DON'T LET IT DIE

 Mamza Iju-Mduya Simon

U13MM1008

Nigeria is said to be the giant of Africa in terms of economic growth and population. It is a country with over 300 ethnic group & diversity in religion. Each ethnic group has its own unique way of sharing ideas, beliefs and practices, prior to its contact with colonial masters. Then and now, a man without an ethnic group is a man without a culture. And a man without a culture is seen as one who has no secrete and identity. Every man would always want to be proud of where he or she hales from. Generally, one is swiftly identify through mode of dress, language, or native dish. Just as they are known to be the pioneers of akpu and kolanut, so also are they know to be the genuine makers of Amala. These majority languages are best known through their dishes or language. Some minority ethnic groups are vulnerable to death because some youths are neglecting the value of their culture due to Westernisation as so claimed. And this is turning some folks into deaf and dumb when tentatively engage in a dialectic communication with their fellow endogenous folks. They tend to be shy not only in speaking the dialect but also in denouncing a dialectical surname or clan name due to the stereotypical sayings said by other people on their culture. Today, some youths are yet to recognise their Indigenous dialect as a tool that has the potency of enclosing confidential annotations that when discussed naked before a third party, it could result to mayhem. It would look unwise for couple to excuse a third party just to communicate sensitive matter that ordinarily it could be dialectically relayed in humorous way before the third party. If today's youth are continuing to see their culture as an enemy, some minority ethnic groups/languages will be dying without notice. A bad decking is determine by the builders. The inability  of a child to converse in his/her dialect would be trace back to his/her parent. Parents should imbibe the habit of dialectical communication to their children from infant stage. Youths should also take it upon themselves to learn how to converse in indigenous language. Language lubricates the lifespan of every culture. When an indigenous language is dead; Automatically the culture is gone. If some cultural practices are fading away; indigenous language should at least try to be a last man standing.