Why Igbo language movies must survive’
On January 21, 2012

By EBELE ORAKPO
The importance of a people’s language cannot be over- emphasised. Language has been described as an ethnic identity, therefore, any tribe that loses its language has invariably lost its identity.

As the Chinese say, if you want to colonise a man for life, teach him your language. Last year, a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) revealed that the Igbo language might become extinct in the next 50 years. To halt the trend, various Igbo groups are now battling to save the language.

In Nollywood, the battle is being fought by the Igbo Film Forum (IFF). At the recently held Igbo Premier Film Festival in Awka, Anambra State, the National President of IFF, Comrade Harris Chuma, filmmaker, producer and director, spoke to HVP on his vision to signal a rebirth of the Igbo language movies.

*Harris Chuma

About the Igbo Film Festival

Basically, the festival was designed to sensitise Igbo filmmakers in Nollywood on the need for a true rebirth of Igbo Language films. We have a clear mandate in IFF and that is to campaign vigorously to see that Igbo Language film is given a voice again and Igbo Language is also considered as a medium of expression.

You can see that there is a total decline in the speaking and writing of Igbo Language .There have been so many predictions that in 2015, Igbo Language will definitely go into extinction.

Having said that, film makers in Nollywood are duty-bound to ensure that our language does not die. To ensure that our language is used in the films to express/ sell our culture, the festival theme for last year which was the inaugural edition, the first ever Igbo Film Festival in Nigeria was Igbo Language Film: Challenges and Prospects.

Champions of the cause:

I wouldn’t give the credit for the upsurge in the production of Igbo language movies these days to myself. I am playing a part in the struggle. We have those that are not even in Nollywood, who are championing the same cause. People like Professor Pita Ejiofor who chaired the opening ceremony of the festival, in Awka, has been in this battle for the past six years.

A former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Founder/National president of Suwa kwa Igbo social-cultural organisation based in Anambra State, Professor Ejiofor has travelled wide with this message, campaigning for Igbos to remember their language. He has been there shouting, screaming, sensitizing everybody in Nigeria and beyond that Igbo Language should not die.

I have been there too but in my own case, being a practitioner in Nollywood, it makes it very easy for me to convince the Igbos, on the need for them to demand for Igbo content on TV and cable networks like DSTv, Hitv, MyTv. . .

Low patronage of Igbo language movies:

Any producer who claims there is a low patronage of Igbo Language films is not being truthful. The reality on ground is that Nollywood of today survives based on indigenous language films. The champions of the Nollywood of today are the Yorubas and the market for Yoruba language films is booming. Hausa language films are also selling, so any Igbo film maker who claims that there is no market for Igbo language films is not telling the truth.

In fact, there is even a new market trend and you know how things work here in Nigeria. People embrace new things easily. English language film market is almost dead, that is why we are rushing to the cinemas.

Teaching tool:

For you to teach your child the Igbo language, you need to do works in Igbo Language to use as tools so the market is there. It’s a virgin market, people are waiting to buy not even to rent. So my advice to them is that they should go to location, make Igbo Language films. There are several ways of going about this in terms of marketing and distribution. After shooting, you do the premiere in Igboland to attract personalities, people in government, politicians. You know politicians love such platforms to make political statements so there are several ways of going about it.

Clarion call

I am using this opportunity to call on my colleagues in Nollywood to start making movies in Igbo Language, not because Harris Chma will take the credit tomorrow. It is because of our culture, where we come from. I am seeing a new Nollywood. This festival has opened my eyes to so many things. We had a lot of scholars, professors from different universities that attended the event.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/why-igbo-language-movies-must-survive/

Yoruba language under threat of extinction – Abimbola By Tunde Odesola, Osogbo Saturday, 6 Nov 2010

Former Vice-Chancellor, Obafem A former Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Wande Abimbola, has warned that Yoruba language faces the threat of extinction in the next 50 years if urgent steps are not taken to revive it.

In the third Odua Distinguished Lecture papers made available to our correspondent in Ibadan on Friday, Abimbola lamented that the essence of Yoruba culture, which included songs, dance, dress and language had been neglected by the government and individuals.

He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria had failed in attracting tourism and foreign investment despite the immense potential available in the country. The highlight of the occasion was when five Americans sponsored by the United States Government to learn Yoruba language and culture stepped out and greeted the audience in impeccable Yoruba.

The director of the centre, where the Americans are learning Yoruba culture and language in Ibadan, Prof. Kola Owolabi, said the Americans were part of a project sponsored by the American government, adding that the project would run for a year.

Abimbola, who is the Awise Agbaye, a high chieftaincy title bequeathed to him for his prowess in Ifa knowledge, explained that the Yoruba were highly endowed in terms of culture.

Delivering his speech in Yoruba, Abimbola charged the government, parents and guardians to endeavour to allow the young to communicate in Yoruba, saying that this would aid learning of science and technology.

Abimbola, who sounded a gong as he delivered obsequies to Yoruba gods, said, “The Yoruba in the Diaspora are over 100 million. Yoruba language will go into extinction in the next 50 years if we don’t arrest the trend of neglect afflicting the language.

“Yoruba will be slaves to other cultures if we don’t take the bull by the horns and start teaching our children Yoruba language from nursery to primary and secondary schools. Brazil, where 50 million Yoruba people reside, makes so much money propagating Yoruba cultures and language.”

A professor of history and Provost, College of Humanities, Osun State University, Osogbo, Siyan Oyeweso, told our correspondent on the telephone that Yoruba people no longer spoke their language.

Oyeweso said, “In one of our universities in Nigeria, there was a time when its Yoruba Department had only one student a particular admission year. In order to overcome this trend, Nigerian universities now combine Yoruba with Portuguese or French or other foreign languages.”

But a lecturer in the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr. Chijioke Nwasomba, differed from Abimbola and Oyeweso, saying Nigerian languages would not die.

Nwasomba said, “People speak these languages in villages and towns. Language is dynamic and as a result of this, it could take other forms. The government should, however, support those who write in indigenous languages. Nigerian languages cannot die.”

The chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, condemned hero-worshipping of Nigerian leaders by their aides and hangers-on, saying this trend portended grave consequences for governance.

He commended past Yoruba leaders for charting a course of development for the region, even as he urged the Yoruba to be united.

According to Adelusi-Adeluyi, the Yoruba race has contributed significantly to the development of blacks worldwide. He said that among the major tribes in the country, the Yoruba remained number one.

The Group Managing Director, Odua Investment Company Ltd., Mr. Adebayo Jimoh, said the dreams and toils of the past and present leaders of the race would not be in vain.

He said OICL remained committed to improving the socio-economic and cultural realities of Yoruba people.

Foremost scholar, Prof Bolanle Awe, who reviewed the book, Odua Investment Company at a Glance, lauded the management of the company for sustaining the dreams of past Yoruba leaders, who founded the company.

In the Yoruba essay competition organised by OICL, Oluwakemi Fagbenro came first, Bayonle Sulaimon came second, while Funmilayo Owoeye came third.

Dignitaries present at the colouful occasion included Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola, the Araba of Osogbo, Chief Yemi Elebuibon; Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo and past group managing directors of OICL.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011064273784

What can you say when we are answering the name "Nigeria", and no one is even giving that serious thought.

Igbo language ga adịgide. Ok i thank them 4 telling us that igbo language may go into extinction but i never, and will never believe that. First nollywood fild was an igbo film, living in bondage, after that i dint knw wat became of igbo film, i also knw that there ar so many igbo film but its not eno4. For igbo speakers, writers and learners keep it up. Igbo ga adịgide, asụsụ igbo ga adịgide. Our language our identity. Asụsụ anyị eji'm malụ anyị.

Keep dreaming bigots. We igbo's were put on earth by God and blessed by him, to that effect u are fighting a lost cause. Dream on!

Wat language do people in the east speak primarily? Hediot!

There is nothing political about this thread. To the waste bin please.
Igbo people all over the world has and is still doing a lot in promoting Igbo language and culture yet no one cares about those developments. Only for fools to come up all the time to downgrade our efforts.
Get a life poster.

Otu Nzọpụta Asụsụ Igbo (ONAIgbo)


Nke a Bụ Ọkwa Dị Ezigbo Nkpa, nke sitere n'aka ndị ONAIgbo.


Igbo bụ Igbo, ekelee m ụnụ.

Ọ bụ oke ihe nwute na anyị hapụrụ asụsụ anyị, o wee na achọ ila n’efu . Ọkwa mba dị iche iche na asụ asụsụ ha? Asụsụ ndị Bekee dịrị ha, nke ndị Japanụ dịrị ha. Ndị Chaina, ndị Fụrenchị, nakwa ndị Ndia na asụgbado asụsụ ha n’otu n’otu.

A bịa na obodo Naijiriya, asụsụ ndị Yoruba dịrị ha, nke ndị Awụsa dịrị ha. Ndi Ịjọ n’asụ be ha, ndị Tivi nakwa asụ be ha.

Igbo bụ Igbo bikonụ, a sịrị m ka m jụọ; gịnị mere asụsụ anyị? Kedụ ka anyị ga esi na aza ndị Igbo, mana anyị amaghị Igbo asụ? Igbo bụ Igbo, ọ bụrụ na anyị ejighị ehihie were chọọ ewu dị oji, ọbụ na chi jie ka anyị ga achọtanwu ya? Igbo na aba aha sị, AHAMEFỤLA! Ndị asụsụ ha furu efu, bụ ndị aha ha furu efu. Ọ bụrụ na asụsụ Igbo fue, ndị Igbo efuela!

Chineke ekwela ihe ọjọọ. Ọ ga ajọgbu udele na njọ, ma sigbukwa nkakwụ na isi, ma ọ bụrụ na anyị hapụ asụsụ anyị ka ọ nwụọ.

Ọ na bụ m hụcha, edemede ụfọdụ a na edezi ugbua na aha asụsụ Igbo, anya miri anachọzị ịgba m. Echekwara m na anyị bụ ndị nwere akọ na uche? Biko nụ, ka anyị were otu obi, were neba okwua anya.

ONAIgbo (Otu Nzọpụta Asụsụ Igbo), bụ otu ndị ihe gbasara ya bụ ajọ ọnọdụ asụsụ anyị nọ ugbua na e metụ n'obi rinne.

Na mgbe na adịghị anya, anyị ga eme ka ụnụ mata atụmatụ nakwa ebu m n'obi anyị gbasara ihe anyị nile ga eme, ka asụsụ anyị were dikwa ndụ ọzọ.


Ndewo nụ!

ONAIgbo kwenu! Igbo bụ asụsụ ọma!
ONAIgbo kwenu! Asụsụ anyị ga adịrị anyị!.
Igbo kwezuenu! Ọ gadịrị Igbo nma.


Kwado ONAIgbo.
Kpọtụrụ anyị na:
Igwe nkparị ụka (Kpọọ anyị ma ọbụ zitere anyị edemede): 0810 483 5458 (ngwụ, asatọ, otu, ngwụ, anọ, asatọ, atọ, ise, anọ, ise, asatọ)
Detara anyị ozi na "onaigbo@yahoo.com".
Anyị nọkwa na Akwụkwọ Ihu (www.facebook.com/ONAIgbo)
Alo gi ga abara anyị ulu.

Extinct in 50 years Ke. UNESCO has no other thing to do then.
British English will go extinct in 7 years.

Aren't you clowns tired of posting this same nonsense all over the place?

There's no truth in this, save for mischief.

I'm sure the Igbo people here have told you the same, just in case it was done out of ignorance.

The second Igbo Premier Film Festival comes up in Lagos from November 2 - 4, 2012, at the Duban International Hotel in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.
The film festival comes with master classes, workshops, exhibitions and cultural displays.

The filmmakers panels will be an opportunity to learn from and directly engage some of the brightest independent filmmakers, scholars, writers and actors from around the
country. Interactive question and answer sessions, round-table discussions, and seminars explore the craft and creative process of cinema.

Igbo language movies will be screened till dawn.
Also there will be auditions to select artistes for the forthcoming Igbo language movies by four prominent film makers in Nollywood.
The auditions will also produce the New Face of Ndigbo in
Nollywood.

Other highlights include cultural displays and dances during the closing ceremony.
Awards will be given in several categories including Feature, Documentary, and Short Film, Acting and Directing, and the most prestigious Igbo Ambassadors Awards & Chieftancy Title ceremony.

The Grand Jury Prize will be presented to the best film in competition as selected by a jury of industry professionals, and also the Award for the Best Igbo Language Filmmaker, and the crowning of “IHU-NDIGBO”.

For more information, contact:
TEL:+2348034413206 Info@Igbofilmsgroup.Com, Www.Igbofilmsgroup.Com

No...they should have predicted 2015 as usual....they went to choose the next 50yr....scammers!