The introduction of English language by the colonial masters as a facilitating agent of colonialism produced multifarious challenges to African languages. It did not only dwarf and dominate the local languages but also introduced other variants in a bid to have a direct communication channel with Africans. Through its influence, the pidgin variety of English and what some call “Engli-Igbo” emerged in Igbo language community. The effects are the steady suppression, and deterioration of the Igbo language.
Consequently, the situation has come to a height where concerned people of Igbo extraction express fears that the Igbo language would go into extinction within a foreseeable future. The fear became more pronounced when in the year 2012, United Nations Educational Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) predicted that “half of the 7000 plus languages spoken today will disappear by the end of the century”. It predicted that Igbo language will become extinct by the year 2025 if nothing was done to save it.
Researchers say that language loss occurs when the language has no native speakers and automatically becomes a “dead language”. The picture is grim and worrisome as Igbo language is obviously one of those endangered languages. When a language goes into extinction, humanity loses not only a cultural wealth but also an important ancestral knowledge embedded in that particular indigenous language.
Ndigbo has been described as a stoic, remarkable, ubiquitous and progressive tribe. They are egalitarian, resourceful, resilient and adventurous. They could be found in every nook and corner of the world, in all the pinnacles of most major industries and government. They are well-endowed intellectually and are celebrated at all levels of the world’s ivory towers and centers of excellence. They are also one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Going by the UNESCO prediction, as is always the case, the death of a people’s language invariably heralds and precedes the extinction of the group.
Certainly, the declining use of Igbo language can be traced to the beginning of British colonization and the subjugation of Igbo culture and language to English culture. Then, the tools of colonization and compliance by invaders were gun and gunboat diplomacy, religion and western education. But the most effective of these tools was the damaging combination of religion and education. Through this, the colonial masters successfully indoctrinated Ndigbo to despise their way of life as the ultimate form of civilization and godliness.
Admittedly, there were certain aspects of Igbo culture that needed reform as also the received English culture. For instance, it was well-known that religious leaders compelled Igbo parents to choose only English baptismal names for their infants and enforce such names as their first name, consequently relegating the Igbo names as if there was something wrong and sinister with the names. But quite unlike English names, there are real meanings behind every Igbo name because they capture the circumstances of one’s birth and consequently reflects people’s true personality.
Subsequently, it has even degenerated to the point that parents especially mothers warn their children against speaking Igbo language. Some even go to the extent of warning any guest who speaks Igbo to any of their children. Little wonder, some young Igbo cannot pronounce names of Igbo delicacies or make a good sentence in Igbo let alone writing the Igbo alphabets. It is against this backdrop that educated Igbo elites should rise to their feet and remedy this situation. Government at all levels in the eastern part of Nigeria should invest in the teaching and propagation of Igbo language, history and culture.
Parents on their own side, should teach and allow their children to speak Igbo language and stop denying them the sweetness therein. Igbo language should be prioritized in the school curriculum thereby setting the stage for early and speedy revival of the language. Movie makers should be encouraged to produce more Nollywood movies rooted in Igbo language and traditions. Igbo traditional rulers as ambassadors and custodians of culture should help in the crusade of reviving Igbo language.
Finally, church leaders should help in promoting Igbo language by delivering their sermons in the language. Igbo writers should be empowered to write more scintillating and education novels and articles. Igbo festivals and cultural displays should also be promoted. With all these and more, Igbo language would never go into extinction.
Written by CHUKWUEBUKA OBINUGWU/
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