Someone once approached me and asked “why do you speak Yoruba (my mother language/tongue) that much?” I smiled and responded “It is a language that has been part of me ever since my inception and interestingly, I am more proficient in it.” So many of us like to shy away from our languages and embrace too much of the Western language (English or any language that is not your first or mother language). It is not wrong to do that, atleast I am writing this in English. Truth be told, wherever your language needs to be used, use it, speak it, be Proud of it.

The next question then is “why should I?” I am saying to you, your language is part of your identity. It is your culture, your identity. In promoting multilingualism, the onus is on you to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. Promoting your mother language/tongue prevents your language (culture) from going into extinction.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart-Nelson Mandela

Today is International Mother Language Day (IMLD). Importantly, do not only strive to keep your mother language system alive, teach it and pass it on to generations to come. Sooner than later, You will be glad you did.