On Saturday, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilizations (CBAAC) asked Nigerians and other African countries to promote the usage of African languages.
The announcement was made by CBAAC’s Director-General, Oluwabunmi Amao, at the organization’s International Conference in Lagos.
She believes that African languages should not be endangered.
Amao believes that in order for Africa to make meaningful progress, the potential inherent in African cultural elements must be fully realized.
Among the elements she mentioned were arts, music, crafts, languages, literature, and folklore.
According to the director-general, harnessing the elements would enliven African heritage while also assisting in the achievement of collective development goals.
“The Pan-African call for Africa and Africans in the diaspora to unite to achieve renaissance in the twenty-first century is very timely.”
“As a result of a lack of usage, Africa’s indigenous languages continue to perish.”
“African leaders must consider measures to guide against a lack of those languages,” she said.
At the event, Harrison Adebiyi, a Professor of Linguistics, stated that Africans must be educated on the importance of speaking their native languages.
Adebiyi, of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages at the Federal University of Lokoja, also urged African leaders to protect indigenous languages.
He claimed that the Sudanese languages of Baygo, Berti, and Gule, as well as Ixam, Ixegwi, and Seroa, which were previously spoken in South Africa, were on the verge of extinction due to a lack of use.
“In Nigeria, we also have Teshenawa, Mawa, Kpati, and Ajawa as indigenous languages that are no longer spoken; Africans must awaken from their slumber in order to protect God’s precious gifts.”
“Governments should invest heavily in educating Africans about the importance of revitalizing that aspect of our culture,” he said.
Mr Abolore Sobayo, a Nigerian visual artist, stated that it is critical for Nigerians and other Africans to speak, read, and write in their mother tongues in order to preserve cultural values.
Sobayo stated that immediate action should be taken to address the low use of indigenous languages.
“Nigerians must commit to reversing the destruction of indigenous languages.”
“The nation must concentrate on promoting aspects of our culture such as folktales, proverbs, and a culture of respect,” he said.
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