parents have been accused of creating a gap between their children and their roots through the systematic neglect of the language. This was unveiled at Yoruba Lakotun, a quarterly cultural programme at Ethnic Heritage Centre, Ikoyi.
Mr Ayoade Okedokun, author of Ika Abamo, Omo Elede and other books in Yoruba and French languages, said, ‘there are certain words that cannot be translated into Yoruba language because it has no equivalent in English and vice versa. He explained that Yoruba parents have mixed up the role of the school and that of the home.
In his words, ‘the payment made in the school is to teach the children French language; while the children should learn Yoruba language from their parents and immediate community. Unfortunately, many people muddled up these roles which are distinctly separate. Parents should both cooperate to ensure that their children understand the language; children should not be separated from their roots.’
Similarly, Ms Adebunmi Adeniran, Chief Executive of Nailangs, a virtual keyboard that can type 12 Nigerian languages with the tonal marks, expressed shock at the rate in which Yoruba make their children speak French compulsorily when Yorubas in the Diaspora are keen about making their children understand the language.
In her words, ‘our mother tongue needs to be a reference point many generations to come and we have to ensure that it is preserved with the use of technology and also orally as passed down from one generation to another.
Adesewa Oyinkansola, student of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, performed two poems in Yoruba language to the delight of the audience who applauded her for her dexterity in performing in French and Yoruba language.
According to her, ‘I challenged my Mum that I do not want to be a stranger to my culture. My Mum agreed and today, I prefer to read my Yoruba Bible and wear Yoruba clothes.’
The programme was dedicated to Benin Republic, a country where Yoruba language has just been adopted as the second language. Although, there is a slight variation of their Yoruba with that those at the core of the language but it is a right step in the right direction. Everyone is calling upon the Nigerian Government to emulate this idea rather than making International languages compulsory at the expense of Nigerian languages at all levels of learning.......

SOURCE: http://www.infocribng.com/2016/03/yoruba-parents-accused-of-creating-gap.html