On Writing in Indigenous Languages

Writing in any local language is invaluable because it is thru language that the essence of cultures are transmitted. That is why using 'English' denies us to transmit the unique 'flavors' and 'nuances' of our cultures and we become somewhat sterilized. But in the extreme, using a language other than your mother tongue gradually makes you to adopt the 'foreign' language's cultural identity which is why we have people being referred to as 'oyinbo'.

While adopting good traits due to the influence of English language such as 'keeping to time' is a definite advantage, other 'traits' might not fit well with your environment and would make an individual 'confused' and end up being like a 'bat', neither here nor there! 🤣

Taking a look at Hausa language as a case study, I think the writings done in Hausa have been the main things that enabled the language to endure and keep expanding. Being that it used to be written in Arabic - Ajami script - the Hausa culture adopted a lot of Arabic customs. Perhaps in a similar fashion, the use of the ‘Latin script’ in Hausa writing has caused a bit of ‘Westernization’ in the Hausa culture 😄although the prior Arabic influence is still supreme and hard to dislodge being more entrenched.

Regardless of the language, it is clear that writing contributes to the perpetuation of cultural identity(ies). And this for me is why I favour the use of indigenous languages in childhood upbringing and I always encourage writers to 'translate' in their local mediums to ensure the survival of distinct cultural traits and customs. And another thing I always encourage everyone to do is 'to think in the indigenous culture' even while using a 'foreign language'! 😅 This will reduce the effect of 'lingual colonisation'!😂

Haidar Wali 201701311030hrs

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