Reviving The Edo Language And Culture

A Benin Cultural heritage centre release on “Reviving The Edo Lanaguage and Culture” presented by its President, Dr. Roland Ekhator Ehigiamusoe on the 22nd Day of September, 2009.

BENIN, the progenitor of Edo State common ancestry, was widely acclaimed to be civilized and developed culturally, politically, socially and economically as can be found in the works of Arts and Literature world-wide since the 14th century. Today, the remains of the old Benin Empire is plagued by under-development, disunity, loss of language, disregard for our culture and other consequences of the Benin massacre of 1897. To achieve a turn-around to the old glory, this body, a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit making socio-cultural organization called “THE BENIN CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTRE” was established.

For so many years, the Edo language and culture have been sick. It is sad that they have gone into coma for lack of timely attention. Only a very drastic therapy can revive them. Today, it is this drastic therapy that the Benin Cultural Heritage Centre has come to project. Without such a drastic therapy the Edo language and culture would be dead, completely dead within the next few years.
To drive home the points let me give you a true life story.

By 1965, before I went to the university, I was commandeered by the Rev. Fr. Donnelly to teach science subjects in St Charles College, Abavo near Agbor. That time, most of the old people, in that big town still spoke the Edo Language fluently. But their children could not understand the language talk less speaking it. Co-incidentally, the Obi of Abavo, at that time, was Ekhator my name sake and his late father then was Giegbefumwen corruptly spelled Jegbefume. The old people derived alot of joy coming to identify and speak the language (their original language) with me. When I asked the old people why their children could not speak and sing in the language as their elders, their reply was that, the early teachers who invariably came from Asaba changed their language, their local songs and dances.

Today, the old people are dead and almost nobody in Abavo wants to identify with or speak the Edo Language or display the Culture.

These people who were originally Edo breeds have lost their language and culture. This is what could happen to the remaining Edo within the next few years if drastic action is not taken now. It is common axiom that one of the fastest way to destroy and disunite a people is to deny them of their language and culture.

Today, some of Oba Ozolua’s children, now called Ora people, and Igun Eben children now Igueben people in Esan, can no longer speak Edo language.

What a shame!!!

No wonder, the United Nations Articles on Language Policy in section 1:10(a) provides that “Government appreciates the importance of language as a means of promoting Social interaction and national cohesion, and preserving cultures. Thus every child shall learn the language of the immediate environment”. It emphasized further in Section 4:19 (e) and (f) that “the medium of instruction in the primary school shall be the language of the environment for the first three years. During this period, English shall be taught as a subject.” It goes further to say that ‘from the fourth year, English shall progressively be used as a medium of instruction and the language of immediate environment and French shall be taught as subjects”.

Thus, Edo Language which has been approved as a Secondary School Certificate subject ought to be taught in all Primary and Secondary Schools in the Edo speaking areas of Edo State.

Certainly, the Edo people cannot condone this shameful situation of language and cultural colonization any more. A situation where even the illiterate Edo parents slavishly speak pidgin English to their children as their lingua franca is very unfortunate. All Edo parents must, we emphasize, must now examine their cultural attitude and ask themselves what type of cultural legacies they received from their parents and would be transferring to their children.

- Should we not let our children know the truth that they are from noble background with long history and enviable culture?

- Should we not let them know that their ancestors epitomized Arts and culture?

- Should we not let them know that their ancestors had, spoke and transferred to us a uniquely rich language and culture with peculiar family greetings?

- Should we not let them know that their ancestors have their own names for all items of creation before the advent of the white man?

- Should we, not let them know that all Edo state people and several other tribal factions of Nigeria came from the same ancestral stock with great civilization and conquest, whose Empire once spanned the west coast of Africa?

Should we not let them know that the Edos were never appendages to other tribes or languages, be it English, French, German, Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo etc?

Our dear Edo brothers and sisters, why should we allow in our midst an educational system which colonizes and misinforms our people and deny them the use of their own language and culture? We must imitate the Indians, Chinese, Mexicans, Yorubas, Hausas, Ibos who consciously ensure their children learn their languages and cultures from their early ages. The slavish attitude whereby we take pride in teaching our children pidgin English and latest European fashion, films and songs to the exclusion of our Edo language and culture must stop.

With the current trend, what becomes of our languages and cultures in the next few years time? Certainly extinction: However, we are consoled that a few of us Edos have now realized this ominous signs of extinction if not checked urgently. This realization has led many patriotic Edos to subscribe to the compulsory teaching of Edo language in all primary and secondary schools in Edo speaking areas, and by extension it is also recommended that Edo language be taught in all primary and secondary schools in Edo State in line with Chief Enahoro’s proposal that one language be developed for all Edo people.

This is a clarion call for all Edos to be part of this total mobilization for a change, for self consciousness, for our civic and cultural responsibilities towards the future of our children.
As a prelude to this wake-up call to all Edos, the BCHC has after due consultation with the Edo Language Departments of the University of Benin, Benin City and the College of Education, Ekiadolor put in place an Edo Language programme to facilitate the immediate training of 3000 Edo Language Teachers to effect teaching of the language in all primary and secondary schools. In addition, the Edo Language teaching centres for adults will be organized. Arrangements are being concluded to effect similar programme for Edos in Diaspora.

We hereby humbly request you to give this laudable project the widest publicity it deserves.

Acting as facilitator/co-ordinator to the Edo language programme, the BCHC will, within the next few weeks, call for interested Edos to be trained as Edo Language Teachers for a one year certificate course, and subsequently the NCE and B.A degree under a BCHC’s coordinated bursary award.

Finally, fellow Edo brothers and sisters you are invited to welcome this programme into your homes and families and to donate generously to this bursary programme estimated to cost between N65,000 and M100,000 per student depending on the level.

All donations will be properly accounted for and published in the BCHC website and bulletin.

With your kind co-operation and support, it is expected that every Edo child will be able to speak and write Edo language, sing Edo songs, and perform Edo dances in the next few years. This will be a step towards the revival of the Edo lost glory.

Thank you very much for your attention, and may God bless you abundantly.