Events

International Mother Tongue Day

Doyin Wobamirin and translating phrases

On 21st February of every year, a day is designated by the United Nations to celebrate the importance of our native languages - some of which are currently facing extinction. 


Ten schools from secondary and primary level met today at the French Cultural Centre to celebrate International Mother Tongue Day. The Write Squad led by Jerry Adesewo supported by RAW and the French Cultural Centre organised several events and activities including writing Haikus and poems, storytelling and translating into different Nigerian languages, art activities and a debate surrounding the issues around preserving Nigerian languages. 

Schools debate the issues surrounding preserving native languages

Author, Fatima Akilu, attended and moderated the secondary school debate. Students representing a group of authors agreed that books should be only published in English arguing that the English was the global language and their books would be more accessible if written in English. They also considered the vast amount of languages in Nigeria and the difficulty and expense of publishing books in so many different languages.

Students representing teachers fought back, firmly believing that it was imperative for books to be published in languages other than English. Books written only in English would discourage people from reading if they could not speak or read English. Teachers also need to be able to teach other languages and books written only in English would make this difficult. The teachers were supported by the students representing the community who argued that it was important to have books in other languages as this would help to preserve native languages. Both groups argued that people should speak and read their indigenous languages as it was part of their identity and heritage – English is only a ‘borrowed’ language. Books are an important way to record languages and keep them alive.


After a feisty and heated discussion between three groups acting as authors, community members and teachers respectively, Fatima kindly summed up the three arguments for the audience. It was agreed amongst the majority that it is important to publish books in languages other than and as well as English. 

Fatima Akilu delivers her verdict on the debate

Several schools also presented a cultural dance and display rounding off the day's events. 

Several schools presented cultural dances 

The activities and discussions during the day brought home the importance of preserving mother tongue languages to prevent them from becoming extinct. Celebrating International Mother Tongue Day reminded students to be proud of their mother tongue languages as it is part of identity and heritage and that it is our responsibility to ensure those languages stay alive.