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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Presiding Apostle of Macedonia Call Global Assembly, Dr. Osaren Emokpae, has applauded his wife, Rev. Imose Osar-Emokpae, for what he described as a ‘bold and historic step’ in the preservation of the Edo language through her newly released book, “ABIDI EDO: An Easy Way to Speak, Write and Read Edo Language.”
The book officially launched on Sunday at the headquarters of Macedonia Call in Maryland, Anthony, Lagos, attracted church members, community leaders, educators and lovers of culture; all gathered to witness the unveiling of a book that seeks to make the Edo language accessible to both native speakers and new learners.
In his remarks, Dr. Emokpae expressed pride in his wife’s dedication to the project, noting that her commitment went beyond authorship to a genuine passion for preserving cultural identity, stressing the importance of ABIDI EDO because when languages are lost, “they are lost the history, values, culture and more importantly, thousands of years of knowledge and wisdom embedded in culture of the people who once spoke them.”
He highlighted the urgency of such cultural efforts, pointing to research indicating that, “over 29 minor languages in Nigeria have already gone extinct while 29 others are on the brink of extinction. UNESCO estimates that 37 Nigerian Languages are on their way to extinction in the next 10 to 50 years, and Edo language is one of them. This should be troubling to Nigeria, particularly to the people of Edo heritage.”
He said: “I commend, Imose my wife, for this outstanding contribution to knowledge and delighted that my investment in her to attend four of the most outstanding universities, Lagos, Benin, Cranfield and Oxford, in the world was not wasted. She has been working with several people of Edo ancestry and a professor of Linguistics in the University of Lagos on this matter. She finally decided to take the bull by the horn by producing a book we are unveiling today, despite her serious health challenges in the last one year.
“The most important point about the book is how it has simplified a language that seems complex to those who can not read or speak the language. It provides an invaluable tool to teach our children the language, as most Edo people have ‘lost’ their children to other languages. Since language is the voice of any culture, losing Edo language is like losing the voice of the culture of Edo people, which should be troubling to Edo elders and people of Edo ancestry.”
The author said her inspiration for the book sprang from a deep desire to see the Edo language flourish once more and the beautiful Edo heritage preserved for the younger generation.
She envisions the book not just as a delight to its readers but a learning guide and as a spark for family and community bonds. Parents can once again tell bedtime stories in Edo. Grandparents can share proverbs and idioms in their purest form. Friends can greet one another in the language of their roots. As one guest at the launch put it, “This book is not just about language, it is about coming home.”
ABIDI EDO provides a structured yet practical approach to learning the language, combining clear explanations with examples to help readers speak, write and read Edo with confidence. Beyond being a language manual, it stands as a tool of heritage preservation, ensuring that Edo language and culture remain vibrant for generations to come.
Attendees at the launch described the book as timely, especially in an era when younger generations are increasingly disconnected from their native tongues. The work, they noted, bridges the gap between tradition and modern learning techniques, making it suitable for schools, cultural centres and personal study.
The launch concluded with book signings and discussions on the importance of promoting indigenous languages across Nigeria.
