International Mother Language Day: Why Speaking Yoruba Is a Duty, Not Just a Choice.
Language is more than communication. It is identity. It is memory. It is culture and history carried in sound.
As we celebrate International Mother Language Day, we are reminded of something very important. When a language fades away, people lose more than words. They lose stories, values, wisdom, and a deep sense of who they are.
My mother language is Yoruba, and I speak it with pride.
Yoruba is not just a Nigerian language. It is a global heritage. It is spoken across Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo. It has travelled across oceans to Brazil, Cuba, and the United States. Wherever Yoruba people went, the language went with them. The culture survived. The identity remained.
Yoruba proverbs carry depth that cannot be rushed. Its tones give meaning to words in ways that demand attention. Its greetings teach respect. Its expressions reflect community and humanity. When you speak Yoruba, you are not just talking. You are representing generations.
There was a time when Yoruba was the language of the home, the market, the palace, and sacred spaces. Elders used stories, songs, and praise poetry to teach character. Proverbs corrected behaviour. History was preserved through oral tradition. Language was education, and culture was the classroom.
But today, something is changing.
Many children are growing up feeling shy about speaking their mother tongue. Some homes discourage it. Some schools make it seem less important. English and other foreign languages are celebrated as intelligence, while indigenous languages are treated as secondary.
That mindset is dangerous.
What makes it even more ironic is that foreigners are now studying and embracing Yoruba language and culture with passion. Universities abroad teach Yoruba. Researchers document its grammar. Visitors travel long distances to experience Yoruba festivals and traditional philosophy. What some of us neglect, others are preserving with pride.
If we are not careful, a time may come when we will learn our own proverbs, stories, and pronunciation from outsiders instead of from our grandparents. That would be a painful loss.
Promoting our mother language is not about rejecting English or modern education. It is about balance. It is about pride. It is about continuity. A child who knows their mother tongue stands on a stronger foundation. Language shapes identity. It builds confidence. It gives belonging.
At Omolola Talkstv, this mission is personal. Through storytelling and media, we intentionally promote Yoruba language, preserve authentic narratives, and pass cultural knowledge to the next generation. Our language deserves visibility. It deserves respect. It deserves to thrive in the modern world.
Speaking Yoruba is not old fashioned. It is powerful.
Teaching it is not optional. It is responsibility.
Promoting it is protecting our future.
As we mark International Mother Language Day, let us speak our languages boldly. Let us teach our children proudly. Let us document our stories intentionally. Let us refuse to allow our identity to fade.
Our language is our power.
Our voice is our heritage.
Happy International Mother Language Day 🌍🗣️
Omolola Talkstv✍️
Omo'ba Omoluabi
Omólola Adepeju
