• Centre for Memories, school vow to debunk UNESCO prediction, preserve heritage
From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2012 predicted the extinction of the Igbo Language by 2025. This followed the classification of the mother tongue as one of the endangered languages in the world. An endangered language runs the risk of falling out of use as its speakers die out or shift to speaking another language.
The truth is that the Igbo are not dying out since they were able to survive the 30-month civil war, which was like a holocaust. But, majority of their people particularly the younger generation prefer English and other languages to Igbo. The foregoing poses huge threat to the language, which embodies the culture and totality of the Igbo.
Nevertheless, Centre for Memories otherwise called Ncheta Nd’Igbo, an Enugu-based body established for the promotion and preservation of Igbo heritage, pledged that “there is no cause for concern.” Also, Roseville School, New Haven, Enugu, vowed that Igbo Language “cannot vanish.”
They made the declaration at the school on June 26, 2023, during the presentation of prize to Miss Kamsiyochukwu Nnamchi as the overall winner of the Young and Engaged Speakers Series (YESS), a programme organised by Centre for Memories, as part of its reach out to young people. Kamsisiyochukwu is daughter to Prof Paul Nnamchi, member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
Executive Director, Centre for Memories, Iheanyi Igboko, said the organisation was committed to documenting the varied history, culture and excellence of the Igbo people that would be handed over to the next generation. He said this became imperative because the wisdom, values and principles, which the Igbo forebears instituted, were bequeathed in oral tradition.
He noted that the programme was aimed at raising young people “who are conscious of their identity and can express themselves in their mother tongue. The theme, ‘Opuru Iche’ (Uniqueness of Igbo culture) brought out the best in the students from various schools as it offered them opportunity to teach us what they know about their culture and they have made us proud.”
He said experiences in most schools they visited were appalling. They discovered that many parents even instructed that their children should not be taught in Igbo: “I wonder why an Igbo parent would give such instruction knowing that it is a way of denying the child his identity. Language connotes a lot of things. Speaking that language should be part of the expression of your identity.”
He urged parents to endeavour to interact with their children in Igbo and allow them to be exposed to the language in school too: “They will always learn English in school or other places. We have a lot of programmes such as Nkata Umuibe, which is a thought leadership programme.
“It comes up every first Friday, Nzuko Umuaka, which is the children’s version. It happens every last Saturday. Then, we have outreaches that we take to schools and in other places where we have children. We also have exhibitions, which are periodic. Exhibitions around Igbo history and culture.
“Also, we have memorials where some notable Igbo people are remembered. On June 17, we commemorated the ‘Things Fall Apart.’ It was a very important day for us at Centre for Memories because of the relevance of the book to Igbo people. There are lot of things that the centre does that enhance and amplifie Igbo people and what we stand for.
“The prediction by the UNESCO that the Igbo Language will go extinct by 2025, is another reason that gave birth to the Centre for Memories. We know that the Igbo shall not die, ‘Igbo g’adi.’
“It is not just verbalising it. We are backing it up with a lot of actions. Like what we are doing today. By inculcating the core values into the younger generation, Igbo will outlive us. This is also a clarion call to parents though, in all our dealings, we have discovered that some parents are part of the bigger problem.
“But all hope is not lost. You can see the smiles on my face that we have an Ivy League school like Roseville making Igbo Language a core component of their studies. I think it is something other schools can emulate. We were excited over the cooperation of the children not minding their privileged background where some of the things I highlighted are preeminent.
“Seeing them speaking the language, using the idioms, proverbs and doing other things which one can expect in a language is a delight. The cultural dance, which they displayed is exciting to me and my colleagues.”
Principal of the school, Mrs. Ijeoma Amu, said: “Igbo is our language but it has not been easy as I know that we are going beyond the normal to make them speak the language. So, we are making concerted efforts knowing the inherent challenges even at most homes.
“I can remember that before now, we have an Ada Igbo who is like a model for Igbo culture. She didn’t just emerge as an Ada Igbo. We have Igbo Week where so many students usually prepare for competitions in various cultural activities like spelling, dance, drama and culinary.
“Our Igbo Week comes in February while the world marks the International Mother Tongue Day. During the period, whoever emerges winner will remain the Ada Igbo of the school until another period of Mother Tongue Day.
“We follow the United Nations calendar. This makes the children to be conscious of their Igbo identity. They can sing the National Anthem in Igbo. During the week, we speak Igbo only, no other language.
“Igbo Language can’t die in our hands. We are making sure that our girls speak Igbo and are proud of their mother tongue.”
Igbo teacher/coach, Mrs. Ebele Odinwankpa, believed Igbo would not just die with the likes of Miss Kamsiyochukwu Nnamchi, being raised in the school. She commended Igbo lecturers and teachers in different institutions as well as organisations for their efforts:
“I am saying affirmatively that Igbo language will not go into extinction according to the prediction of UNESCO indicating that Igbo language will end in 2025. It is wrong for one to wake up and say that other people’s culture will stop to exist.”
She praised parents of students of the school over their efforts evidenced in the permission and encouragement given to their children to dress in the traditional attires and costumes at the event. She said she set up a platform where she occasionally sat together with parents to engage their children in speaking Igbo.
Responding after receiving the prize, Miss Nnamchi lauded her Igbo teachers for giving her the necessary preparation that buoyed her interest in Igbo language and culture.
She gave special thanks to the school principal. She noted that her classmates always encouraged her even as she urged young people to embrace Igbo. She said there were opportunities in understanding and speaking Igbo.