1 Picture 1 Story week #94

THE BEAUTY OF OUR HERITAGE

“What is your name?”... Anita sir
What is the meaning of your name?
Uhmmmmmm….

“Where are you from?”

I am from Akwa Ibom precisely.

“Which village? …”

Uhmmmmmm…. I beg your pardon sir.

“You are pardoned.”

“I am from I think….”

Oh really? You are thinking of the village you come from?
Are you really sure you need this job?

Yes sir I really do, I need it more than you can think of. It will help sort my bills.

“Your bills?”
Do you know this is a big firm?

Yes sir I do…

How do you communicate to an aged client who understands only Ibibio?( Ibibio is a native language spoken by those in Akwa Ibom state, there are various languages spoken by an Akwa Ibomite. We have Oron, Annag,etc)

Sir, I will communicate fluently.

Well done Anita, answer these few questions.

Oh ok Sir.

What is Gift in Ibibio?...

Sir… I am from Akwa Ibom.

Yes I know, could you please answer the question?

Sir I was not brought up here, I stayed at Lagos sir, before my dad got transferred to another state.

Can you speak any of those languages like where you were brought up from?

No sir…

Where are your parents from?

Akwa Ibom sir tho dad is late.

I see… so both speak different languages?

No sir, they use Ibibio with us, just that it is too difficult for me to pick up. I understand something’s said though I can't speak it. But, I really need this job sir, I'll do my very best.

I am sorry but, the job is keen on communication, Making English your L1 is not helping. Your mother's tongue should be your L1.

Akwa Ibom created on 23rd September 1987, consist of 31 local government areas. Joseph Greenberg in 1963 classified the language of Akwa Ibom state and Cross River under what is known as Benue Cross Group.

Akwa Ibom state falls under “New Cross Group of Languages”. In linguistic classification Akwa Ibom state languages are Poto-Banu (it originated from Benue tribe and stretched from South North to South Africa).

Therefore, Akwa Ibom speaks languages which are mutually intelligible. These are Ibibio, Annang, Itu, Mbo, Efik, etc. Which are assumed to be one language but politically presented as different languages. Which to some extent, linguistic evidence proves otherwise.

Oral performance like folktales, myths, legends, proverbs, riddles, songs, anecdote, slowly fading away due to adaptation to other people's culture. Variety of songs ranging from cultural traditions, religious setting, paddling songs, lost gradually.

Didactic songs, Okúk ikpuikpú, ofong ikpuikpú Owo edi inyene (it means money is nothing, clothing is nothing but humans are wealth, sth important) by Prince Uwemedimo
(Mme ókpoñ Iko iñua, asin edim mboñ idem, owó ñken inua öno owó ikó- Prince Eti-bas Bassey) unknown by the next generation.

Legends like; Chief Ntia, Sir Wilker Jackson, Ikpa Udo, Mc Galaxy, Soloto, Prince Eti-bas Bassey, still yet to be unraveled or known by the said indigenes.

Threats of mobilization taking effect on the younger generation as it is now believed the world is more globalized, and it seems fit as the indigenous language and culture of the Akwa Ibomite is no longer taken pride in but rather the treasure of this indigenous culture is looked at with shame, changing of traditional names to English ones by parents. With every power to neglect mother tongue and culture.

In order for Akwa Ibom people not to be lost, as it is already a minority culture, swamped by the ethnic majority groups whose culture are trending, a need for preservation of this partly croded indigenous culture and language is needed. So, our beauty might not be left to burn to ashes.

Culture is our identity, people without culture, are people without identity.

I will sing your beauty that passes daily
Akwa Ibom “A land of promise”.