After seven years of research, Niger Delta Books Limited recently launched Izon Fie, at Terra Kulture, on Victoria Island, Lagos, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme.
The gathering would have been mistaken for a political rally. There were representations from various groups from the Ijaw nation. And the turn-out of guests, which cut across the academia, civil service, politics, civil society, organisation the women folks and the private sector, was impressive and colourful.
But the reason for the gathering at the Terra Kutlture on Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday, was mainly cultural – the presentation of a book and audio CD, entitled Izon Fie written by Mr. Ogonobenitari Alfred Egberipou.
Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson said Ijaw language must not be allowed to die.
He described the development of Ijaw language as one of the cardinal points of his administration, noting that about 120 teachers of Ijaw language have been awarded scholarship by the state.
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr Felix Tuodolo, said that the state is working on a unified Ijaw language project that allows everyone to speak one tongue.
“The project will not in any way undermine the different Ijaw dialects as none will be allowed to die. Also, the state has approved the publication of several Ijaw books to boost the promotion of Ijaw language. We are glad that the publishers of this book did not wait on government. It is a viable way of reviving the Ijaw language,” he said.
Beyond the promotion of books on Ijaw language, the governor said the state is also working on Ijaw movie to further enhance the growth of the language. According to him, Bayelsa State sees culture as next to oil and gas, because it has the potential of fetching revenue for the state if well developed. “Our dream is to male culture income earner for the state.
We are encouraging authors translating books into Ijaw language,” he added. Chairman of the occasion, former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Company, Mr. Timi Alaibe, described the book launch as historic, adding that the initiative has come at an auspicious period when there is a consensus on the need to save the Ijaw language.
He noted that most children born to Ijaw parents do not understand the language because their parents are busy pursuing wealth. “Ijaw people are yet to develop a sense of unity.
“There is a need to develop Ijaw language so that we don’t lose our identity. The challenge before us is to galvanaise and mobilise all our people to develop and communicate Ijaw language. Parents, stakeholders must this book to drive the development of Ijaw.
“The next launch of the book should be London and US. Thank God, children of today are digitally inclined,” Alaibe said. The Executive Secretary of National Institute of Cultural orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma said in a foreword to the book stated that the survival of the Izon language like many Nigerian languages is being threatened.
He said this is more worrisome if “we consider the fact that the Ijaws are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Unfortunately, Izon, the language, which they speak, is seriously endangered.”
He observed that Ijaw children no longer take pride in Izon while the school system has not helped because vernacular is no longer taught. “Contrary to the provision of the National Policy on Education (NPE), our children are not taught in Izon in the first three years of their primary education,” he noted. According to him, people should not only purchase the book and audio CD, but also assimilate the content.
“The home is the place where the children learn,” he said, adding that parents should encourage their children to learn and speak Izon language.Publisher of the book and CEO of Niger Delta Books Limited, Mrs Oyintarela Ebiere Umeri, said the mission of her publishing house is to unlock the languages in Niger Delta.”
She stressed that the house needed authors from the various ethnic groups in the region to realise this goal, urging parents to encourage their children to speak Ijaw language by translating Ijaw into English language.
“My generation is not satisfied with the situation and we are challenged. This project started in May 2006,” she added.
The book was reviewed by Prof Benjamin Okaba of the Delta State University, Abraka. “The text is unique in its simplicity, style and completeness. It is a one-stop resource material for Izon alphabets, drama, grammar, culture, communication skills etc.
“The cover page is very attractive, the printing is superb, the illustrations are just lucid and colourful; the sound quality of the audio CD is impressive. The content is error free. In fact, I could not discover one single spelling or grammatical mistake in the entire text,” he said.
Professor Okaba added that “the conversational style (dialogue) adopted on this text truly portrays language as a social phenomenon and stimulates the real life of the socio-cultural situation of every day discourse in the manner intended for each theme in the text.”
The academic, however, noted: “The Izon language cannot be fully and successfully accomplished until we develop a standard common Izon orthography and phonology.” (Izon Fie is written in Kolokuma dialect, one of the several in Ijaw land). He challenged the publisher to take the lead in producing a standard Ijo dictionary with dialectical cross referencing.
Guests at the launch included Senator and Mrs Emmanuel Diffa, the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa Government on Ijaw Affairs, Chief Joshua Fumudoh Representative of the Special Adviser to President on Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kinglsey Kuku, Mr Lawrence Pepple; Representative of Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, DG of NIMASA, Managing Director, Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, Ambassador and Mrs Lawrence Ekpebu; Vice President of Ijaw National Congress, Engineer Charles Ambaowei.
Others were Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, Professor Benjamin Okaba, Chief Joseph Pinaowei President, Ijaw Professionals, Lagos, Mr Amagbe Kentebe, Mrs Timi Okara-Schiller, SA on Protocol to Bayelsa State Governor; Ms Doutimi Siawe, Bayelsa State Liason Officer, Lagos; Mr Greg Mbonu, GM, Global West Vessel Specialists, Captain Letthemsay Inaibagha , MD, Mike-Lely Marine Ltd, Ms Beena Youdiowei; Ms Funkazi Koroye; Mr Frank Okosi; Engineer Sir Ernest Amadi; Mr Preye Berezi; Mr Kunle Makinde, MD, Accurist Marine and Dredging Ltd; Mr Otrofanowei and the RCCG Morning Star Parish, Abuja, Pastor David Okoror.
