How to save Yoruba language from extinction, by Alaafin

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has expressed dismay over negative negligence and negligible use of Yorùbá by the élite, saying this has a spill-over effects on Yorùbá as a language and discipline.
Oba Adeyemi made the observation  in Osogbo at the 60th birthday ceremony of the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Alaafin said though Yoruba language is a curriculum subject at all levels of education in the country, he wondered how many children of the élite got admission into universities to study Yorùbá as a discipline.
‘’A greater number of the élites’ children do go to study English or French or German languages in the University, whereas, languages which are no longer being learned as a mother tongue by children are moribund. The number of students enrolling for the language as a discipline in tertiary institutions is dwindling annually. The fact still remains that even those students studying the language presently in some higher institutions reluctantly decided to offer it since such students cannot be admitted for the “real courses” of their choice. They will keep on struggling for their chosen courses and eventually jettison Yorùbá as a discipline. So, does the language have any future? The Yorùbá language expresses identity, it is a repository of history, it talks about the nation’s ancestry, lineages, or descents’’.
‘’Our language contributes to the sum of knowledge of any Yorùbá man or woman.All these would be gone and totally lost since the language is progressively dying out and steadily being supplanted by other languages, most especially the English language. If the élite could imagine how it would be like to be without Yorùbá as their rightful mother tongue in the next two or so decades, their emotional state will be stared. This is largely due to the fact that language is the most valuable single possession of the human race’’.
He continued, ‘’it will sound paradoxical if we intend that the present high level of illiteracy in Nigeria should be sustained. Its sustainability seems to aid the Yorùbá language while combating the threat of extinction. Nevertheless, that the literacy level should be high does not mean that the indigenous languages like Yorùbá must die. There are numerous advanced economies in the world today where their mother tongues are still thriving; such countries include Japan and China’’.
‘’ The mind-set of the élites against colonialism and neo-colonialism matters, as without this, there will be no sense of belonging. The élites argument is that their attitudes to the Yorùbá language could not lead to its loss, that they are only maintaining a phenomenon called language shift. As plausible as this notion, it must be noted, however, that language shift, a process by which a community more or less gradually abandons its original language and adopts another, eventually leads to the total extinction of the abandoned language’’.
Oba Adeyemi, who pointed out that religion plays a prominent role in the loss of the Yorùbá language and could be amazing, because Yorùbá people are known for their strong religious inclinations, however, explained that due to the encroachment of foreign religions, particularly Christianity and Islam, many religious beliefs and practices have been eroded or are being eroded in many Yorùbá communities.
‘’As expected, nearly all the speech forms or lexical items depicting these eroded beliefs and practices are on the verge of oblivion’’.
The paramount ruler described Aregbesola as a ‘’role model, an achiever, an astute and quintessential politician, a pragmatist, pathfinder and an unassuming leader whose exemplary style of governance should be a source of inspiration to ambitious young politicians as well as other stakeholders in public administration’’.
Alaafin, who prayed for long life, good health and future progress of the governor and his family, advised him to be wary of sycophants and fair-weathered individuals and groups who pretend to be loyal and committed, but are feathering their nests.
Oba Adeyemi also advised the governor on how to ensure continuity of his unprecedented development of the State of Osun in the last six years, and beyond 2019, saying the successor must be someone of like-minds, same vision, mission and commitment.
Corroborating the Alaafin’s remark, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, who referred to Oba Adeyemi as ‘’the royal father’’, commended the celebrant [Governor] for his pro-activeness and unalloyed sense of devotion to the transformation of the state, through massive infrastructural developments.
Aregbesola, in his address, said no public fund was spent on his birthday ceremony, but was sponsored by friends and associates.
Aregbesola, who attributed his administration’s achievements in the last six years to divine guidance, people’s support, understanding and co-operation in spite of all odds, reiterated his unflinching commitment to the well being of the people and infrastructural developments.
Highlights at the colorful occasion included second Colloquium on Raufnomics transformation of the State, and the cutting of birthday cake made with architectural masterpiece of state of the art schools constructed by Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.