This item from the Lagos paper This Day was seen at http://allafrica.com/stories/200502230251.html DZO
"Wa Thiong'o to Speak At 'Book Fair 2005'" This Day (Lagos) http://www.thisdayonline.com/ February 22, 2005 Posted to the web February 23, 2005 Bukola Olatunji Lagos Renowned Author of the classic book, 'Weep Not Child', Professor Ngugi Wa Thiong'O is the keynote speaker at this year's International Book Fair (IBF), organised by the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT). The theme for this year's fair, scheduled to hold at the Multipurpose Halls of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from May 10 to 14, is 'Publishing in Indigenous Languages'. Wa Thiong'O, a Kenyan, was the first African writer to consciously write in his own language, Kikuyu for an international audience. Former Minister of Education, Prof. Babs Fafunwa, will also speak on "The Viability of Publishing Books in Indigenous Language'. The acclaimed 'Teacher of teachers' had, in the cause of his academic career, done extensive research on teaching and learning in the mother tongue, with such books as 'Matimatiki' (Mathematics in Yoruba). He brought the issue to the fore during his tenure as Minister of Education. Other speakers at the fair are, the Chairman, East African Educational Publishers, Henry Chakava who will talk on 'The East African Experience'; President, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), Kay Raseroka, who will speak on 'Acquisition of Books on Indigenous Languages' and a bookseller, Mrs. Oluronke Orimalade, who will look at 'The Challenges of Marketing Books in Indigenous Languages'. Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof. Munzali Jubril, as well as Profs. Sam Uzochukwu and Akinwunmi Isola will examine, 'The Challenges of Writing Books in Indigenous Languages: The Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Experience(s)', respectively. Chairman of NBFT, Otunba Olayinka Lawal-Solarin told journalists in Lagos at the weekend that the Trust believes "in the promotion of multilingualism through education and that is why we have gathered experienced professionals across all the stakeholders in the book industry to share their experience and suggest the best way to sustain this important cultural heritage." On the choice of the theme, Lawal -Solarin said, "our language is our person, our culture, our identity and our inheritance. It tells who we are and what we believe in. We feel a sense of duty therefore to protect our mother tongues in all ramifications. "We believe that if care is not taken, our languages will not only be relegated to the background, but also go into extinction, and to prevent this inglorious act, necessary steps must be taken by all stakeholders in the society." With about half of the world's 6, 000 and 7, 000 languages facing the risk of dying out, NBFT's Scribe, Mr. Kunle Oyediran said, "when languages disappear, the people also lose their orientation." Among such measures that NIBF is adopting are: examining how best printed materials could be used to sustain and propagate the teaching of the country's indigenous languages and looking at inhibiting factors to sustainability of their teaching and devising a potent means of sustaining education and communication in indigenous languages, among others. This is coming on the heels of last Monday's worldwide celebration of the International Mother Language Day, a day proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and celebrated by its (now 190) member-states since 2000. The 30th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1999 had adopted Resolution 37, recommending measures for promoting multilingualism, which includes its use in access to cyberspace and multiculturalism on global information networks. Lawal-Solarin, who noted that studies have shown that children learn better in their mother tongues, said this year's fair would be used "to showcase our diverse lingual and cultural heritage, the significance of the ability to communicate in one's mother tongue." He therefore called for the support of the local, state and federal government to make the fair a huge success, because the sustenance of our indigenous languages, is not just a NBFT project, but that of the whole country. Scribe of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Nduka Otiono regretted that "colonialism makes us take our culture for granted." Which explains why a Nigerian tried to talk British before a Briton. He added, that, "NBFT is interested in empowering people to be conscious and proud of their language heritage." Other features of the fair, which gets bigger and better by the year, are the Lifetime Achievement Award to the Late Dr. Felix Ogbadu, Lantern Books Award for Children Literature, Idris Animashaun Printer of the Year Award and the Victor Nwankwo Book of the Year Award, named after the late publisher of Fourth Dimension Books. -- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/S.QlOD/3MnJAA/Zx0JAA/TpIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! 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