 |
| Apegba |
Oral literature
preserves history, upholds morals – don
By ABDULSALAM Mahmud
A
Professor of Oral and Comparative Literature, Ker Apegba, has delivered the
14th inaugural lecture of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai
(IBBUL), in Niger State, where he maintained that oral literature has the
capacity not to only entertain and educate, but also to uphold morals, preserve
traditional knowledge and keep history alive.
Professor of Oral and Comparative Literature, Ker Apegba, has delivered the
14th inaugural lecture of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai
(IBBUL), in Niger State, where he maintained that oral literature has the
capacity not to only entertain and educate, but also to uphold morals, preserve
traditional knowledge and keep history alive.
“Most
pieces of oral literature convey, in a beautiful and lively manner, what they
encourage as good and decent behaviour, what they discourage as bad and
improper behaviour and what they would like members of such a society to do.
Thus, performances of oral literature have the potentials of making us
responsible members of the society by instilling in us beliefs, morals,
concerns and aspirations of our societies,” noted Prof. Apegba.
pieces of oral literature convey, in a beautiful and lively manner, what they
encourage as good and decent behaviour, what they discourage as bad and
improper behaviour and what they would like members of such a society to do.
Thus, performances of oral literature have the potentials of making us
responsible members of the society by instilling in us beliefs, morals,
concerns and aspirations of our societies,” noted Prof. Apegba.
He
spoke on “The Dynamic of Change: The Oral Artist and the
Survival/Preservation of the Oral Form,” at the Main Auditorium of the school
Main Campus, stressing that oral literature genres collectively enhance the
didactic role of arts in an appealing and effective manner.
spoke on “The Dynamic of Change: The Oral Artist and the
Survival/Preservation of the Oral Form,” at the Main Auditorium of the school
Main Campus, stressing that oral literature genres collectively enhance the
didactic role of arts in an appealing and effective manner.
“It
is necessary for us to bear mind that by its very nature, oral literature tries
to promote the progress of humanity by the way it champions values that promote
peace, prosperity and dignity of all human groupings. Through oral histories,
narratives, songs, riddles and proverbs, people appreciate the functioning of
vibrant communities with values anchored on understanding, collaboration and
interdependence. Oral literature makes us aware of ourselves, other human
beings, our environment and our history. Oral literature also mirrors closely
the historical and political development of a nation,’ he added.
is necessary for us to bear mind that by its very nature, oral literature tries
to promote the progress of humanity by the way it champions values that promote
peace, prosperity and dignity of all human groupings. Through oral histories,
narratives, songs, riddles and proverbs, people appreciate the functioning of
vibrant communities with values anchored on understanding, collaboration and
interdependence. Oral literature makes us aware of ourselves, other human
beings, our environment and our history. Oral literature also mirrors closely
the historical and political development of a nation,’ he added.
Prof.
Apegba, explained that the oral artist’s task is majorly to reflect, highlight
and sometimes seek solutions to some of the problems that face the society. He
said “through this process, human beings’ consciousness within and around their
environment is aroused, and they are better prepared to accommodate or react to
the social changes taking place in their ever-changing society’’.
Apegba, explained that the oral artist’s task is majorly to reflect, highlight
and sometimes seek solutions to some of the problems that face the society. He
said “through this process, human beings’ consciousness within and around their
environment is aroused, and they are better prepared to accommodate or react to
the social changes taking place in their ever-changing society’’.
The
Comparative Literature don, emphasized the need to carry out oral literary
research with the aim of collecting, transcribing, translating and documenting
for posterity, while also enhancing the much-needed unity in diversity among
Nigerians.
Comparative Literature don, emphasized the need to carry out oral literary
research with the aim of collecting, transcribing, translating and documenting
for posterity, while also enhancing the much-needed unity in diversity among
Nigerians.
His
words: “There is an aspect of reviving our various cultures that we as
individuals can implement/do without looking up to government or external
support. This is in the area of teaching our children, wards and young ones
about our cultures, and this begins with using our indigenous languages as
media of communication.
words: “There is an aspect of reviving our various cultures that we as
individuals can implement/do without looking up to government or external
support. This is in the area of teaching our children, wards and young ones
about our cultures, and this begins with using our indigenous languages as
media of communication.
“It
is very sad but true that, many ‘educated’ parents shy away from speaking to
their children in their indigenous languages. Consequently, many of such
languages are endangered, while some are already at the brinks of dying away.
As such languages die, so do they go with the cultures of the affected
communities.”
is very sad but true that, many ‘educated’ parents shy away from speaking to
their children in their indigenous languages. Consequently, many of such
languages are endangered, while some are already at the brinks of dying away.
As such languages die, so do they go with the cultures of the affected
communities.”
He
noted that besides the writing of books, governments at all levels and
well-to-do Nigerian corporate and private individuals should commission the
production of Nigerian culture based films and videos (both in local and
foreign languages) to be used in our educational institutions.
noted that besides the writing of books, governments at all levels and
well-to-do Nigerian corporate and private individuals should commission the
production of Nigerian culture based films and videos (both in local and
foreign languages) to be used in our educational institutions.
“There
is also a great need for the introduction of Nigerian Cultural Studies in our
school curricular, beginning from the primary/elementary schools through
university level. Oral artists could occasionally be invited as guest artist to
perform before the students,” said the erudite don.
is also a great need for the introduction of Nigerian Cultural Studies in our
school curricular, beginning from the primary/elementary schools through
university level. Oral artists could occasionally be invited as guest artist to
perform before the students,” said the erudite don.
According
to Prof. Apegba, the importance of writing in one’s indigenous language was
probably what made writers like Shakespeare, Done and Milton, among other
English acclaimed authors, to write in their mother tongue of English Language,
instead of Greek or Latin.
to Prof. Apegba, the importance of writing in one’s indigenous language was
probably what made writers like Shakespeare, Done and Milton, among other
English acclaimed authors, to write in their mother tongue of English Language,
instead of Greek or Latin.
“Those
writers, by using English as their medium of communication in their writings,
have contributed more than any other way towards the internationalization of
the English Language and culture,” he said.
writers, by using English as their medium of communication in their writings,
have contributed more than any other way towards the internationalization of
the English Language and culture,” he said.
The
Benue-born Professor, advised the National Universities Commission (NUC) to
encourage and permit the establishment of a Department of Folklore or Oral
Literature in the Nigerian university system.
Benue-born Professor, advised the National Universities Commission (NUC) to
encourage and permit the establishment of a Department of Folklore or Oral
Literature in the Nigerian university system.
“In
fact, it is remarkable but quite disquieting that some universities in Europe
and America that are highly technology advanced, have since established
Departments of Folklore Studies. Good examples are the Department of Folklore
at Indiana University established in 1963, and which also happens to be the
first of such departments in the United States of America. Another example is
the department of Folklore Studies in Memorial University of Newfound Land in
the region of Labrador in Canada.
fact, it is remarkable but quite disquieting that some universities in Europe
and America that are highly technology advanced, have since established
Departments of Folklore Studies. Good examples are the Department of Folklore
at Indiana University established in 1963, and which also happens to be the
first of such departments in the United States of America. Another example is
the department of Folklore Studies in Memorial University of Newfound Land in
the region of Labrador in Canada.
“It
is rather an irony that Nigeria that is still technologically backward is
throwing away our culture and history in pursuit of technology. It is worth
highlighting that no country desirous of technological development throws away
its culture and history the way Nigerians seem to willingly do,” Prof. Apegba
added.
is rather an irony that Nigeria that is still technologically backward is
throwing away our culture and history in pursuit of technology. It is worth
highlighting that no country desirous of technological development throws away
its culture and history the way Nigerians seem to willingly do,” Prof. Apegba
added.