The Language Issue
Orevaoghene Charles Obaro
all for their erudite contributions. My aim in this contribution is
to put things in perspective, not to disagree with any particular
individual.
Yoruba has many dialects: Oyo, Ijesha, Ila, Ijebu, Ondo, Wo, Owe,
Jumu, Iworro, Igbena, Yagba, Gbedde, Egba, Akono, Aworo, Bunu, Ekiti,
Ilaje, Ikale, and Awori; but OYO is the standard dialect in literary
usage - primarily because it was used to translate the Bible as far
back as 1850 which was then used for missionary work. That is how the
Yoruba elite emerged as a united entity. Many dialects and
sub-dialects of Yoruba are not intelligible to modern Yorubas.
Even Hausa has many dialects. The main ones are Eastern
Hausa, Western Hausa, and North Hausa. Barikanchi is a type of Hausa
pidgin used in military barracks. There is a separate pidgin or market
Hausa. Subdialects of Eastern Hausa include Kano, Kataguma and
Hadejiya; of Western Hausa, include Sokoto, Katsina, Gobirawa,
Adarawa, Kebbawa and Zamfarawa; of North Hausa, include Arewa and
Arawa. Abakwariga is a separate subgroup. Lugard enforced Arewa Hausa
in the Northern region by creating a two-track system. You learnt in
your mother tongue in junior elementary and in Hausa in senior
elementary - no matter what part of the North you originated from.
Igbo has about 30 dialects, which vary in inherent intelligibility.
However, the standard literary form was developed from mainly Owerri
with a sprinkle of Onitsha dialect. Examples of Igbo dialects are
Owerri (Isuama), Onitsha, Umuahia (Ohuhu), Orlu, Ngwa, Afikpo, Nsa,
Oguta, Aniocha, Eche, Egbema etc.
There are many dialects of the Edo (or Edoid) language. In fact
officially there are AT LEAST 24. There are two broad clusters -
Northern (old Benin Province) and Southern (old Warri/Delta Province).
Within each cluster there are many dialects and sub-dialects. Much
earlier on in this century the Bini (Edo) and Agbarho (Urhobo)
dialects evolved as standard dialects for literary usage in the
northern and southern clusters (driven by provincial delineation).
When in Nigeria's official National language policy, you hear (or read
about) "Edo" it refers to the Bini dialect. Thus it is not quite
correct to say Edos have no common language. To the same extent and
by the same way that Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas did, we do, even if
some do not like the idea of speaking Bini because of historical
connotations and the usual "marginalization" this-and-that bogey.
In present Edo State possibly 56% are primary Bini speakers. I do not
know how many speak it secondarily. In the old Benin division it was
widely taught until 1966. Many prominent non-Edos (like the late
Amadi-Emina for example) spoke Bini-Edo fluently. Among Nigeria's
nine (9) or so national languages, the Bini dialect of Edo is fully
recognized by the National Language policy. Before independence the
Nigerian constitution was translated to Bini-Edo (and Agbarho-Urhobo)
at least once. That it has not been enforced among some of our younger
generation is an entirely different matter - one of political mischief, lack
of
leadership and lack of consistency. One huge problem has been the
massive out-migration of our people to other states in the country
with cultural implications. Many 'sophisticated' Edo speaking people
in Lagos speak English and Yoruba, but cannot speak their own
sub-dialects let alone Edo/Bini. Another problem is lack of teachers.
Another problem is widespread intermarriage with non-Edo spouses. Yet
another problem is that a recent survey of parents INSIDE Benin-City
revealed that many did not want their children taught Edo in school
because of fears that it would affect their English and somehow
undermine their long term competitiveness in Nigerian society! I call
it the House-Nigger syndrome. [Some years ago when I casually
challenged a Commissioner for Education in Bendel State about why Edo
was not being taught then even in primary schools in Orhionmwon LGA,
his response was that he did want to be perceived as paying attention
to such petty things!].
The real "power-block" challenge is to bridge the northern and
southern clusters of Edoid dialects, so that ALL Edoid peoples can
communicate in a given dialect when they choose to do so. It is more
than just Edo State. We should plan for a day when there may even be
more states in the area. Can you imagine a situation where Lagos,
Ogun, Oshun, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo and Kwara are officially speaking
different forms of the same Yoruba language? Certainly not. They
have gone past that. But in Edo country?
In some local government areas of Edo State numerous dialects and
sub-dialects exist. Which one will you use in Owan for example? What
about Akoko-Edo? What about Etsako? Once you start allowing ego to
influence your decisions, you will find that you need to translate the
news on TV/Radio 24 times or more. That is why the British simplified
matters by picking a few dialects. But it seems we Edos want to
reinvent the wheel. Sometime in 1979/80 Bendel TV and Radio became a
potpourri. News translations took hours, including even Yoruba.
We need to consider building on the backbone of one regional dialect
and then use other dialects to fill in the gaps in vocabulary so that
it grows over time. Or else it may not work. English is a powerful
competitor with strong economic and political support, along with its
prestige. It is constantly reinforced by a critical mass of speakers.
And our people are too few and scattered. With the Edoid dialects in
particular another major problem is the fact that they are intonation
languages. The same words and sentences are pronounced differently,
meaning different things within and outside various dialects. This
can cause confusion. [See: Comparative Edoid : phonology and lexicon
by Ben Ohioomamhoe Elugbe]
Another approach is to identify the use of certain dialects for use in
specific situations. In those days for example, different rituals
were performed in specific dialects. In modern Nigeria nothing stops
us from using different dialects for trade words or engineering and
technology words as opposed to daily conversation. People who live in
border areas or trade across borders speak more than one dialect
typically - which tends to give them a hybrid form of communication.
So this does not necessarily require policy. Igueben and Ehor are
examples. Along the Abudu-Agbor axis many speak both Bini and Ika.
In Kwale many Ukwuanis also speak Isoko or Urhobo. There are many
other examples.
I personally feel everyone should be able to learn their mother
dialect (or subdialect) as well as ONE other Edoid dialect, in
addition to English. If Bini (which is the official Edo in Nigeria)
is unacceptable, which other specific Edoid dialect a given local
government (or village) chooses to learn should be driven by trade
considerations and practical realities. Thus two dialects (chosen
voluntarily) should be taught (and used officially) in each LGA. Over
time a standard language will emerge by usage without all kinds of
political misinterpretations - which is common with our people. We
are inherently complicated.
Those who think multiple Edoid dialects can simply be mechanically
merged by linguists and then taught should recall that the attempt to
create "Union Igbo" by combining five different Igbo dialects in the
1930s and 1940s failed miserably. The grammar was too complicated,
the Catholic Church did not support it, and the vocabulary was
confusing. Eventually, Owerri Igbo (with some Onitsha elements)
became the standard Igbo.
We should learn from History.
NAO
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APPENDIX: Edoid Dialects
1. ADUGE [ADU]. Kwara State, Oyi LGA.
2. DEGEMA. Rivers State, Degema LGA. Dialects: ATALA, USOKUN (KALA
DEGEMA).
3. EDO (BINI, BENIN, ADDO, OVIEDO, OVIOBA) Bendel State, Ovia, Oredo,
and Orhionmwon LGA's.
4. EMAI-IULEHA-ORA (KUNIBUM, IVBIOSAKON) [EMA] Dialects:
IVHIMION, EMAI, IULEHA, ORA. Dialect cluster.
5. ENGENNI (NGENE, EGENE) [ENN]. Rivers State, Ahoada and Yenagoa
LGA's. Dialects: EDIRO, INEDUA, OGUA.
6. EPIE (EPIE-ATISSA) [EPI]. Rivers State, Yenagoa LGA. Dialect: ATISA
(ATISSA). Most speakers are bilingual in Ijo.
7. ERUWA (EROHWA, ERAKWA, AROKWA) [ERH] Bendel State, Isoko LGA.
Related to Urhobo. Most speakers are bilingual in Central Isoko, which
is replacing Eruwa. Not intelligible with any Isoko dialect.
8. ESAN (ISHAN, ISA, ESA, ANWAIN) [ISH] Bendel State, Agbazko,
Okpebho, Owan, and Etsako LGA's. Dialects: EKPON, IGUEBEN. Many
dialects, apparently inherently intelligible.
9. GHOTUO (OTWA, OTUO) [AAA]. Edo State, Owan and Akoko-Edo LGA's.
10. IKPESHI (IKPESHE, EKPESHE) [IKP] Bendel State, Etsako LGA.
11. ISOKO Delta State, Isoko and Ndokwa LGA's.
12. IVBIE NORTH-OKPELA-ARHE [ATG]. Edo State, Etsako and Akoko-Edo
LGA's. Dialects: IVBIE NORTH (IBIE NORTH), OKPELA (OKPELLA, UKPELLA,
UPELLA), ARHE (ATTE, ATE).
13. IYAYU (IDOANI) [IYA]. Ondo State, one-quarter of Idoani town. The
people are sometimes called 'Idoani'.
14. OKPAMHERI (OPAMERI) [OPA]. Edo State, Akoko-Edo LGA. Dialects:
OKULOSHO (OKUROSHO), WESTERN OKPAMHERI, EMHALHE (EMARLE, SOMORIKA,
SEMOLIKA). Subdialects of Okulosho: Ojirami (Eekunu),Dagbala
(Dangbala), Oja (Oza), Makeke (Uuma), Oma. Subdialects of Western
Okpamheri: Ekpe, Bekuma, Lankpese (Lampese, Lankpeshi), Ibillo
(Ibilo), Imoga (Imorga, Uma), Eko (Ekon, Ekor), Ikaran-Oke
(Ikeram-Oke), Ebunn-Oke, Ikaran-Ele (Ikeran-Ile, Ebunn-Ugbo, Ikpesa,
Igbo-Ola-Sale (Ugboshi-Sale), Aiyegunle (Oshi), Igbo-Ola-Oke
(Ugboshi-Oke), Onumo (Onumu), Ogugu, Ogbe-Sale, Ogbe-Oke. Emhalhe may
be a separate language.
15. OKPE [OKE]. Edo State, Okpe LGA. Distinct from
Okpe-Idesa-Oloma-Akuku, which is Northwestern Edoid.
16. OKPE-IDESA-OLOMA-AKUKU [OKP] Edo State, Akoko-Edo LGA. Dialects:
OKPE, IDESA, OLOMA, AKUKU. Oloma may be a separate language. Different
from Okpe which is Southwestern Edoid.
17. OSOSO [OSS]. Edo State, Akoko-Edo LGA.
18. SASARU-ENWAN IGWE (SASARU) [SSC]. Edo State, Akoko-Edo LGA.
19. UHAMI (ISHUA) [UHA]. Ondo State, Akoko South and Owo LGA's.
20. UKUE-EHUEN (EKPENMI, EKPENMEN, EPINMI) [UKU] including Ehuen,
Ukue. Ondo State, Akoko South LGA. Dialects: UKUE, EHUEN. Crozier and
Blench 1992 treat Ukue and Ehuen as separate languages.
21. UNEME (ULEME, ILEME, INEME) [UNE]. Edo State, Etsako, Agbazko, and
Akoko-Edo LGA's. Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee.
22. URHOBO. Delta State, Ethiope and Ughelli LGA's. Dialects: AGBARHO,
ISOKO
23. UVBIE ("EVHRO", UVHRIA, UVWIE, EVRIE, EFFURUN). Delta State,
Ethiope LGA. Related to Urhobo.
24. YEKHEE (ETSAKO, ETSAKOR, AFENMAI, IYEKHEE, "KUKURUKU"). Edo State,
Etsako, Agbako, and Okpebho LGA's. Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee. Dialects:
AUCHI, UZAIRUE, SOUTH IBIE, UWEPA-UWANO (WEPPA WANO), AVIANWU (FUGAR),
AVIELE, IVHIADAOBI. Not all speakers of the language recognize
'Yekhee' as the name of the language; some prefer 'Etsako'. However,
'Etsako' is not the only language listed as being spoken in Etsako
LGA. The name "Kukuruku" is derogatory.
John Beadle
Dear Mr. Orevaoghene:
This is quite an interesting posting. Perhaps you can answer a few
questions for me. I'm a big collector of Nigerian music and a couple of
years ago I came into possession of some records by old Benin State
artists. There were several that were labeled as being in the "Etsako"
language. I guessed that this was either a dialect of Edo or related to
it. I see from the listing you append that this is indeed true. My
first question is: to what degree is "Etsako" mutually intelligible to
other Edoid speakers & vice versa?
I also have several records by an artist named Alhaji Sir Waziri
Oshomah, which are labelled as "Ekperi." I have never heard of this
language or dialect before although one of the records indicates that he
is indeed from old Benin State. I also do not see it in your listing of
Edoid languages & dialects, but it does seem similar to the Edo records
I've heard. So this is my second question: What is "Ekperi" & how many
people speak it? This Mr. Oshomah apparently is or was a pretty big
artist who put out at least ten albums. I would guess from his name
also that he is a Muslim, which leads to my third question: How many
Edoid-speaking people are Muslims? Are particular Edo sub-groups
Muslims, & how did this come about? I confess I don't know much about
the Edo-speaking peoples, but I had thought they were mainly Christian.
Hoping you or someone else can help me with this, I am
Yours Truly,
John V. Beadle
Producer/Host
"African Beat"
WYMS-FM,
Milwaukee, WI USA