Professor Akinwumi Ishola, a language and culture icons made a vital point some years ago.
“China has never lost its culture,” he said, “the language of instruction from pre-primary to university levels has been Chinese. The child understands better when taught in the mother tongue. China therefore has made enormous progress in science and technology and they are selling this to the world. Nigeria, on the contrary, has been using a foreign language as medium of instruction from the pre-primary to university levels.”
This, he insisted, must change before Nigeria’s indigenous languages can enjoy a pride of place in an age where English rules.
Ishola’s observation was apt because in the Yoruba-speaking Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and parts of Kwara and Kogi, the language was fast disappearing from school’s cutticula.
Last Thursday, a bold step towards achieving Ishola’s dream of keeping the language alive was taken. Traditional rulers, governors, lawmakers, scholars, actors, actresses, teachers, students’ and other stakeholders from the Southwest gathered at the Academy Inn and Suites, at Agidingbi, Ikeja for the summit organised by Lagos State House of Assembly to discuss the imperative of making the teaching of Yoruba compulsory in all schools in Southwest states. Ishola was also at the summit organised by the Committee on Education, chaired by Lanre Ogunyemi.
It was like a cultural festival with all the trappings of traditional artifacts like local pots, carvings, baskets, regalia, staff and sceptre of rule, local clothes and dresses decorating the venue of the summit. These were further spiced up with traditional Yoruba songs/music, traditional Yoruba dances, recitation of Yoruba poems (Ewi), Yoruba drama, presence of prominent Yoruba monarchs, speeches and presentations all rendered in Yoruba language; even the snacks and meals were traditional. They ranged from fried beans (Akara) to Ofada rice and pounded yam.
The event also featured cultural dances and drama, recitation by students of state-owned tertiary institutions, prominent actors and actresses and eulogy of Obas by palace praise singers.
Prominent Obas in Yorubaland who were present at the event were: Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Alaafin of Oyo Lamidi Adeyemi and Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos.
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola also graced the occasion while Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Idiat Adebule. Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun also sent a representative.
Other dignitaries present at the event include Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Idiat Adebule; the state governor’s wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; the lawmakers of the Assembly led by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; Prof. Sophie Oluwole; Prof. Harrison Adeniyi; Abayomi Kinyomi, members of Yoruba Nollywood as Adebayo Salami- Oga Bello, Jide Kosoko, Kareem Adepoju- Babawande among others.
All the Obas and governors spoke in support of the compulsory teaching of Yoruba language in all schools not only in Lagos State but in all the states in the South West as well extolling the importance of the language as a vehicle for the culture of the Yorubas.
Ishola was the guest lecturer and he delivered a lecture titled: “Making the teaching of Yoruba compulsory in public and private schools in Lagos State”.
Hailing the Lagos Assembly for organising the programme, Oba Adeyemi said traditional rulers in Yoruba land would support any move to promote the language.
He noted that, the first person to do a research on the impact of languages to development was the late Prof. Babs Fafunwa, a former minister of education.
And that, “The first African bishop, Ajayi Crowther, translated Hebrew and English Bibles into Yoruba language and about 11 other languages,” emphasising that language is culture.
In his comments, Ooni Ogunwusi who delved at length into the history of the Yoruba race and the relationship between the black man and the white man, urged Yoruba people to see themselves as leaders, stressing that God has blessed them abundantly.
He said: “Since when I was four years old I have been going into research on Yoruba history not knowing that I would become the king one day. It is impossible to go in deep about Yoruba without making sound reference to Alaafin”, he said.
Oba Ogunwusi identified misunderstanding as being responsible for the setback, adding however “our leaders have resolved to forge ahead and put aside any divisive tendencies. It is this misunderstanding that deterred us from taking cognisance of our culture and traditions. We are leaders; we should take that leadership role very serious,” Ogunwusi said.
The Oba lamented that the language was not being promoted as it should be due to in-fighting and disunity, adding that this was causing a lot of setbacks for the race, wondering why the Yorubas neglected the Ifa oracle, which he called the angel of wisdom that understands everything.
He said: “Ifa is the root of computers and telephones. The white men even named a computer ‘oracle’. Presently, we are doing Ifa anniversary in Ile-Ife and a lot of white men are there now,” he said.
Aregbesola said anybody attending school at any level in Yoruba land should be made to study and acquire a certificate in Yoruba language before they can graduate.
Ambode urged government and education stakeholders to revive Yoruba language, culture and tradition and s
He said: “I am happy that the House of Assembly is making this policy as a way to revive the Yoruba language and culture. This will help our children to learn, pass down our language and culture to generations to come.”
Delivering his address at the summit, the Speaker of Lagos Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the forum was called to seek stakeholders’ views before passing a law on the compulsory teaching and learning of Yoruba Language in schools. Adding that, “all over the world, Yoruba Language is recognised and appreciated because it is rich and we should be proud of it.
“Developed countries like Britain, Germany, France, China, Japan, America, Arab nations speak their languages, so we must join them to promote our first and original language. The Yoruba language is our tradition and culture. Therefore, parents, teachers and stakeholders should endeavour to speak and promote our language.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Olarenwaju Ogunyemi, said language remained the identity of a people.
“Apart from being a uniting factor, Yoruba language protects our culture and tradition,” he said.
In his lecture at the event, Ishola said it was important for the people to promote the language since people are better recognised based on their language, culture and tradition.
Though Ishola was present, his lecture was presented by Prof. Duro Adeleke of University of Ibadan. He noted that Yoruba is one of the three languages recognised as the major languages in Nigeria, with the rest being Igbo and Hausa.
The eminent scholar, who spoke on the theme: “Making the teaching of Yoruba compulsory in public and private schools in Lagos State”, said India and Arabian countries that were colonised by the British did not neglect their local languages.
He said: “We should speak Yoruba in our institutions. Yoruba is one of the languages recommended to be taught in our schools to promote unity and it occupies a prominent position among languages in the world.
“If you lose your language, you would lose your culture. Language of a people has to do with their culture, language, dress, hairstyle and some other things.”
He suggested that Yoruba language be made compulsory in primary and secondary schools and that it should be a general study in colleges of education, polytechnics and universities, adding that books written in foreign languages should be interpreted in the local language.
Prof. Akinloye Ojo, who teaches Yoruba in one of the United States (U.S.) universities and Prof. Akanni Ige, who also lectures the language in Republic of Benin, urged the guests to make sure the language is upgraded and cherished.
With the outcome of the summit it is certain that the bill has received general acceptance from stakeholders and would not encounter any difficulty or delay in passage as governor Ambode has promised to give it quick assent once it is passed by the Assembly. It is also expected that other Southwest states will take a cue from Lagos and put in motion the process of working on and passing same law in their various states; a process which Aregbesola said is already on in Osun State.
