Language as a Unifying Force or Medium of Communication

LANGUAGE AS A UNIFYING FORCE OR MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION.
By
Prof. Eugene Arene. mni.

As Fred Opubor, a one time Professor and Head of the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos, Nigeria and a colleague of mine, once said, “Language is a Medium for Unifying a People”.

In Nigeria, before the advent of the British Explorers, the FULANIS (probably from Niger and other northern countries of Africa, had invaded and overrun Northern Nigeria whose language was predominantly HAUSA. They had defeated the indigenes or natives of Northern Nigeria and tried to impose their FULANI language on them. The Hausas, although defeated, refused to assimilate the FULANI LANGUAGE and so to effectively rule these HAUSAS, the FULANI CONQUERORS had to learn the HAUSA LANGUAGE.

Also the HAUSA LANGUAGE was the predominant language in most of the Northern parts of West Africa. This is why the BBC found the language a useful medium for disseminating its news to West Africa, in addition to the ENGLISH LANGUAGE; thus the famous HAUSA PROGRAMME IN THE BBC!

In addition, because the Hausa Language is the predominant language in Northern Nigeria whose RELIGION is predominantly ISLAM (MUSLIM or MOHAMMEDISM), Hausa and ARABIC Languages are the MEDIUM for COMMUNICATING with the MUSLIM FAITHFULS in Northern Nigeria. This has its good and mischievous advantages to the MUSLIM RULERS of Northern Nigeria.

The advantages are that the Muslim Imams and Mallams can easily communicate to their FAITHFULS in either the ARABIC or the HAUSA Language and so conveniently disseminate MOHAMMED’S messages to them without the “INFEDELS” knowing what is being said or preached.

The disadvantage is that the OVER-ZEALOUS Muslim FUNDAMENTALISTS can easily disseminate their SERMON of HATE against the “INFEDELS” to their “FAITHFULS” and so urge them to go MASSACRE the “infidels” as they leave the various MOSQUES on any particular FRIDAY (the day of their JUMAT prayers) they choose.

On the contrary, the CHRISTIAN FAITHFULS, of predominantly the Southern Parts of Nigeria, do not speak a common language although the British Colonial Powers had tried to instil the “ENGLISH LANGUAGE” as a COMMON LANGUAGE for all Nigerians, which would have been one way of UNIFYING Nigeria and the NIGERIANS.

This means that in most Southern Parts of Nigeria, many ethnic (or tribal) languages are spoken in their CHURCHES (in addition to or exclusion of the English Language). The CHRISTIANS cannot therefore, as is the case with the MUSLIMS, plan MAYHEM on the “GENTILES” OR “UNBELIEVERS” during their CHURCH SERVICES on SUNDAYS as the MUSLIMS can do during their JUMAT PRAYERS on FRIDAYS.

For the UNITY OF NIGERIA to last there has to be:
a COMMON LANGUAGE spoken by ALL NIGERIANS irrespective of TRIBE and ETHNIC ORIGIN;
One other way could have been for Nigeria to be attacked MASSIVELY by another COUNTRY bent on conquering Nigeria and acquiring its MASSIVE AND EXTENSIVE NATURAL RESOURCES. This would hopefully have forced Nigeria to defend itself with all the MANPOWER it has, thus FORGING an ESPIRIT DE CORP amongst its various PEOPLES which would last long after Nigeria has driven away ITS INVADERS. THIS WILL FORGE TRUE UNITY INDEED! but at a VERY HIGH COST OR PRIZE IN HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES.

The first alternative is what EDUCATION can do with time if the STANDARD OF EDUCATION is brought back to its enviable position as per pre-Independence and early post-Independence years when a CREDIT in English Language at Secondary Schools Levels was a pre-requisite for continuing to the TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL LEVELS.

The second alternative is now NOT POSSIBLE in the NEW GLOBAL VILLAGE Nigeria now belongs to.

All the cleverly-oriented Nations can do, and are still doing, is:
to clandestinely exploit Nigeria’s Natural Resources at their own TERMS; and
to also take the young brilliant YOUTH away in a NEW SLAVERY TECHNIQUE back to their Countries to work for them in areas that their CITIZENS will charge more than the FOREIGNERS running away from the OPPRESSION in their NATIVE COUNTRIES.