Literature
The Nigerian Pidgin English has an ironic stigma that even language experts find difficult to understand. It is the most widely spoken language, the only unbiased lingua franca with interjections of many indigenous languages across the country, and it is the language often used by politicians to attract the attention and votes of the masses. Yet, it is the most maligned language; dimissed as the language of the uneducated.
But, that notion may soon change, as some concerned individuals and non-governmental organizations have set in motion awareness campaigns aimed at entrenching the dignity of the popular but stigmatized language. One of such campaigns was organized by Mr. Olabode Moses, founder of the Global Decade for Promoting Pidgin, at the Women Multipurpose Centre, Kaduna, from 29th to 30th May, 2008. Tagged ?Na we Get Am: Pidgin English Festival Project?, the two-day workshop had in attendance scholars of Pidgin English, students, writers, musicians and artists. Paper presentations and creative sessions featuring production of pidgin dramas, songs, poetry and jokes formed the major highlight of the workshop.
The ball was set rolling with a welcome address by the Chairman of the occasion, Comrade Shehu Sani of the Civil Rights Congress, who was represented by Engr. Ahmed Suleiman. He stressed the need for the promotion of the Nigerian Pidgin, which he described as a language of unity, and called for a legislation that would accord it official recognition.
The address was followed by background information on the pidgin campaign by Mr. Moses. The graduate of Theatre and Performing Arts from the University of Jos explained that the Pidgin English project, which began in 2000, was aimed at promoting pidgin for national development. According to him, pidgin as the most commonly used language could be harnessed to pass across developmental messages. Hence, he said, the workshop was meant to serve as a forum where stakeholders could brainstorm on how pidgin could be elevated to its rightful place in the scheme of things.
Thereafter, the three resource persons spoke on aspects of the Nigerian Pidgin English, its contributions to national development and what the country stands to gain when it is accorded official recognition. The resource persons were Professor Taiwo Gani-Ikilama, who teaches Pidgin in the Department of English and Drama, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Professor Sam Kafewo of the same Department, and Malam Sumaila Umaisha, Literary Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers, Kaduna.
Professor Gani-Ikilama acknowledged the fact that the Nigerian Pidgin has come a long way as it is being studied in ABU at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In a paper titled ?Pigdin ? Uses, Evolution of a Language in Nigeria, West Africa and the World?, she traced the history of the Nigerian Pidgin and asserted that in terms of usage, it could be ranked as the most spoken language in the country. She, however, observed that it could not be said to have come of age, because it has not been officially recognized by government. According to her, for a language to really develop to a point where it could truly contribute to nation building it has to be officially recognized and relevant policies formulated to ensure its development. She said lack of government recognition for the Nigerian Pidgin is the main reason why in spite of the suggestions for a distinct orthography for it by many researchers, the written pidgin has remained chaotic with irregular spellings, pronunciation and grammar. Without government recognition of the Nigerian Pidgin the chaos will continue, she said, adding that only government could help it to come of age.
She cited the instance of Swahili which is spoken in some African countries, saying it succeeded in offering the people the linguistic basis for unity because it is no man?s language. She said Nigerian Pidgin which shares similar historical and social features with Swahili could also "be a useful national language for Nigeria; it can serve the national language question".
In his paper titled ?Pidgin English and Theatre in Nigeria?, Professor Kafewo stressed the effectiveness of pidgin as a medium of artistic expression in theatre performance. He observed that employing pidgin in drama facilitates understanding and ensures the messages get to the grassroots level. According to him, the immediacy that could be achieved through the use of pidgin especially in community theatre could not be achieved in plays produced entirely in standard English. He, however, observed that due to the stigma attached to the use of pidgin only few playwrights explore it. And even those who employ it, he said, restrict it to characters like labourers and houseboys. He then called on Nigerian playwrights not to shun pidgin as that would mean running away from reality. If playwrights want to connect with the society and make their work have impact on the people, they have to use the language commonly spoken by the people, he concluded.
Malam Umaisha is also of the view that writers need not shy away from the use of pidgin. In his paper titled ?Pidgin and Creative Writing?, he observed that though writers like Mamman Vatsa have contributed to the development of the written pidgin, a lot still needs to be done. This is because, according to him, so far only a few writers have had the courage of writing entirely in pidgin. He said while he received over ten poetry submissions in standard English every week, he gets only about two submissions in pidgin each year. And this is not just because of the stigma attached to the language alone, he said, but other factors like lack of standard writing rules especially in terms of spellings. To this end, he urged experts in the field to standardize the language. "Instead of laying much emphasis on the theoretical aspect of the study of pidgin as it is currently the case, emphasis should be on the practical aspect; the actual use of the language to produce works in poetry, drama and prose," he said.
Umaisha added that the fact that Nigerian Pidgin is being studied in the universities shows that government is somewhat aware of its importance. He said all that is needed is concerted effort by the pidgin scholars to academically develop the language and then try to convince government on the need to accord it an official recognition.
The practical aspect of the workshop was handled by Mr. Moses. The participants, largely made up of students from ABU and Kaduna State University, were divided into groups. And each group was assigned to produce songs, poems, drama and stories in pidgin. The practical aspect lasted till the following day when the workshop came to an end at mid-day.
The workshop, which was sponsored by Prince Claus and Mega Arts Pluz, was part of the activities lined up for the Global Decade for Promoting Pidgin, expected to last between 2008 and 2018. Another major event tagged Pidgin English Festival comes up this month.
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Literature
Promoting the Nigerian Pidgin English
The Nigerian Pidgin English has an ironic stigma that even language experts find difficult to understand. It is the most widely spoken language, the only unbiased lingua franca with interjections of many indigenous languages across the country, and it is the language often used by politicians to attract the attention and votes of the masses. Yet, it is the most maligned language; dimissed as the language of the uneducated.But, that notion may soon change, as some concerned individuals and non-governmental organizations have set in motion awareness campaigns aimed at entrenching the dignity of the popular but stigmatized language. One of such campaigns was organized by Mr. Olabode Moses, founder of the Global Decade for Promoting Pidgin, at the Women Multipurpose Centre, Kaduna, from 29th to 30th May, 2008. Tagged ?Na we Get Am: Pidgin English Festival Project?, the two-day workshop had in attendance scholars of Pidgin English, students, writers, musicians and artists. Paper presentations and creative sessions featuring production of pidgin dramas, songs, poetry and jokes formed the major highlight of the workshop.
The ball was set rolling with a welcome address by the Chairman of the occasion, Comrade Shehu Sani of the Civil Rights Congress, who was represented by Engr. Ahmed Suleiman. He stressed the need for the promotion of the Nigerian Pidgin, which he described as a language of unity, and called for a legislation that would accord it official recognition.
The address was followed by background information on the pidgin campaign by Mr. Moses. The graduate of Theatre and Performing Arts from the University of Jos explained that the Pidgin English project, which began in 2000, was aimed at promoting pidgin for national development. According to him, pidgin as the most commonly used language could be harnessed to pass across developmental messages. Hence, he said, the workshop was meant to serve as a forum where stakeholders could brainstorm on how pidgin could be elevated to its rightful place in the scheme of things.
Thereafter, the three resource persons spoke on aspects of the Nigerian Pidgin English, its contributions to national development and what the country stands to gain when it is accorded official recognition. The resource persons were Professor Taiwo Gani-Ikilama, who teaches Pidgin in the Department of English and Drama, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Professor Sam Kafewo of the same Department, and Malam Sumaila Umaisha, Literary Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers, Kaduna.
Professor Gani-Ikilama acknowledged the fact that the Nigerian Pidgin has come a long way as it is being studied in ABU at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In a paper titled ?Pigdin ? Uses, Evolution of a Language in Nigeria, West Africa and the World?, she traced the history of the Nigerian Pidgin and asserted that in terms of usage, it could be ranked as the most spoken language in the country. She, however, observed that it could not be said to have come of age, because it has not been officially recognized by government. According to her, for a language to really develop to a point where it could truly contribute to nation building it has to be officially recognized and relevant policies formulated to ensure its development. She said lack of government recognition for the Nigerian Pidgin is the main reason why in spite of the suggestions for a distinct orthography for it by many researchers, the written pidgin has remained chaotic with irregular spellings, pronunciation and grammar. Without government recognition of the Nigerian Pidgin the chaos will continue, she said, adding that only government could help it to come of age.
She cited the instance of Swahili which is spoken in some African countries, saying it succeeded in offering the people the linguistic basis for unity because it is no man?s language. She said Nigerian Pidgin which shares similar historical and social features with Swahili could also "be a useful national language for Nigeria; it can serve the national language question".
In his paper titled ?Pidgin English and Theatre in Nigeria?, Professor Kafewo stressed the effectiveness of pidgin as a medium of artistic expression in theatre performance. He observed that employing pidgin in drama facilitates understanding and ensures the messages get to the grassroots level. According to him, the immediacy that could be achieved through the use of pidgin especially in community theatre could not be achieved in plays produced entirely in standard English. He, however, observed that due to the stigma attached to the use of pidgin only few playwrights explore it. And even those who employ it, he said, restrict it to characters like labourers and houseboys. He then called on Nigerian playwrights not to shun pidgin as that would mean running away from reality. If playwrights want to connect with the society and make their work have impact on the people, they have to use the language commonly spoken by the people, he concluded.
Malam Umaisha is also of the view that writers need not shy away from the use of pidgin. In his paper titled ?Pidgin and Creative Writing?, he observed that though writers like Mamman Vatsa have contributed to the development of the written pidgin, a lot still needs to be done. This is because, according to him, so far only a few writers have had the courage of writing entirely in pidgin. He said while he received over ten poetry submissions in standard English every week, he gets only about two submissions in pidgin each year. And this is not just because of the stigma attached to the language alone, he said, but other factors like lack of standard writing rules especially in terms of spellings. To this end, he urged experts in the field to standardize the language. "Instead of laying much emphasis on the theoretical aspect of the study of pidgin as it is currently the case, emphasis should be on the practical aspect; the actual use of the language to produce works in poetry, drama and prose," he said.
Umaisha added that the fact that Nigerian Pidgin is being studied in the universities shows that government is somewhat aware of its importance. He said all that is needed is concerted effort by the pidgin scholars to academically develop the language and then try to convince government on the need to accord it an official recognition.
The practical aspect of the workshop was handled by Mr. Moses. The participants, largely made up of students from ABU and Kaduna State University, were divided into groups. And each group was assigned to produce songs, poems, drama and stories in pidgin. The practical aspect lasted till the following day when the workshop came to an end at mid-day.
The workshop, which was sponsored by Prince Claus and Mega Arts Pluz, was part of the activities lined up for the Global Decade for Promoting Pidgin, expected to last between 2008 and 2018. Another major event tagged Pidgin English Festival comes up this month.
Pictures:
1. [L-R] Sumaila Umaisha & Ahmed Suleiman.
2. Cross-section of participants.
(c) Reported by Sumaila Umaisha and published in the New Nigerian of 12/7/08.
- Nigerian Pidgin, Most Popular Mode Of Communication ? Oribhabor
Edwin Eriata Oribhabor, since he berthed on the literary sphere in Nigeria with the publication of his book Abuja na Kpangba an Oda Puem-Dem in the year 2011,has not relented in his quest to make Nigerians take Pidgin English seriously as a language...
- From Nigerian Pidgin To Naija Langwej: A Writers?s Crusade For A Home Grown Lingua Franca
Edwin Eriata Oribhabor, since he berthed on the literary sphere in Nigeria with the publication of his book Abuja na Kpangba an Oda Puem-Dem in the year 2011,has not relented in his quest to make Nigerians take Pidgin English seriously as a language of...
- Rhythms Of Life And Death
SUMAILA UMAISHA?s review of IFY OMALICHA?s collection of poems, Now that dreams are Born, published by Kraftgriots, 2011, p.141. The Nigerian literary scene is fast becoming famous for churning out promising writers. Ify Omalicha, a master?s degree holder...
- Nal, Nlng In Quest For Literary Excellence
L ? R: Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, Miss Siene Allwell-Brown, Prof. Ben Elugbe, Mrs. Mabel Segun, Prof. Ayo Banjo and Malam Denja Abdullahi at the opening ceremony Why does a book considered by the author as a masterpiece at times fail to make it in literary...
- Poetry: Sentinel Nigeria Spreads The Gospel
The 3rd of July, 2010 was a special day for the members of the Kaduna State chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors and writers resident in Kaduna, as Unoma Azuah, Professor of Creative Writing at Lane College, USA, lectured them on some vital techniques...