International Mother Tongue Day: NCMM Celebrates Eleme Language

Eleme language spoken by the indigenous people of Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area in Rivers State came into focus last Wednesday when the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) celebrated the 2024 International Day of the Mother Tongue in Port Harcourt.
At an elaborate ceremony at the National Museum in Port Harcourt, the Curator of the Nationaluseum, Mr. Victor Otuka, said the UNESCO international mother tongue day is dedicated to recognizing the vital role language plays in society.
The theme of this year’s celebration is: Multilingual Education is the Pillar of Intergenerational Learning.
Otuka said, “Our indigenous languages around the world are gradually fading away and Nigeria is not an exception. The trend is worrisome as language is not just a means of communication, but also an essential tool for preservation of the people’s cultural heritage and history.”
Citing UNESCO figures, the NCMM curator said 2,861 of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken in the world are endangered, and called for interventions to save the languages.
He disclosed that in Nigeria, only 50 out of the 500 indigenous languages were being used as language of instruction in primary schools. “The lack of support by the educational system, coupled with the country’s diversity, has led to the decline in use, endangerment and extinction of some of the not-so-dominant ones,” he said.
He suggested that mother tongues should be used alongside the lingua fracas as mediums of instruction. He said benefits of the mother tongue include boosting self esteem and promoting a sense of belonging of speakers in their communities.
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government, represented by Chief Aaron Mimi, said the strategic location of Eleme has attracted industries and people from diverse ethnic nationalities. He however said the influx of people in to Eleme as result was threatening the culture and language of the indigenous people.
The Oneh-Eh Eleme represented by HRH Godwin Bebe, thanked the NCMM for picking Eleme language to highlight in this year’s International Day of the Mother Tongue.
He said colonial rule did a colossal damage to indigenous languages as pupils were forbidden from speaking their native languages in school. He expressed regrets that even the local media project colonial culture to the detriment of the indigenous cultures. “Our radio and TV presenters reject our accent and we are fast losing our identities,” Emere Okpabi said. He called for collaborations to save indigenous cultures from extinction.
Also speaking, the female traditional ruler of Eleme, Emereowa Ada Gokpa, urged Eleme parents to speak their language to their children to save the language.
The Chairman of Eleme Heritage Study Group, Dr. Obianko Elechi, said the theme of this year’s celebration of the International Day of the Mother Tongue, showed that there is a strong linkage between education, language and the existence of a people.
He said the Eleme Heritage Study Group has prepared a compendium on the culture of Eleme people, which would be presented to UNESCO to make Eleme a heritage site. He disclosed that the orthography of Eleme language has been approved by the Federal Government since 2011.
The President General of O’Ela Obor Eleme, Elder Israel Abbey, said language is the strongest identifying link of a people and thanked NCMM for choosing Eleme language for showcasing. Abbey declared that Eleme is endangered, having been overrun by its powerful neighbours. He called on Eleme people to always stand up for what they are and not to be intimidated to accept being what they are not.
In a goodwill messages delivered by Mrs. Kechinyere Wasim, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, called for the promotion of multilingual education. She said, “Let’s build a society where multilingualism is cherished as a source of strength and unity.”
In another goodwill message, Prof. Preye Iyalla Amadi, a Kalabari, thanked the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for identifying indigenous languages in Rivers State for promotion. He urged the authorities to commission people from the villages to teach the local languages.
A language competition was conducted among primary and secondary schools in Eleme at the event by Chief Ollorwi Osaro, Chairman of Eleme Language Stufy Group. There were also cultural dance performances by Dededede Ebiri Alesa at the occasion.