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In this article, we will be looking into the Yoruba language, its peculiarities, and its importance.
In 2018, during his time as Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode signed into law a bill that promotes the use of the Yoruba language in all public and private schools in Lagos State.
This opened a new vista in the history of education in Nigeria, and more of this is expected to come. We hope to see it truly implemented in all schools in Lagos State and further see advocacy for the Yoruba language to be a language of education rather than English in the Southwestern regions.
Just as many schools in the Northern states of Nigeria teach their children in the Hausa language and have even translated some textbooks into the Hausa language.
There is a need for the Yoruba language to develop scientifically and make products that communicate our core values, way of life, and how we see the world.
A great example is how China, Japan, and India are striving hard to accomplish great things, producing scientific research works based on how they view the world in their mother tongue.
The Bill signed by the then Governor of Lagos State is a good start and just one of the many recognitions and honors the Yoruba language is expected to get in different parts of the world.
Another such honour is in entertainment: Music from people like the artist Asake and movies like Anikulapo, making the Yoruba language global.
The Yoruba language is spoken both locally and globally. It is a worldwide language that transcends states and nations.
It is a language that should never be downplayed or disregarded as it holds great importance and gives its speaker powerful abilities to communicate and impact through words.
Languages are essential and are a rich aspect of our lifestyles and cultures. They are strong channels of communication and vehicles that touch every part of the community.
For indigenes of Yoruba-speaking states, it is vital that they have a constant reminder of the relevance, of their mother tongue regardless of adoption of and fluency in foreign languages such as bilingual, multilingual or lingua-franca (which were brought about by colonialism).
Even people not Yoruba by the tribe are encouraged to embrace and learn the language, especially if they desire to be multilingual.
It is essential that people understand that the Yoruba language is just as important and rich as other foreign languages which people seek to learn.
Foreign languages are in no way superior to indigenous ones, and this mindset is the first step to exploring and experiencing the beauty of the Yoruba language.
In our world today, there is a high rate of cultural influence and adaptation. This has made diverse languages find their way into several parts of the world, and people in African countries tend to tilt towards adopting foreign cultures and languages – brought to us in time past, through the vehicle of colonialism – because they believe that it is somewhat superior.
This is a belief that must be gotten rid of. We have the responsibility to learn, unlearn, and re-learn.
To start with, the Yoruba language is not small or local. It is a language with different variants and is spoken globally, across Brazil, Cuba, the Republic of Benin, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The language has been passed down through generations and is a significant part of the development and civilization of the Yoruba people if explicitly explored.
Let us examine why the Yoruba language is as vital as any other language.
1) It is a rich language
The assignment of any language is to grant people the power of expression through their words and sayings.
The Yoruba language is rich in this aspect. Yoruba words have deep meanings and help people express themselves in beautiful ways.
Just like you’d learn French, Spanish, or English to express yourself better through those languages, you can learn the Yoruba language and get new and beautiful ways to express yourself through words and sayings.
The Yoruba language is tonal and has many vowels, which makes it easier to pronounce.
2) It is spoken in many parts of the world
Contrary to what many people (especially Nigerians) think, Yoruba is not a local language spoken only in Nigeria.
The Yoruba language is spoken in different parts of Africa and the world. Around 30 million people in West Africa, including Lagos State in Nigeria and parts of Senegal and Benin. Yoruba is also widely spoken in diaspora communities around the world.
The issue of learning a language only valid in Nigeria does not arise because Yoruba is spoken in many other parts of the world.
3) Learning Yoruba makes you wiser.
When you learn a language, you are granted access to the lifestyle and culture of the people of that tribe as well.
You also learn their Proverbs, idioms and wise sayings.
The Yoruba language has numerous wise sayings and Proverbs that hold the key to a more responsible, moral, productive, happier and wholesome life. Some key attributes that seem to be lacking in many young people (also called “Gen Zs”) today are because the sayings and culture are not being passed down to them and they constitute a large part of the population of our world. The language is gradually rolling down the drain towards extinction.
Just like you’d learn other languages to get access to the wisdom resident in them, you get the same with the Yoruba language.
4) Access to job opportunities
Learning the Yoruba language grants, you access to many opportunities in some career paths. And when the language is used to teach subjects in Nigerian schools, job opportunities will be broadened across a larger scale.
A person who knows a language and knows it in depth has an advantage.
In fields like human rights, business, or finances, your knowledge of the Yoruba language can open doors for you. You can also earn a living as a tutor or translator.
5) Connects you to a beautiful culture
Languages are very connected to culture.
When you learn a language, beyond learning its words, phrases, and sayings, you get linked to that culture.
Learning the Yoruba language is receiving an invitation into the Yoruba’s deep culture’s rituals, history, values, and more.
The ability to communicate with Yorubas worldwide in their language fosters a unique bond and encourages empathy.
The beauty of languages is in their ability to grant you to power to express your thoughts and musings and to help you see the world through new beautiful lenses.
It also empowers you to express yourself uniquely like no other. In a population where people speak a different language, you have an added advantage, and you stand out. Showcasing how unique you are can be very precious if only we knew.
Languages also connect you to people from different parts of the world, making you adopt a new and beautiful culture. People are tired of seeing the norm; they want something different and unique.
The Yoruba language has this uniqueness.
From the food we make, the clothes we wear, the songs we sing, and the knowledge behind why we do the things we do, everything about it screams uniqueness and the world is curious to see it all.
That is why platforms like this website were created. We need to show them the beauty resident in us.
The Yoruba language is just as important as any other language in any part of the world.
