The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has pledged government support for the newly developed Ijaw Language App, known as Dayama Demo, as part of efforts to preserve and revive the Ijaw language.
Diri made the commitment on Monday while speaking at the Ijaw Language Awareness Summit held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
The summit, organised as part of activities marking Bayelsa State’s 30th anniversary, was themed, “Reviving the Izon Language: Heritage, Our Identity, Our Future.”
The governor expressed concern over the declining use of the Ijaw language, particularly among younger people, warning that continued neglect could threaten the survival of the language.
He urged parents to take responsibility for teaching their children the language by making the mother tongue the primary means of communication at home.
Diri said, “The responsibility of teaching our children our language lies squarely with parents. So every family should strive to communicate always in their mother tongue.”
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Education to organise Ijaw language quizzes and debates in primary and secondary schools across the state.
He said the state government would institutionalise the language awareness programme, announcing that the celebration would henceforth be held annually.
Diri said the annual event would be anchored by the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, adding that next year’s edition would be expanded to accommodate more families and stakeholders.
According to him, the preservation of the Ijaw language must go beyond speeches and celebrations to include the protection of the people’s dressing, cuisine, traditions and other aspects of their cultural identity.
He also called on the Ijaw National Congress to partner with the state government on the language revival initiative and work towards reactivating the Prof. Kay Williamson Centre at Kaiama in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
The governor commended the summit convener and Ijaw musician, Asu Ekiye, as well as Dr Felix Tuodolo, Ijaw language presenter Erema Yanga and others for their efforts in promoting the language and preserving Ijaw heritage.
He appealed to private organisations and individuals to support creative talents and initiatives dedicated to promoting the Ijaw language.
Diri recalled that efforts to revive the language received government backing under his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, who in 2018 initiated the adoption of the Kolokuma dialect as the central language and the recruitment of 200 teachers to teach it in public schools.
Earlier in his keynote address, Tuodolo identified the declining use of the Ijaw language in homes as one of the major threats to its survival.
He said the preference for other indigenous languages and the removal of Izon from the list of official languages in the country had also affected its status.
Tuodolo urged Ijaw people to consciously use the language during family interactions, ceremonies and other social engagements.
The summit convener, Ekiye, said the Ijaw language was at a critical stage because its everyday usage was declining, especially among younger generations.
He appealed to the state government to formally recognise the Ijaw Language Resuscitation Initiative and establish a focal unit to coordinate its activities.
Ekiye also proposed systematic audio-visual documentation of Ijaw oral histories, songs, proverbs and stories, as well as the establishment of language champions’ networks and school language clubs.
The event featured cultural performances and recognition of individuals who have contributed to the promotion of Ijaw language and traditions.
Ekiye and Barrister Smooth received awards for promoting Ijaw language and culture through music, while veteran journalist Asu Beks was honoured for his contribution to Ijaw values and traditions through journalism.
Other artistes who performed at the event included B2S Tare Oge Master, Trace Ailies, Dr Gesiere Ebizimor-Nicholas, Erema Yanga and Pastor Amange BE Amange.