Educational and research institutions have been urged to allocate more funds for the preservation of indigenous languages.
Among the stakeholders, Kenya National Commission for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and council of Elders have stressed the need of preserving the indigenous languages.
Speaking ahead of the International Mother Language Day, Joel Ongoto, said that preserving and promoting indigenous languages among the young people makes them fast learners in schools.
We believe that for young people to learn better and grab concepts faster, knowledge of indigenous languages has played a major role, Joel Ongoto.l, Assistant Secretary General for Research Partnership and resource mobilisation, Kenya National Commission for UNESCO.
The acting Secretary General for the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO who spoke at Migori TTC said that students who have good mastery of mother language perform better than those who do not.
He said that knowledge of the indigenous language enables the students to relate the learning environment and culture which they translate to their indigenous settings for better understanding.
He was presenting on behalf of Dr James Ndung’u, acting Secretary General for the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO where he noted that most developed nations have a basis for the indigenous languages in their learning systems.
He criticized the young generations who do not want to be associated with their mother language while at the same time encouraging them to visit grandparents to get a chance to learn the mother languages.
“For we all want to be associated fully with our Mother Language, it is worthy for those who stay in town to visit their grand parents during holidays for them to have a foundation of their indigenous languages,” he added.
Ongoto noted that preservation of the indigenous language is a basis for a sustainable development and is enshrined among the Standard Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that the education system in Kenya has a language policy which mandates the learners to use the indigenous language within the locality or school environment.
Promoting culture through indigenous languages
Mourice Kihingu, Executive Secretary for Bugumbe clan in Kuria, said that indigenous languages have been used to promote good morals among the younger generations.
He noted that in most cases, the indigenous languages have been used in celebrations to promote the culture of a particular community, which differentiate one clan from the other.
Photo|Peter Ologi; KTMN
However, he wondered if the role of teaching and preserving indigenous languages has been left for mothers who in most cases are overwhelmed with duties.
He encouraged the male members of particular communities to spend more time with young people, teaching them indigenous language while at the same time teaching them about the culture.
“”Indigenous languages has been a library, acting as reference point where our younger generations are sent to unewrth our History. It is in this spirit that we need to intensify it among out young ones,”said Kihingu.
Jonathan Matiko also said that the indigenous languages for some communities are in danger of becoming extinct because of people not taking pride in speaking them.
He referred to the Suba and Kuria languages which have faced threats from other languages and are almost becoming extinct.
Suba language which is a Bantu speaking group in Kenya, has been extinct, and it’s speakers have embraced dholuo.
Suba speakers are believed to have occupied the southern part of Nyanza province. They have intermarried with Kurians and Luos in the region and have adopted the two languages.
Lucas Otieno playing guitar while singing one of the Abasuba songs that are used to preserve Suba culture during the pre International Mother Language Day Celebrations.
Photo| Peter Ologi; KTMN
The Suba and Kuria languages have very big similarities and for this reason, it was easy for them to learn and adopt Kurian language.
As noted by George Wagaka, coordinator of the Suba-Kuria languages, in 2000, Suba language was named among the lnaguages that were in danger of disappearing.
He said that the Suba language has been misunderstood to be part of the Luo language, a misconception that continues to make the language more extinct.
Resssurecting the languages
He said that in an attempt to bring back the Suba language into existence,the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO has identified the language as independent.
He said that in this effort to resurrect the language, the researchers through the National Commission for UNESCO have published 23 books on the preservation of Suba language, one of them being about The Origin of Suba Language.
George said, that it is in this hope to revamp the language and bring it to the limelight.
Learning indigenous languages
He hoped that some of the published books will be approved by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and will be among the text books in the Pre-primary sections.
He noted that the efforts would be bearing fruits if the political class would join in the race in support of the resurrection of the endangered languages.
At Migori Teachers Training College, the International Mother Language Day will mark the Abasuba, Kuria languages as endangered languages.
The celebrations also marks the preservation of the major cultural activities of the two tribes.
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