By Abdou Karim
Local languages in the Gambia are diluted and that is a threat to our cultures and heritages, so intimated Mr. Yankuba Mamburay, a part-time lecturer at the University of The Gambia [UTG] and Project Manager of Karpowership-Gambia, a Turkish energy supplier.
An author of three books, namely “The search for a Lost Brother,” “The Mysterious Odyssey of a Village Boy,” and “A Day at Grandma’s Farm,” Yankuba’s professional experiences include banking, teaching, operations management, education, development work, project management and financial consultancy. He once served as Manager of Action-Aid.
Mr. Mamburay made the observations during a mobile-phone interview with this reporter in commemoration of International Mother Language Day on February 21, 2020. This year’s theme is “Language Without Border.”
UNESCO states that local and cross-border languages can promote peaceful dialogue and help to preserve indigenous heritage. And, according to United Nations [UN], 34% of 60,000 languages spoken in the world today are at the risk of being eliminated. That a language disappears every two weeks, which destroys an entire cultural and intellectual heritage.
Mamburay told this medium that the Bainunka language is on the verge of extinction because people are no longer speaking the language. Noting that many Bainunkas have merged into other tribes and others are not even speaking it, he lamented that “it is killing the language”.
The erstwhile Senior University Relations Officer of University of the Gambia, used this interview to enjoin people not let their languages die, reasoning because language is part of their culture and heritage.
He said many indigenous people prefer speaking English to their children and among themselves.
“But this should have a limit in order to promote our languages,” Mamburay held. He informed that countries that learn to speak their indigenous languages excel above countries that don’t.
He justified that because culture is a whole civilization; and Gambians need to speak their languages. Positing that Gambians need to write their local languages, the Author of three books, decried that there are many Gambians who could hardly speak in local languages without including foreign words. He, therefore, called on all Gambians to proud of their languages so as to avoid the local languages being at the risk of elimination.
The Karpowership-Gambia senior official continued: “I’m always proud to speak local languages, and I admire people who are able to speak more than one languages.” He also exhorted parents to encourage their children to speak, uunderstands and clearly express themselves in their various languages, and be proud of it.
Mamburay further challenged parents to teach their children the local languages, adding “Languages bring people together for a dialogue.” He also commented on the introduction of local languages into the primary school curriculum by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
He proffered that children need to be taught in their indigenous languages, and added that the foundation of speaking the local languages needs to be strong.
