and museum is good. But what will help is the preservation and promotion of Yoruba language so that the younger generation can imbibe the culture of Omoluabi.

"Odu'a must find a way of teaching the younger generation the Yoruba language. Let writers write folk tales and short stories that could be developed into cartoon."