Diri Pledges Support For Ijaw Language App, Moves To Revive Indigenous Language
…Declares Ijaw Language Awareness Summit an Annual Event, Directs Schools to Organise Quizzes and Debates in Ijaw
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has pledged his administration’s support for the newly developed Ijaw Language Application, codenamed Dayama Demo, as part of renewed efforts to preserve and promote the Ijaw language and cultural heritage.
The governor made the commitment on Monday at the Ijaw Language Awareness Summit, themed “Reviving the Izon Language: Heritage, Our Identity, Our Future,” held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa. The summit formed part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State.
Diri expressed concern over the gradual decline in the use of the Ijaw language, particularly among younger generations, and called on Ijaw people and all Bayelsans to take deliberate steps towards its revival, stressing that language remains a vital component of a people's identity, history and cultural heritage.
He commended renowned Ijaw musician and convener of the summit, Asu Ekiye, for his initiative and sustained efforts to promote the Ijaw language, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the Ijaw nation.
The governor announced that the Ijaw Language Awareness Day would henceforth become an annual event, to be coordinated by the state’s Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs.
He also applauded former Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Ijaw language presenter Erema Yanga and other individuals who have continued to champion the preservation of the language and Ijaw traditions.
Diri called on private organisations, corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to partner with the state government in supporting creative initiatives and talents dedicated to promoting the Ijaw language.
He further urged the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to collaborate with his administration on the language revival project and called for the reactivation of the Prof. Kay Williamson Centre at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
As part of practical measures to encourage the use of the language among young people, the governor directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that quizzes and debates in Ijaw were organised in primary and secondary schools across the state.
He recalled that the foundation for the current language revival initiative was laid by his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, in 2018, when the Kolokuma dialect was adopted as the central language for the state, following the passage of a bill by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. He noted that 200 teachers were subsequently recruited to teach the language in public schools.
Emphasising the important role of families in preserving indigenous languages, Diri urged parents to make the consistent use of Ijaw at home a priority.
“The responsibility of teaching our children our language lies squarely with parents. So every family should strive to communicate always in their mother tongue,” he said.
The governor assured that the summit would not be a one-off event, announcing plans to hold next year’s edition at an open field in the state sports complex to enable families and communities to participate more widely.
He explained that the initiative was not limited to language preservation but also aimed at safeguarding the Ijaw people's mode of dressing, cuisine and other cultural practices that collectively define their identity and traditions.
In his keynote address, Dr. Felix Tuodolo identified declining parental use of the Ijaw language at home as one of the major challenges threatening its survival.
He also expressed concern over the growing preference for other indigenous languages at the expense of Ijaw, as well as the removal of the Izon language from the list of official languages in the country by the Federal Government.
Tuodolo urged Ijaw people to make a conscious effort to speak their mother tongue during family interactions, cultural ceremonies and other social engagements, noting that everyday use of the language was essential to ensuring its continued survival.
In his remarks, summit convener Asu Ekiye warned that the Ijaw language was at a critical point, with its everyday use declining, particularly among younger people.
He maintained that the future of the language depended largely on the choices and actions of the people, stressing the need for immediate and coordinated interventions to reverse the trend.
Ekiye appealed to the state government to formally recognise the Ijaw Language Resuscitation Initiative and establish a dedicated state focal unit to coordinate its activities.
Among his recommendations were the systematic audio-visual documentation of Ijaw oral histories, songs, proverbs and folktales; the establishment of a network of language champions; and the creation of Ijaw language clubs in selected schools and pilot communities.
He said such interventions, alongside sustained community participation and institutional support, would help strengthen the transmission of the language to future generations.
The summit also recognised individuals who have contributed to the promotion of Ijaw language and cultural values. Asu Ekiye and his compatriot, Barrister Smooth, received awards for their contributions through music, while veteran journalist Asu Beks was honoured for his role in promoting Ijaw values and traditions through journalism.
The event featured musical and cultural performances by several artistes, including B2S Tare Oge Master, Trace Ailies, Dr. Gesiere Ebizimor-Nicholas, Erema Yanga and Pastor Amange BE Amange.
The summit underscored the importance of collective responsibility, government support, education and community participation in preserving the Ijaw language as a vital part of the identity and heritage of present and future generations.
