The guest writer at the fourth edition of Yoruba Lakotun, Mr.
Kehinde Adepegba, said the poor reading culture of the Yoruba, the development
of Information and Communications Technology, and late adoption of technology have
negatively impacted on the reading of Yoruba literature which has preserved the
culture largely.
According to the author of Okele Akobu, Ogbon Ologbon, Eku
Eda ‘the youth of this generation have unlimited access to materials online
and they have deserted reading hardcopies of the literatures that have been
published sometimes ago. He asserted that publishers should help writers by
publishing the e-books versions of their books on various platforms and making
it available to the global audience and increasing profitability.’
Adebayo Adegbembo, who developed ‘Asa’ app, said him and his
team has been assiduously working on the preservation of the language through
this app and they are also working on other Nigerian languages which are being
accessed from other parts of the world.
In Adegbembo’s words, ‘Yorubas in Nigeria should not make the
language lose its value because people from other parts of the world, especially
those in Jamaica, Brazil, Trindad and Tobago, Cuba and the Caribbean, look up
to us at the core areas where the language is spoken and we should not let them
down in speaking, writing, reading and listening in the language.’
The host of the programme, Olutayo Irantiola, extolled the
stride of the Lagos State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Hon.
Mudashiru Obasa that wants Yoruba language to be spoken compulsorily at both
public and private schools in Lagos. This gesture will help the language to
survive and it will also aid the restoration of the dwindling moral values in
the society.
The well attended event had language and cultural enthusiasts
from corporate and social Nigeria in attendance. Kayode Adewale was on the band
stand giving out good music to the delight of everyone.
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