By Peter Dansu The Head of Department of African Languages Study at Lagos State University, Dr. Titilayo Afoke Onadipe, has raised a serio...
By Peter Dansu
The Head of Department of African Languages Study at Lagos State University, Dr. Titilayo Afoke Onadipe, has raised a serious alarm about the silent and gradual disappearance of African languages—especially Yoruba—in our homes and communities.
In a powerful Facebook post that has sparked conversations online, Dr. Onadipe warned that the loss of indigenous languages doesn’t happen suddenly. Instead, it begins slowly, through the everyday choices families make.
“It starts with speaking English at home so that children can do better in school,” she wrote. “We read books, watch TV, and even pray in English. Over time, our mother tongue fades into the background.”
Dr. Onadipe, who carried out a detailed study in 2022 on the use of Yoruba in Badagry, described her findings as troubling. According to her, many young people still hear Yoruba, but they don’t speak it. Instead, they reply in English, and some even feel embarrassed to speak Yoruba in public.
“Even in communities where Yoruba used to be the main language, it’s no longer the language of everyday life,” she added.
But Yoruba is not the only language at risk.
UNESCO has reported that over 500 African languages are now endangered, and in Nigeria alone, at least 29 languages have already gone extinct. Many others are dying quietly—right before our eyes.
Dr. Onadipe stressed that losing a language is more than just losing words.
“When we lose our language, we lose the voices of our grandparents. We lose the stories that shaped our morals. We lose the prayers that protected us. We lose the names that carry deep meanings,” she said.
She added that language is not just something we speak—it’s something that helps us remember who we are.
While speaking English can help children do well in school, Dr. Onadipe asked important questions: “Will they understand the proverbs of their people? Will they be able to connect deeply with their elders? Will they be able to carry our culture into the future?”
She ended her post with a strong message to all: The warning signs are already around us. We may still have time, but only if we choose to act with care—starting now.
Dr. Titilayo Onadipe’s call is clear: families, schools, and communities must come together to protect and promote our indigenous languages before they disappear forever. The time to act is not tomorrow—it’s today.
Very insightful 👏👏👏
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