Okija_juju: [b]I see alot of people being super sentimental about this topic..

Is Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Effik, Ibibio, Idoma, Ogba, Ikwerre, Ogoni, e.t.c. spoken as an official language in Nigeria?! NO!!

So you are Igbo, you live in Lagos, your kids school in Ikoyi Lagos, you and your wife work 7 - 7, the grandparents are dead or barely come for long visits, the kids are exposed to a society where only english is spoken, their vacations are overseas, they have barely spent more than 5 days in the village at any particular time, Mum is Yoruba, Daddy is Idoma (so its not like even at home both parents speak to each other in one local language...), Television shows only foreign programmes, e.t.c.. HOW THEN DO YOU EXPECT THE KIDS TO LEARN TO SPEAK?!

The truth is that many people have simply thrown Language and tradition aside and focused on the pursuit of money and happiness.

- A child that grows up in Onitsha is more likely to be able to speak Igbo than a child that grew up in the United Kingdom.
- How many of you are willing to deport your children back to your villages to live and grow for a year in other to interact with thier people, learn their ways and traditions and our culture and religous practices?!


Like I said, the times have changed... Things aint like they use to be before. I told my younger brother about a fishing trip _{(actually its was a natural pond located inside a think swamp forest in my village)} I went on with my dad and my uncles in the village. Told him about the encounter with over 20 - 30 snakes on the trip, told him about the encounter with crocodiles and all the fishes we caught that filled 3 cars.. Told him about how my uncle poured libation, made some incantations and the snakes all started leaving without attacking anybody, told him about the beliefs that the snakes were the protectors of the pond, told him the law of strangers taking fish from the pond, told him about the time keeper bird that flew over us inside the bush signifying that it was time for us to leave otherwise the darkness would fall on us so fast, we would not be able to find our way out until the next morning, e.t.c.. He just stood there looking at me with bewilderment.. I really wished he can experience this.. Now this pond is still there and I have been trying to get my father to take me back to the pond so that I can take possession of it as he is no longer interested in it, but he just does not have that kind of time..

Sadly, my father does not have that kind of time on his hands anymore.. My siblings have not been to either villages in like over 12 - 15 years.. Grandparents are dead, village is now unsafe with rampant kidnappings and robberies, family members that are now haters, e.t.c..

The last trip I had to the village as a child for Christmas ended up with my uncle summoning my father before a Native Doctor..

Now imagine the mess... How were my younger ones supposed to ever learn the language. Some of you have similar stories as well. Dont use your life to judge others..



All I can pray for now is that by the time the next generation arrives, my parents would be in the last phase of life (i.e retirement) and would be the ones to teach our (i.e my kids and those of my siblings) the traditions and culture of our people including the language & religous practices.


If a kid cant speak his or her local Language in 2013... Nna, I dont blame them. The times of our fathers and now are not the same.[/b]

Okija_juju: [b]I see alot of people being super sentimental about this topic..

Is Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Effik, Ibibio, Idoma, Ogba, Ikwerre, Ogoni, e.t.c. spoken as an official language in Nigeria?! NO!!

So you are Igbo, you live in Lagos, your kids school in Ikoyi Lagos, you and your wife work 7 - 7, the grandparents are dead or barely come for long visits, the kids are exposed to a society where only english is spoken, their vacations are overseas, they have barely spent more than 5 days in the village at any particular time, Mum is Yoruba, Daddy is Idoma (so its not like even at home both parents speak to each other in one local language...), Television shows only foreign programmes, e.t.c.. HOW THEN DO YOU EXPECT THE KIDS TO LEARN TO SPEAK?!

The truth is that many people have simply thrown Language and tradition aside and focused on the pursuit of money and happiness.

- A child that grows up in Onitsha is more likely to be able to speak Igbo than a child that grew up in the United Kingdom.
- How many of you are willing to deport your children back to your villages to live and grow for a year in other to interact with thier people, learn their ways and traditions and our culture and religous practices?!


Like I said, the times have changed... Things aint like they use to be before. I told my younger brother about a fishing trip _{(actually its was a natural pond located inside a think swamp forest in my village)} I went on with my dad and my uncles in the village. Told him about the encounter with over 20 - 30 snakes on the trip, told him about the encounter with crocodiles and all the fishes we caught that filled 3 cars.. Told him about how my uncle poured libation, made some incantations and the snakes all started leaving without attacking anybody, told him about the beliefs that the snakes were the protectors of the pond, told him the law of strangers taking fish from the pond, told him about the time keeper bird that flew over us inside the bush signifying that it was time for us to leave otherwise the darkness would fall on us so fast, we would not be able to find our way out until the next morning, e.t.c.. He just stood there looking at me with bewilderment.. I really wished he can experience this.. Now this pond is still there and I have been trying to get my father to take me back to the pond so that I can take possession of it as he is no longer interested in it, but he just does not have that kind of time..

Sadly, my father does not have that kind of time on his hands anymore.. My siblings have not been to either villages in like over 12 - 15 years.. Grandparents are dead, village is now unsafe with rampant kidnappings and robberies, family members that are now haters, e.t.c..

The last trip I had to the village as a child for Christmas ended up with my uncle summoning my father before a Native Doctor..

Now imagine the mess... How were my younger ones supposed to ever learn the language. Some of you have similar stories as well. Dont use your life to judge others..



All I can pray for now is that by the time the next generation arrives, my parents would be in the last phase of life (i.e retirement) and would be the ones to teach our (i.e my kids and those of my siblings) the traditions and culture of our people including the language & religous practices.


If a kid cant speak his or her local Language in 2013... Nna, I dont blame them. The times of our fathers and now are not the same.[/b]

Mgbadike80: ha ha, i have largely lost hope in this country and her citizenry. The igbo language will eventually disappear with the mindset of the current generation. I partly blame pentecostalism. Igbos hardly pray in igbo language or give their children native names. Some even change their surnames to english. Have u heard about pastors called Stone O Stone, bishop sk magsey, rev king? They actually exist in igbo land.

Okija_juju: [b]I see alot of people being super sentimental about this topic..

Is Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Effik, Ibibio, Idoma, Ogba, Ikwerre, Ogoni, e.t.c. spoken as an official language in Nigeria?! NO!!

So you are Igbo, you live in Lagos, your kids school in Ikoyi Lagos, you and your wife work 7 - 7, the grandparents are dead or barely come for long visits, the kids are exposed to a society where only english is spoken, their vacations are overseas, they have barely spent more than 5 days in the village at any particular time, Mum is Yoruba, Daddy is Idoma (so its not like even at home both parents speak to each other in one local language...), Television shows only foreign programmes, e.t.c.. HOW THEN DO YOU EXPECT THE KIDS TO LEARN TO SPEAK?!

The truth is that many people have simply thrown Language and tradition aside and focused on the pursuit of money and happiness.

- A child that grows up in Onitsha is more likely to be able to speak Igbo than a child that grew up in the United Kingdom.
- How many of you are willing to deport your children back to your villages to live and grow for a year in other to interact with thier people, learn their ways and traditions and our culture and religous practices?!


Like I said, the times have changed... Things aint like they use to be before. I told my younger brother about a fishing trip _{(actually its was a natural pond located inside a think swamp forest in my village)} I went on with my dad and my uncles in the village. Told him about the encounter with over 20 - 30 snakes on the trip, told him about the encounter with crocodiles and all the fishes we caught that filled 3 cars.. Told him about how my uncle poured libation, made some incantations and the snakes all started leaving without attacking anybody, told him about the beliefs that the snakes were the protectors of the pond, told him the law of strangers taking fish from the pond, told him about the time keeper bird that flew over us inside the bush signifying that it was time for us to leave otherwise the darkness would fall on us so fast, we would not be able to find our way out until the next morning, e.t.c.. He just stood there looking at me with bewilderment.. I really wished he can experience this.. Now this pond is still there and I have been trying to get my father to take me back to the pond so that I can take possession of it as he is no longer interested in it, but he just does not have that kind of time..

Sadly, my father does not have that kind of time on his hands anymore.. My siblings have not been to either villages in like over 12 - 15 years.. Grandparents are dead, village is now unsafe with rampant kidnappings and robberies, family members that are now haters, e.t.c..

The last trip I had to the village as a child for Christmas ended up with my uncle summoning my father before a Native Doctor..

Now imagine the mess... How were my younger ones supposed to ever learn the language. Some of you have similar stories as well. Dont use your life to judge others..



All I can pray for now is that by the time the next generation arrives, my parents would be in the last phase of life (i.e retirement) and would be the ones to teach our (i.e my kids and those of my siblings) the traditions and culture of our people including the language & religous practices.


If a kid cant speak his or her local Language in 2013... Nna, I dont blame them. The times of our fathers and now are not the same.[/b]

johnbush: what has speaking your native tongue or maintaining your Nigerian culture done for you? If I had my way, I'll wipe out all traces of nigerian cultule from my kids. what a useless culture that cannot develop. their farming systems have remained archaic, technology didn't go beyond the iron age, communication never developed beyond speech! as a matter of fact, f**k nigerian culture.

johnbush: what has speaking your native tongue or maintaining your Nigerian culture done for you? If I had my way, I'll wipe out all traces of nigerian cultule from my kids. what a useless culture that cannot develop. their farming systems have remained archaic, technology didn't go beyond the iron age, communication never developed beyond speech! as a matter of fact, f**k nigerian culture.

Anvaller:

I disagree completely. Ur child will definitely speak ur language if u speak it to them no matter where in the world you are. U don't need to argue this, it happens everywhere. It doesnt make sense to think u need to go as far as sending ur child away to a place where some 3rd parties will speak the language to them when u the parents are in a better position to speak it to the child. A constant change of environment is also no excuse because the mother tongue will be the only language that is constant to the child as u move from one place to the other. Unless u refuse to speak it which will still come back to the fact that its the parent's fault.

Okija_juju:


I can never disagree with you!! NEVER!!

But its not set in stone... Again, a child that grows up in Onitsha in more likely to speak Igbo better than a child that grows up in the United Kingdom.. #FACT!

Now if you as a parent puts in that extra effort to ensure that they learn the language, sure it would work.. But again, its easier for a child that grew in france to learn french than it will be for a child that grew up in Onitsha to learn the same french.

Also, the trick to learning a language is practice, practice and more practice.. If the child does not have that constant practice, its gonna be hard.

Not every family has that same environment..

K.K Imoh:

i tink u'r mad, why? Cos dy cant speak igbo, damn! I liked u ,but now i hate da fact dat u said this, na igbo go giv am gud lyf' money' food. C'mon afam use yr brain, many igbo guys at d north cant speak igbo,but can speak hausa, nupe or oda language, dsnt mean u shuld snag them.

Okija_juju:


I can never disagree with you!! NEVER!!

But its not set in stone... Again, a child that grows up in Onitsha in more likely to speak Igbo better than a child that grows up in the United Kingdom.. #FACT!

Now if you as a parent puts in that extra effort to ensure that they learn the language, sure it would work.. But again, its easier for a child that grew in france to learn french than it will be for a child that grew up in Onitsha to learn the same french.

Also, the trick to learning a language is practice, practice and more practice.. If the child does not have that constant practice, its gonna be hard.

Not every family has that same environment..

KoloOyinbo: Wow. This is an emotive topic. I will state my opinion and its justification. It is important to never forget your own ethnic history and heritage. As an Irishman I always remember. My country was conquered by the English/British a thousand years ago and has been fighting them ever since. Having achieved military victory they tried to cement this by a 'cultural' victory as they have done so successfully all over the world. They tried to repress our religion and almost eradicated our language. We fought back many times over the centuries but always unsuccessfully.

Our success only came when a violent rebellion had the groundwork laid for it by a 'cultural' rebellion when our language and culture experienced renewed interest and spread again. Then we won and reclaimed most of our land. Irish is now an important second language in the free part of my country. It is to my regret that growing up in the British 'occupied' part of my country that I was never encouraged to learn my own language beyond a few phrases. My daughters know more of their language than I do!

Cherish your own tribal languages, cultures and tradition. They are a rich part of your heritage and make Naija great. I would start to learn more of my own language but my fiance is a naija babe and I am working on my Yoruba and Igbo instead.

chimkaire: In a case .Ωђεяε husband and wife aint of same tribe, I mean their language differs......U get kids who speak English cos that's what Dad and Mum communicate in.

souldust: @okija juju I was born and brought up in Lagos. Never traveled home until i was a bit older. And anytime i travelled home, i dont spend so much time there.

All through my childhood days, we were the only people from my state living in the whole area. This means i am like that child that you said grew up in the UK where his language isnt too prevalent. I grew up up to know how to speak English, Yoruba and my local language just as i grew up to know my name and there is no interference what so ever.
This was made possible by my parent.
They spoke the language to me in the house, i learnt yoruba from my neighbours and English at school.

As for the constant practice, yes you are right. But if a parent always speaks the indeginous language to his child anytime he wants to talk to him and no matter how much time he spends with the child in a day even if it is one min, that child would definitely grow up to be able to speak his fathers language.

Anvaller:

I disagree completely. Ur child will definitely speak ur language if u speak it to them no matter where in the world you are. U don't need to argue this, it happens everywhere. It doesnt make sense to think u need to go as far as sending ur child away to a place where some 3rd parties will speak the language to them when u the parents are in a better position to speak it to the child. A constant change of environment is also no excuse because the mother tongue will be the only language that is constant to the child as u move from one place to the other. Unless u refuse to speak it which will still come back to the fact that its the parent's fault.

souldust: @okija juju I was born and brought up in Lagos. Never traveled home until i was a bit older. And anytime i travelled home, i dont spend so much time there.

All through my childhood days, we were the only people from my state living in the whole area. This means i am like that child that you said grew up in the UK where his language isnt too prevalent. I grew up up to know how to speak English, Yoruba and my local language just as i grew up to know my name and there is no interference what so ever.
This was made possible by my parent.
They spoke the language to me in the house, i learnt yoruba from my neighbours and English at school.

As for the constant practice, yes you are right. But if a parent always speaks the indeginous language to his child anytime he wants to talk to him and no matter how much time he spends with the child in a day even if it is one min, that child would definitely grow up to be able to speak his fathers language.

kreami diva: My daughter would be 3 years old on the 30th of this month. She's in nursery one. I was shocked the day she came back from school reciting one-otu,two-abuo,three-ato to ten-iri! I carried her up,hailed her,kissed her.... I was proud of her!

And this school is one of the best in my state. When we went to register her there,the proprietress told us that they don't use British curriculum that they are Nigerians and they use Nigerian curriculum. Truly,I'm not disappointed.

bigfrancis21:

@Bold...hahaha! Lmao! That was so funny. You got me laughing real hard here.

I must have imagined your joy and ecstasy on hearing your daughter reel off the Igbo numerals.

I love your post. 10,000 likes. I bu ezigbote Ada Igbo. O ya-adili gi mma.

Cykik: Am nt hapy atall. I grew up in d west nd learnt yoruba bt even if my parent spoke igbo 2me ,i undastood litle nd converse les 2dem in igbo. Nw we are in d east nd i was apy at first dat am realy goin 2learn my native language. Bt d worst apund. As i tried my best 2speak igbo my frnds nd every one dat heard me talk only lafd at me whch made me felt bad . No one was wilin 2teach me bt day kept on lafin. Bt nw am apy dat i ave a closest frnd who is proud of me even wit my bad intonatn while tryn 2speak igbo. Its fun nw. I tink d oda frnds wia bunch of suckers

kreami diva:


Ya dikwara gi na Mma!

She came back one day from school singing
nwa nnunu ukwu,nwa nnunu nta... turuzam zam,turu za.....
I no ebe ahu eme gini
Ana m atu ose for my mummy.......


I laughed hard and almost fainted. She's sure getting a big present for her birthday!

Lol.

Chaoga: My 5 months old son is mixed race British. I have never for once spoken English to him. He can learn English from his mum and in school. It's only me that can embed our cultural values and language in him.