This article is on the same topic as message #621, but from a
different Lagos newspaper (This Day). Seen at
http://www.blackchat.co.uk/theblackforum/forum37/23612.html ... DZO
Don Decries Apathy to Local Language Studies
This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
August 2, 2006
Posted to the web August 2, 2006
Lagos
Prof of Yoruba Language, Olanrewaju Folorunso, has expressed concern
over the apathy of students to the study of the country's indigenous
languages.
Delivering the 27th inaugural lecture of the Lagos State University
(LASU), entitled: 'The famished Artist in a Famished Society',
recently, Folorunso regretted the preference of students for foreign
languages, saying," It is disheartening that people have apathy toward
the study of Yoruba or other indigenous languages at all levels of our
educational system."
He urged parents and guardians to encourage their wards to study
indigenous languages, particularly at the tertiary level.
Folorunso explained that the study of Yoruba would not influence
students' religious beliefs. "It is erroneous to think that those who
study it will become pagans", adding,
"What is more disheartening is that African intellectuals just sit
down theorising and tagging everything that is indigenous as fetish,
barbaric and outdated.
They are ignorant of their own culture and still they are not very
familiar with the imported cultures they run after," he added.
Folorunso also criticised the commercialisation of Yoruba poetry by
those he described as hungry freelance poets, noting that their
activities had impacted negatively on the language.
He said Yoruba poets had run out of ideas and only praise-sing the
well-to-do in the society without adding any value to the
language. He regretted that most of the country's present generation
of musicians as lacked innovation, accusing them of recycling old
Yoruba songs and the use of "verbal pornography" to entertain their
audience.
"The society is tired of the present day artists who have nothing new
to offer," Folorunso said.
He said the "famished phenomenon" had affected the various segments of
the society including the education sector. "Nowadays you find
students either employing the services of "famished mercenaries' to
write their projects or dub other peoples works", said the Head of
Department of African Languages, Literature and Communication Arts of
LASU.
Folorunso urged Nigerians not to regard their cultural heritage as
being primitive, saying: "This wrong notion that is borne out of our
colonial mentality, is still hunting us till today. Our language is
part of our culture and if we lose it, we lose our culture and vice
versa", he warned.
The lecture was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lateef Hussein.
**************************** Disclaimer ******************************
Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section
107, this material is distributed without profit for research and
educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted
to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain
permission from the copyright owner.
Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy
of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of
the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or
disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message.
***********************************************************************
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
