Reminders of past subjugations?

By Omo S. Uwaifo

THE Oxford English Dictionary (OED) recently added more words to the growing lexicon of English words; Naija, japa, and Yahoo-boy have been appropriated from Nigeria and are now English words.

What an interesting story that tells us. Oxford University, owners of Oxford University Press (OUP), publishers of the OED, the principal authority of the English language, ensures that the language keeps evolving and developing to meet its obligation as the World’s business language and the lingua franca of most countries, which Britain colonized.

In contrast, Nigeria has a multiplicity of ethnic languages. Of these, probably only Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa are regularly written by some of those who use them, but hardly any one of them can claim to be evolving if the users can show any semblance of their development.

Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo compared to other ethnic nations, have done bits of work to their languages. Yoruba only described the people of Oyo previously, but it later became the definition of probably the largest ethnic nation in Nigeria.

Under the political leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, a Fulani immigrant, Northern Nigeria adopted Hausa for the entire region. So, Hausa is most probably spoken by the Fulani and the largest group of indigenous Nigerians.

In spite of these developments, no ethnic group has done enough to make adequate its language for communication, especially in the sciences that keep growing.

But natural rulers in the southwest and much of the south-south seem to ignore this deficiency though they typically find words which address their esteem, even if they have to borrow from foreign sources. Some choose Imperial Majesty the moment they are handed the Staff of Office. Gone are the times of Alaiyeluwa.

In the south-south, there are Royal Majesties galore, who live in palaces. If you do not speak the same tongue, it’s easy to conclude that their languages failed them and so, you scream havoc for their resort to the language of those who had previously brutalized them, to declare their apotheoses, and define their sanctuaries.

In Benin that is slightly different. They can hardly forget Uku Akpolokpolo, the mightiest of the mighty, because Benin kings have always been more concerned with the awesomeness of their power. However, the world is changing daily, driven by technology. With fear and confusion everywhere anything can happen.

Benin people should not succumb to the life of a mu emwikpóló n’ ó mu isan ęmila, the connoisseur of the gift of big things, that got gifted a cow’s dung. Instead of Uku Akpolokpolo, you hear more of Royal Majesty, a high sounding phrase many will say is tautology. At the biggest of occasions they go for the combo His Royal Majesty and Uku Akpolokpolo, an embarrassing gibberish.

Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo Oba Erediauwa

Benin people have not expunged ęguae from their dictionary. But the Ęguae prefers the English word palace. Not done, ekhaęmwęn chosen by the resident of the Ęguae, the Óba, for duties to the ęguae or the state, are called chiefs. The generic chief in English means most important. Chief constable, Chief clerk, Chief engineer, or whatever; some glint into hierarchies. Chief is, therefore, inappropriate for anyone that the Óba chooses for such honours. English has no word that means any of these. OED should be happy to appropriate them.

Benin people have no need to appropriate palace to replace their own word, Eguae. Whereas there can be hundreds of Royal Majesties around the world, there is only the Ómò n’ Óba n’ Ędo that can be addressed as Uku Akpolokpolo. No, to reminders of past humiliation and subjugation.

Language is at the heart of civilization; it develops and nourishes it. So, let the people of Benin stop glib talks. The Ęguae is their lodestar to guide their actions as they mobilize to tread technological paths, different from those of their ancestors. Whatever example the Ęguae can show is a beacon of light in the world now dominated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. The past was more about individuals than groups and Ędo showed its skills. Now is about groups and learning. You pray that Ęguae’s leadership shines through, to excite the people’s achievement impulses, and collectively bring glory back to all Ędo land. Óba gha tò, Ò kpęre. Isęę!