A renown scholar and Yoruba language promoter, Professor Kola Owolabi has revealed that in one of his researches, only about 650 Yoruba youths out of about 50 million approached are interested in anything that has to do with Yoruba language.
The Chairman/CEO, Centre for Yoruba Language Engineering, University of Ìbàdàn, Ìbàdàn, Professor Kola Owolabi gave this submission while speaking at the book launch and celebration of 60 years on stage in honour of prominent Yoruba traditional entertainer and actor, Chief Sulaiman Oyebamiji Ayilara popularly known as ‘Ajobiewe’ held recently at Thames Hotel, Jericho, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
His words “The population of the Yorùbá-speaking States of Èkìtì, Lagos, Ògùn, Oǹdó, Ọ̀ṣun and Ọ̀yọ́, and the Yorùbá-speaking parts of Delta, Edo, Kogí and Kwara States is over 50 million. That the number of bona fide students of Yorùbá is far below 1,000 (one thousand) out of this huge population, is a clear indication of youths’ low interest in the study of Yorùbá and a pointer to the fact that Yorùbá language may become endangered in the future if appropriate, sufficient and timely care is not taken!”
The scholar also submitted that in the United States of America, over 36 universities offer Yoruba courses.
This, according to Professor Owolabi “shows that they know what they are doing. They are positioning themselves to be ready to start teaching us our language when we eventually kill it here in Nigeria. I’m being tempted to say this is part of the conspiracy theory we often talk about.
“You see, we all insist that our children must not speak ‘vernacular’ which is our own language. We do that because we want people to think we are trendy.
“At the end of the day, our children really can never understand the English language more than the owners while they will know little or nothing about their own language.
“Yoruba people are the worst when the issue of language is being discussed. Hausa and Igbo people ensure they pass on their languages. I really pity our Yoruba parents because the coming generation will not forgive us.”
Professor Owolabi, however, was glad to submit that “Yoruba language cannot die. It will just shift base away from Yorubaland. A lot of people still speak it and they will not stop speaking it all because our people abandoned it. The Americans too are getting ready to be sending in their people to teach us our language for a fee!”
The scholar also went ahead to inform that moves are being made to ensure that Yoruba Language Board is created in all South West states.
“Letters are being prepared to be sent to our Houses of Assembly and others who can help in the lobbying processes. We thank the likes of Chief Adebayo Akande, Chief Adebutu Kessington and others who have been supporting our activities.”
The chairman of the occasion, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, while making his own submission encouraged Yoruba parents to make it a point of duty to teach their children and wards their language.
While reviewing the book, ‘Aloyinlete’ that was launched at the event, Dr Kazeem Adedeji equally called on all South West governors to encourage the promotion of Yoruba language and culture.
The event, which was organized by foremost Yoruba cultural group, ‘Egbe Agbasaga Ile Yoruba Agbaye’ was anchored by popular on-air-personality, Temitayo Oyeladun ‘Aabo Oro’ of Lagelu 96.7fm.
Packaged by Olawale Awe
