Culture, they say, is the way of life of some people. People are easily indefinable and distinguished from other people through their dressings, songs, languages, values among other things. One of the disingenuous effect of colonialism is the denigration and subjugation of our values, cultures and institutions but the past was not as bad as it is today.
Growing up, speaking Yoruba in class (or school generally) was regarded as vernacular, today, there is almost complete extinction of the Yoruba and other indigenous languages such that English language is fast becoming our native or local language at the expense of the real local languages.
As I listened to the lyrics and song in this video, I cannot but agree with the singers and the composer that those who termed Yoruba Language as vernacular really committed great wickedness and injustice against our tribe and motherland. Aside the fact that we’re not recognized as native English speakers through subjection of us to different tests of English such as IELTS, TOEFL whenever we want to Japa, etc, we’re equally unable to communicate effectively in our mother’s tongue. Thus, we’ve in our hands what we can call Double Jeopardy.
While our generation still fair better, the hope seriously appears dim as far as the preservation of Yoruba’s ethos, values and language is concerned in the imminent future. Today’s children now speak Yoruba as FOREIGN LANGUAGE all thanks to poor inculcation from home and total extinction from school curriculum. This is the same way the study of history was embellished from the school curriculum. What a nation!
Unlike before when a native language was one of the criteria for getting admission to higher institutions, this is no longer the case now. One cannot but wonder what is going on in the minds and heads of our educational policy formulators and administrators.
This is a time-bomb in our hands that requires urgent measures to stem the tide. Moving forward, there must be a deliberate policy by the government to encourage people to study indigenous languages from primary to tertiary institutions, indigenous teachers must be given a sort of incentives so as to attract more people to choose such courses in tertiary institutions, State Assemblies must dedicate at least a day for the conduct of government business in Yoruba Language like the Lagos State House of Assembly is currently doing, State Governors must choose one of two days in a month to address the populace in Yoruba Language, there is need for South West regional Yoruba Quiz and Debate Competitions with juicy prices to stimulate people interest in Yoruba Language. We can do it, let’s do it. Let’s save our values, cultures and language.
Sanmi Adekola is a Social Commentator and Entrepreneur.
