When Ebedi celebrated writers in indigenous languages

WRITING in the indigenous languages is experiencing mixed fortunes in different parts of the country, and this was the reason the Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State, decided the give those who write in their mother tongues the opportunity to work on their next projects at the residency.

Just recently, Kehinde Gbadeyanka, who writes in the Yoruba language, and Hamza Sadiq Dawaki, who writes in the Hausa language, completed their six-week stay at the residence.

While literary works published in Hausa language are thriving, the same cannot be said about writing in the Yoruba language.

Confirming how fluorishing writing in the Hausa language is, Dawaki, a teacher in Kano, said, “Hausa literature is very popular in the North, and it is not because the people find it difficult to understand reading in the English language, but indigenous writing brings out the beauty of the language.

“There are certain meanings that will be lost during translation if one writes in English, but such meanings will expose the beauty in the Hausa language.

“There is also a thriving market for Hausa literature in the North, and even beyond Nigeria.

“In countries like Mali, Niger, among others, where there are sizeable Hausa populations, books written in the language sell fast.

“It is, however, when I got to the South West that I discovered that the same thing cannot be said about indigenous writing in the region.

“I feel the people need to appreciate their culture, and part of doing that is reading books written in the local language,” Dawaki said.

On his experience during his stay in the South West, Dawaki admitted that the people were warm and lively.

“The truth is that one cannot talk about a people without living with them for a while.

“During my six-week stay in Iseyin, I discovered another side of the Yoruba people; they are always ready to assist people, especially when they know the person is a stranger.

“That is why I want to commend Dr Wale Okediran, the founder of Ebedi, for the good work he is doing.

“I would not have ever visited Iseyin if not for the residency, and I would not have had the opportunity to spend a close time with the people, which has definitely changed my orientation about the Yoruba people,” Dawaki said.

However, while Dawaki is enjoying writing in the Hausa language, Gbadeyanka is already contemplating switching over to writing in English language.

The reason, according to the writer who has published a couple of books in the Yoruba language, is because “people no longer appreciate our culture.

“When we write in Yoruba language, it is always difficult to find readers and buyers who patronise the works.

“Some people even look down on those who write in the indigenous language as illiterates, despite the fact that the Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, among other non-English nationalities became developed using their local languages.

“Now, I have decided to be writing in English language as well, while I am also contemplating translating some of my works into English language,” Gbadeyanka said.

“However, Yoruba people have a lot to do in order to ensure that the culture is not relegated to the background.

“We must promote our culture, and that includes using the language, especially by speaking and reading in it.

“Yoruba leaders have a lot to do if people are to start appreciating the language, and that is why I want to commend the Lagos State House of Assembly for coming out with a bill that will make the language compulsory in schools in the state.

“Other state governments in the South West region should also take a cue from this, because if we lose our language, then we have lost our identity” Gbadeyanka said.