In a bid to revive
Yoruba language in Lagos, Nigeria, Olútáyọ̀ Ìrántíọlá, a
cultural and literary enthusiast, developed Yorùbá LákỌ̀tun, an event aimed at cultural and literary renaissance. The first
edition took place at Ethnic Heritage Center, Ikoyi, Lagos over the weekend.
The center is a
language training hub for people who are interested in learning and gaining
proficiency in the three Nigerian languages, namely Yorùbá, Hausa, Igbo
languages while French is the international language that people can learn
there.
Ọmọ-Ọba Olúṣẹ̀san Ajewọlé, the special guest, whose book is currently being used by West
African Examinations Council for Yoruba literature, Igbeyin Lalayo Nta,
was delighted to speak to an audience of Yorùbá enthusiasts who want the
language to survive despite the westernization of the African psyche.
Ajewọlé made reference to the experiment done by Prof Wande Abimbola some
decades ago in which children were equipped with their mother tongue and they
excelled also in English language. He urged participants to keep the language
alive with fervour.
The depth of Yoruba
language was also brought to the fore by Akin Ogundokun Winrínwinrìn,
the performer poet for the day, he sang the praised of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba
Lamidi Atanda Adeyemi III and other towns.
There were a lot of
cultural enthusiasts in attendance cut across corporate and social
Nigeria. The event was done in purely in Yorùbá language and the ambience
was quite rustic in nature.
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