By *Fr. Tagesa Akpagher*
The cultural heritage of any ethnic nationality is preserved in the language.
Spoken language is a tool for communication among human beings. Language forms an important part of our ethnic identity.
The world has well over six thousand languages with Nigeria taking a big share of over 560 languages. Nigeria ranks after Indonesia (820) and Papua New Guinea (742) on the list of countries with the highest number of languages.
Nigerian Languages are now under serious threat of extinction because of the dominance of the so-called three major languages, Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba. In Northern Nigeria, Hausa has so dominated that many languages are dying out. Six languages in Bauchi state have gone extinct because of Hausa language, Gamo-Ningi, Mawa, Shau, Lere, Ziriya, and Kubi. One website describes the situation in Bauchi this way: “If Hausa language continues to spread, it is estimated that very soon there will be less than 30 languages spoken in the state.” (that’s from a total of over 60 languages).
Tiv language is under threat from Hausa. The entire Tiv nation is under political threat from the Hausa/Fulani. Hausa is almost destroying other languages in other states too; Niger and Nasarawa states have lost Bassa-Gumna, while Jigawa has lost Teshenawa and Auyokama, Taraba has lost Kpati and Adamawa has lost Holma.
Tiv people have always resisted enslavement by Hausa/Fulani since the time of Usman Dan Fodio. Today the battle has shifted to the Tiv language. Tiv lexicon is replete with Hausa words that are continuously eroding our Tiv culture and consciousness. The Jukun people will tell you that their language has changed a lot because of the heavy presence of Hausa words in it. The older generation speaks a different language to the one spoken by the younger generation.
Let it be known clearly that languages borrow from others to grow and develop especially when there are no existing words to express certain concepts. If there are no words to express a concept in Tiv, then it is right to borrow. We have borrowed these words from English Language: Mato (motor), Shuga (sugar), Televishen (Television), Radio (Radio), Tebul (Table), Pensel (Pencil), Shoja (Soldier), Mango (Mango), Zinki (Zink), Kii (Key), wisul (wistle), wiibaro (wheelbarrow), Bol (Ball). And it is absolutely fine to borrow words from Hausa that we can’t express in Tiv such as, Cinkafa (Rice), Alabusa (Onions), But it is not acceptable when three Tiv words for an item are replaced by one Hausa word. ‘Friend’ in Tiv has, ‘Huror, Ikyar, and Ijende’ but all these are replaced by the Hausa word, Aboki. In the same way spoon is known by three names in Tiv, ‘Ahwa, Bu, and Ikyehen’ but it’s now being replaced by one Hausa word ‘cokeli’.
When we learned Tiv language in the primary school we used, Rwamabera u hiihii and Rwamabera u sha uhar (‘First Book’ and ‘Second Book’). Therefore, ‘Book’ was called Rwamabera, but now it has been replaced by a Hausa word, Takerada. Tiv people love their King (Tor) and greet him with a blessing, ‘Aôndo A ver Tor’ (God bless the King/Chief). But this greeting has been replaced by a Hausa word Zaki, which means Lion. Some Tiv people are now referring to Christmas as ‘Salah’ which is a Hausa word for celebration. Other Tiv words that have been replaced by Hausa words are: anom (miji goro); gbande (tasa); zegemnger (tyeku); mshir (anula); orngeren (akawe/maga); bee ve (shikina); kpankpan -ka an wama? (gafera – shiga); ilyam (tadi); fele fele (maza maza); atejir (kenti); mimi (gaskiya); imyenger (pitila); Ornengen sha tembe (duba geri); dedoo (lafia); guda (sauki); yôôgera (makeranta); Orteenmngerem (mai ruwa); aeren (adini); kpei (kai); ortwer (likita) ibyume kwagh/or (banza); sha inja (sha wada); ka shami (tau); zar (kodai); uese/ishuul (chancha); zee, ga (ko); tar (dunia); and many others. Is this ordinary borrowing? Tiv language is fast disappearing and we have to do something about it.
Other people have cited the example of English language taking pidgin words from Nigeria. That is fine because English is not at risk of extinction. In fact there are more people speaking English outside of England the indigenous home of English language.
Tiv people need to ‘shine their eyes’ and resist the Hausa threat and enslavement. They should revive their language and stop Hausa invasion otherwise, other Nigerians will treat us as an appendage of Hausa. One website places the Tiv language 8th among Nigerian languages with only 2 million speakers and in two lines describes it as both a “major and at the same time minor language in Nigeria.”
Tiv language is an international language spoken by over 15 million people both in Nigeria and Cameroon. So the Tiv people need to standardize their language and ensure that it is taught in our schools and registered for WEAC and NECO. I applaud the efforts of Mdzough u Tiv (MUT), under Engr. Ujege and the current Benue State Governor for their efforts to return Tiv to the classroom. Benue State University should support the effort of College of Education Katsina-Ala and start offering degree courses in Tiv. We have to bring ourselves to the Nigerian table otherwise no one is keen to invite us. The time has come for us to stop arguing about old spellings of words and be professional in standardizing our language. If you agree with this sentiments please share this message. And also consider joining Mzoo u Zwativ.
*Fr. Tagesa Akpagher*
President, _Tiv Language Studies and Development Association_
_tagesa@gmail.com_
Tagesa Akpagher is a priest with the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, peddling the ship of St. Mary's Mission, Igbor as Parish Priest.
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