USA Africa Dialogue Series - CBAAC and CASAS Workshop on Harmonization and Standardization of Nigerian and Related languages

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE HARMONIZATION AND STANDARDIZATION OF NIGERIAN AND RELATED LANGUAGES (Benin, Cameroon, and Niger Republic) HELD BETWEEN 26TH AND 27TH OCTOBER, 2010 AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE ABUJA-NIGERIA   INTRODUCTION:   The Centre for Black and African  Arts and Civilization (CBAAC)  in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Studies of African society (CASAS) jointly organized a two-day International Workshop on "Harmonzation and Standardization of Nigerian and Related Languages (Benin, Cameroon, and Niger Republic)"  from Tuesday, 26th to Wednesday, 27th of October, 2010 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.   The workshop attracted participants from many countries across Africa.  The opening ceremony was graced by such important dignitaries as the Honourable Minster of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq A. Mohammed, who was represented by Mr. Gambo Dori, Ag. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.  The other important personalities at the event included Prof. Kwesi  Kwaa Prah, Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS) in South Africa, the President of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria, Prof. A. M. Amfani; Major General Ishola Williams (Rtd.), Executive Secretary, Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG); and Prof. Charles Binam Bikoi, the Chief Executive Officer of CERDETOLA in Yaounde, Cameroon.  Other personalities from outside Nigeria include Attouman Mahaman Bachir from Universite Abdou Moumouni, Niger Republic, Dr. Anderson Chebanne from Republic of Botswana, Dr. Medard Bada of the Republic of Benin, and Mahamanme L. Abdoulaye of Niger Republic. Others include Prof. Al Mtenje of the University of Malawi, Prof. Hounkapti Capo of Universite D'Abomey, Calavi in the Republic of Benin, Prof. Lazarus Miti from South Africa, Mr. Kaloumadje Nadjadongar of AU – CELTHO Niamey, Niger Republic, Prof. Matsinhe of Academy of African Languages (ACALAN) of the AU Commission, Bamako, Mali.   OBSERVATIONS:   After a robust and expansive deliberation, the workshop observed as follows:   1.         That to attain development in Africa, the use of indigenous African languages is not only imperative but also strategically important.   2.         That the quest for regional and continental integration and development can best be met by the harmonization of African languages.   3.         That the harmonization of African languages is the first step towards creating a firm foundation for the production of literature which could be used to enhance civic participation or advance public service media.   4.         That there is a need to write African languages such that they could reach wider audiences and this could only be achieved if the orthographies are harmonized.   5.         Thus, the desirability to remove orthographic differences between mutually intelligible languages becomes a compelling necessity because, in the first instance such differences arose on account of the fact that different and often rival missionary groups produced orthographies without cognizance or regard for the profound structural similarities between these languages.   6.         In the same vein, the workshop noted that such orthographic revision has the advantage of economy of scale because instead of producing literature for say one or two million people it is possible to produce it for ten, twenty or more million people.   7.         That apart from encouraging mass education, the revision and standardization of orthographies has the added advantage of upgrading spelling systems and simplifying them for readers and writers.     RECOMMENDATIONS:   Against the backdrop of the above observations, the workshop recommends as follows:   1.         That the harmonization of orthographies in Africa should be a continental project which should be given priority attention.   2.         That other agencies and institutions in both the private and public sectors in Africa should cooperate and collaborate on research into African languages.   3.         That there should be follow-up workshops for teachers and writers to familiarize them with the new orthographies so that they can use them effectively in the production of literature.   4.         That projects on the harmonization and standardization of orthographies should be undertaken from purely Afrocentric view points and not to serve the interests of foreigners.           PROF. KWESI KWAA PRAH                    PROF. OLATUNDE BABAWALE DIRECTOR                                                            DIRECTOR-GENERAL CENTRE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDIES    CENTRE FOR BLACK AND OF AFRICAN SOCIETY (CASAS)                            AFRICAN ARTS AND                                                                                             CIVILIZATION                                                                                                 (CBAAC) Adesegun Dosumu Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) 36/38, Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria. 01-7744489, +2348083950755, +2348055404320

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