African languages are not vernaculars, says UI don

A professor of Yoruba literature and film studies at the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan, Durotoye Adeleke, has said that African languages are not vernaculars but real languages.

Professor Adeleke stated this last Thursday while delivering his inaugural lecture entitled, The foolery of man beyond the theatrical world: Perspective from an indigenous African literary critic.

The don noted that, unknown to most Africans, the use of foreign languages condemns most people and thus the continent to a permanent state of mediocrity.

He said: “People are unable to be spontaneous, creative and self-confident if they cannot use their first languages.”

The don lamented that government is not interested in promoting indigenous languages in the country, saying “the government and policymakers have forgotten the importance of using the mother tongue as a medium of education and to deprive the indigenous speaker of the use of his language for education is like removing his soul.”

Professor Adeleke advocated that traditional oral artistes should be employed to teach various oral expressions and chanting modes to the younger generation in schools, while universities should endeavour to encourage artistes in residence who are vested in indigenous traditions to complement lecturers teaching the courses.

“All departments and institutes should, therefore, endeavour to encourage their students to borrow relevant courses from the Department of Linguistics and African Languages,” he concluded.