The following article from the Kaduna paper, Weekly Trust, was seen at
http://www.blackchat.co.uk/theblackforum/forum37/23612.html ... DZO
Workshop Seeks Ways to Safeguard Endangered Nigerian Languages
Weekly Trust (Kaduna)
NEWS
August 13, 2006
Posted to the web August 14, 2006
Kaduna
In a bid to preserve endangered Nigerian languages and other
intangible oral cultural heritages from extinction, the National
Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in collaboration with UNESCO,
recently held a workshop on best practices to safeguard minority
languages.
With over 300 different ethnic groups and languages, Nigeria is one of
the richest countries in the world as far as culture is concerned.
Each ethnic group is blessed with a unique language and cultural
paraphernalia that can withstand the test of time.
But recent studies have shown that many of these languages in the
country are either at the brink of extinction or already disappeared.
While the mystery surrounding the disappearances of some of these
minor languages continue to remain elusive, NCAC in collaboration with
UNESCO, organised a one-day workshop in Enugu to kick-start the move
to preserve the languages.
Declaring the workshop open, the chief host, Governor Chimaroke
Nnamani condemned what he called the institutional attack on the
cultures and traditions of the venerable people of Africa.
The governor who spoke through his Commissioner for Culture and
Tourism, Arch. Paul Nze blamed colonialism and other western induced
developmental programmes such as globalization and African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) as partly responsible for the destruction of
African values.
His words; "the institutionalisation of English as a means of
communication by the colonial masters and its adoption as instructive
tool has continued to decimate the indigenous languages of our
people." Addressing the participants, the Chief Executive of the NCAC,
Mr M. Maidugu said Nigeria is confronted by the ugly effect of alien
cultures to the extent that some Nigerians could not speak their
languages.
He said: "Worse still, Nigerian authors in indigenous languages are
daily abandoning such crafts and calling to embrace the highly
patronised English language texts."
In his goodwill message, the Country Representative of UNESCO/ECOWAS,
Mr Hubert Charles said the theme of cultural preservation has been in
the front burner of his agency which he said has led to the
identifications of two World Heritage sites in the Nigeria.
Participants in the workshop were of the view that unless there is a
combine efforts to address the phenomenon, more languages are on the
brink of extinction.
Four papers were presented by the resource parsons. In one of the
papers, the presenter, Dr Andrew Haruna of the University of Maiduguri
revealed that about 15 languages have so far disappeared from the
Trans-Saharan region of the North while 30 are on the brink of
extinction with very handful good speakers left in existence, mostly
old people.
The workshop resolved that in order to reverse the ugly trend, oral
and intangible cultural heritage must be promoted and safeguarded by
relevant government and non-governmental agencies.
It called for the establishment of publishing houses that cater for
the minority languages as the long term benefits are unqualifiedly
while the existing publishing houses should be encouraged to publish
text books in one or two minor languages.
Participants agreed that language specialists and the local
communities should cooperate in language preservation especially in
the face of electronic age challenges and the threat of globalisation.
Also, that universities should be challenged to take practical steps
to encourage students of languages and linguistics to work on their
indigenous languages.
A reward system aimed at encouraging the continuous use and
development of endangered languages should be instituted at community
and state levels.
Policy makers should put into action the National Policy on Education
that a child be taught in his or her mother tongue while the wider
lingua franca should be taught at the kindergarten and primary schools
as languages courses.
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