The BBC and Nigeria: FM Broadcasts in English and Hausa
Mobolaji E. Aluko
Netters:
Kindly read this news item below:
QUOTE:
BBC to Broadcast to Nigeria in English, Hausa
---------------------------------------------
The BBC World Service will on Friday start broadcasting programmes in
English and Hausa throughout Nigeria on a high-quality FM frequency
for the first time to coincide with presidential elections on
Saturday.
"We are very pleased that our millions of regular Nigerian listeners
will now be able to tune in to BBC programmes in perfect FM sound
quality during this historic electoral period," said Barry Langridge,
the World Service's Africa head.
BBC programmes can already be heard on FM in Lagos and Abuja. Under
the new deal the World Service will be heard in FM in Benin City,
Makurdi, Jos, Katsina, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Ibadan, Ilorin, Port
Harcourt, Warri and Calabar.
UNQUOTE
Now let us analyze some data:
CITY STATE POPULATION Native Tongue Popular Tongue
(1993)
Lagos LAGOS 5,685,781 Yoruba Miscell, p. Yoruba
Benin EDO 2,159,848 Edo Pidgin English
Enugu ENUGU 3,161,295 Igbo Pidgin
Ibadan OYO 3,488,789 Yoruba Yoruba
PH RIVERS 3,983,857 Miscell. Pidgin
Warri DELTA 2,570,181 Ijaw, Urhobo Pidgin
Calabar CRS-RIV 1,866,604 Kalabari, Efik Pidgin
---------
22,016,355
Makurdi BENUE 2,780,398 Tiv Hausa?
Jos PLATEAU 3,283,784 Tiv Hausa?
Katsina KATSINA 3,878,344 Hausa Hausa
Kano KANO 5,362,040 Hausa Hausa
Kaduna KADUNA 3,969,252 Hausa Hausa
Ilorin KWARA 1,566,469 Yoruba Hausa
Abuja FCT 378,671
----------
23,218,958
I have used state population instead of the cities, lacking those.
MY ISSUES
----------
1. While the use of English and Hausa are justified, the use of ONLY those
two languagese is not. Pidgin should CERTAINLY be justified, followed
by Yoruba and Igbo.
2. Where was this FM capability during the struggle against Abacha?
Enquring minds want to know.
3. Why suddenly now? I hope those in Nigeria can help us to monitor the
bias (or otherwise) of these broadcasts. I suspect some slanted
mischief for 'THEIR MAN, GENERAL OO,' some free last-minute
campaigning.
Bolaji
Egb...@aol.com
I believe BBC operating INSIDE and all over the kwontri is cultural
neocolonialism. But then again the world is becoming one big village. On
lingoes used, where were we while they perfected their Hausa language
programs? It is sad that some people want the Oyibo to promote their
languages! Wake up folks and do something for a change.
My main interest however is your breakdown of the city tongues. So Calabar
people speak "Kalabari"? I do die -o! When was your last visit to Port
Harcourt? Be assured that in Enugu, "pidgin" is NOT popular. In fact, only the
mentally disturbed would utter anything in pidgin. Dialects run riot in Enugu,
if you listen carefully, but they all ALL Igbo language. There are growing
speakers of "Engligbo," but the society is not accepting it in public.
So far the BBC have failed in its operation: it forgot to inform that man who
lives in Aso Rock to go and register early. He arrived late and the clerk
won't allow him to register. And he did not vote for Uncle Sege!
What a difference NINE months make!
Happy nail-biting, Prof.
MOE
In a message dated 2/26/99 5:44:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,
mal...@scs.howard.edu writes:
<<
Now let us analyze some data:
CITY STATE POPULATION Native Tongue Popular Tongue
(1993)
Lagos LAGOS 5,685,781 Yoruba Miscell, p. Yoruba
Benin EDO 2,159,848 Edo Pidgin English
Enugu ENUGU 3,161,295 Igbo Pidgin
Ibadan OYO 3,488,789 Yoruba Yoruba
PH RIVERS 3,983,857 Miscell. Pidgin
Warri DELTA 2,570,181 Ijaw, Urhobo Pidgin
Calabar CRS-RIV 1,866,604 Kalabari, Efik Pidgin
---------
22,016,355
>>
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Ken Okorie
wrong with featuring at least two of the other major native languages,
namely Igbo and Yoruba. I smell a rat.
Ken Okorie
"Mobolaji E. Aluko" wrote:
>
> Netters:
>
> Kindly read this news item below:
>
> QUOTE:
>
> BBC to Broadcast to Nigeria in English, Hausa
> ---------------------------------------------
> The BBC World Service will on Friday start broadcasting programmes in
> English and Hausa throughout Nigeria on a high-quality FM frequency
> for the first time to coincide with presidential elections on
> Saturday.
>
> "We are very pleased that our millions of regular Nigerian listeners
> will now be able to tune in to BBC programmes in perfect FM sound
> quality during this historic electoral period," said Barry Langridge,
> the World Service's Africa head.
>
> BBC programmes can already be heard on FM in Lagos and Abuja. Under
> the new deal the World Service will be heard in FM in Benin City,
> Makurdi, Jos, Katsina, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Ibadan, Ilorin, Port
> Harcourt, Warri and Calabar.
>
> UNQUOTE
>
> Now let us analyze some data:
>
> CITY STATE POPULATION Native Tongue Popular Tongue
> (1993)
> Lagos LAGOS 5,685,781 Yoruba Miscell, p. Yoruba
> Benin EDO 2,159,848 Edo Pidgin English
> Enugu ENUGU 3,161,295 Igbo Pidgin
> Ibadan OYO 3,488,789 Yoruba Yoruba
> PH RIVERS 3,983,857 Miscell. Pidgin
> Warri DELTA 2,570,181 Ijaw, Urhobo Pidgin
> Calabar CRS-RIV 1,866,604 Kalabari, Efik Pidgin
> ---------
> 22,016,355
>