Are you a parent and feel that you should be teaching your children their ancestral tongue and values but keep putting it off for various reasons? Read on....
My name is Mr Kola Ogunbayode, the founder of Learn Yoruba in London (MKYCC), and recently I have come across many parents in the situation where they can speak but are surprised that their children have not picked it up. For anyone to be fluent in a language, the person must be in an environment where it is spoken often. Even the most mundane phrases and words stick, together with the correct intonation if repeated over and over. Practice makes perfect. Here are 7 quick tips to assist you:
1) Insist on your child greeting in Yorùbá at all times.
2) Encourage them showing gratitude “Ẹṣe Ma”, “Ẹṣe Baba mi”, “Ẹṣe Sa”.
3) Encourage them to respond to simple requests/ phrases such as “Kilo maa jẹ?” (What will you eat?) with “Maa jẹ ẹba pẹlu ọbẹ ẹfọ” (I will eat ẹba with callaloo/spinach) tabi “Maa jẹ adiẹ didin ati dundu” (I will eat fried chicken and fried yam chips).
4) Encourage them to request in Yorùbá: “Ẹjọ, ṣe mo le lọ ṣere nita?” (Please can I play outside?) tabi “Mo n lọ sun” (I am going to sleep) tabi “Mo fe lọ wo TV” (I want to go and watch TV).
5) Teach them the Yorùbá equivalents of everyday nouns such as “ilẹkun” (door), “ologbo” (cat), “ẹyẹ” (bird), “aja” (dog), “omi” (water), “bata” (shoes), “awo” (plate), “ile” (house), “iyara” (room), “aṣọ” (cloth), ẹwu (garment)
6) Tell them jokes or make them laugh “Talo so?” tabi “Olori nla” ati bẹ bẹ lọ
7) Get them to practice greeting visitors and elders regularly.
1) Insist on your child greeting in Yorùbá at all times.
2) Encourage them showing gratitude “Ẹṣe Ma”, “Ẹṣe Baba mi”, “Ẹṣe Sa”.
3) Encourage them to respond to simple requests/ phrases such as “Kilo maa jẹ?” (What will you eat?) with “Maa jẹ ẹba pẹlu ọbẹ ẹfọ” (I will eat ẹba with callaloo/spinach) tabi “Maa jẹ adiẹ didin ati dundu” (I will eat fried chicken and fried yam chips).
4) Encourage them to request in Yorùbá: “Ẹjọ, ṣe mo le lọ ṣere nita?” (Please can I play outside?) tabi “Mo n lọ sun” (I am going to sleep) tabi “Mo fe lọ wo TV” (I want to go and watch TV).
5) Teach them the Yorùbá equivalents of everyday nouns such as “ilẹkun” (door), “ologbo” (cat), “ẹyẹ” (bird), “aja” (dog), “omi” (water), “bata” (shoes), “awo” (plate), “ile” (house), “iyara” (room), “aṣọ” (cloth), ẹwu (garment)
6) Tell them jokes or make them laugh “Talo so?” tabi “Olori nla” ati bẹ bẹ lọ
7) Get them to practice greeting visitors and elders regularly.
Mr Kola Ogunbayode, is the founder of Learn Yoruba in London (MKYCC). It is a not for profit community service set up to educate adults and children of Pan Afrikan descent on Yorùbá language, heritage, culture and values. The club primarily seeks to encourage attendees to speak the conversational form of this popular West Afrikan language alongside English thus boosting cultural identity and confidence. They stand by the motto "Informing Afrikan descendants of their ancestral tongue and culture"
Venue 1 Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton E10 5PW Time Thursdays 6-7pm Time Sundays 2-3pm (Beginners) and 3-4pm (Progressive)
Venue 2 163-165 Tooting High Street SW17 0SY Time Mondays 6:30-7:30pm (Beginners)
Venue 3 Maat Centre Maa Maat Cultural Centre,366a High Road,Tottenham Conversational Club Skype: Private and Group classes available on request
Home Visits: Subject to availability
To contact directly email: mrkay@fsmail.net
Venue 1 Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton E10 5PW Time Thursdays 6-7pm Time Sundays 2-3pm (Beginners) and 3-4pm (Progressive)
Venue 2 163-165 Tooting High Street SW17 0SY Time Mondays 6:30-7:30pm (Beginners)
Venue 3 Maat Centre Maa Maat Cultural Centre,366a High Road,Tottenham Conversational Club Skype: Private and Group classes available on request
Home Visits: Subject to availability
To contact directly email: mrkay@fsmail.net
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