By Ogunbowale, Tolulope Sobiye
Picture a Nigerian child visiting their grandma in the village. Older family members share warm greetings and quotes from proverbs in the local language. Everyone’s enjoying a good laugh and the child smiles, but doesn’t understand a thing. Eventually, this will be the reality for a lot of children. They will be fluently bilingual in English and their first language, but will have zero connection to their indigenous language and culture. Everywhere in the world, families struggle with this phenomenon. The question is: must learning English mean losing our cultural identity? As families prepare their children for changing times, we should ask ourselves, how do we preserve our rich cultures?
The role of English is highly important in Nigeria. It is globally used in schools, government, business and communication among people from different backgrounds. However, its relevance should not lead us to neglect our indigenous languages. Every Nigerian child should have the opportunity to learn at least one Nigerian language addition to English.
Nigeria has many languages, including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ibibio, Tiv, and Efik. These languages envelope our history, beliefs, values and experiences. When children lose touch with them, they risk losing an important part of their cultural identity.
Unfortunately, some parents discourage their children from speaking indigenous languages because they believe English guarantees academic success and social advancement. While this concern is understandable, children should not be made to feel that their mother tongue is inferior. A child can learn English and still speak an indigenous language confidently.
Learning a Nigerian language can also strengthen family relationships. Imagine a child who cannot understand the stories, prayers, jokes and advice shared by their grandparents. Such a child may miss valuable lessons and experiences that strengthen family bonds. Language helps children understand where they come from and gives them a sense of belonging.
Beyond the family, indigenous languages can promote national unity. When children learn one another’s languages, they will be more willing to appreciate various cultures and communicate wihi ethnic groups. Although language alone cannot ascertain peace, it can encourage understanding and reduce bias.
Learning indigenous languages has some educational benefits. Children can connect new ideas to familiar words and experiences, making learning more meaningful. Indigenous languages can support early learning and help pupils develop communication skills that are useful when learning English and other subjects.
Let’s consider a primary school classroom in Lagos where pupils come from different parts of Nigeria. Some speak Yoruba at home, while others speak Igbo, Hausa or Tiv. The teacher introduces a short Yoruba story and explains its meaning in English. The pupils identify lessons about honesty, kindness and respect for elders. They then share similar expressions from their home languages. Through this activity, the children learn new words, appreciate different cultures and understand that every Nigerian language deserves respect. English and indigenous languages should work together rather than compete.
However, there are challenges to this development. Some families speak languages different from those commonly taught in their communities. Schools may also lack qualified language teachers and suitable learning materials. These difficulties should encourage practical solutions rather than discourage language learning.
Parents can help by speaking their languages at home, telling traditional stories, teaching songs and explaining proverbs. Schools can organise storytelling sessions, language clubs and cultural activities. Government and school authorities should provide suitable learning materials and train teachers to teach indigenous languages effectively.
Technology can also help. Educational videos, recorded stories, and interactive language sessions can make learning interesting and accessible to children.
Ultimately, the question is not whether our children should learn English or an indigenous language. They can and should have the opportunity to learn both. We want children who can confidently express themselves in English, communicate with their families in their indigenous languages and respect people whose languages and traditions differ from theirs.
Imagine our children happily competing with the rest of the world while telling their own stories and understanding their grandparents. Imagine our children valuing their cultural heritage and preserving it for the future generations. Let’s turn this vision into reality. We should consider what we need to do to effect this change so that our languages will not die.
We need the active participation of parents, teachers and policy makers. For instance, as parents, we should play our part by encouraging our children to comprehend and cherish their true identity in their indigenous language. It is a fact that learning English affords children the opportunity to communicate with the world, but learning their indigenous language helps them remain grounded with their home and family. Therefore, we should encourage children to learn the indigenous language so that they gain the opportunities that enable them to hold on to their identity, cultural heritage and pride, while exposing them to the wider world.
