Date: 2016-10-15

In the serene city of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, what seems to be a tall dream among the natives of the ancient city was broken as a female Yoruba teacher, Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf, an indigene of Ilorin, made her debut in the literary vocation with her book "Omolabake". AHMED 'LATEEF chronicles the spectacles of the book launch.

As a city with multi-ethnic groups, Ilorin is famous for its industrial prowess. Right from onset, the ancient town, which has assumed the status of a metropolitan city in outlook, has not ceased playing host to influx of people from far and near, who either come to transact one business or another or enticed by the calmness and serenity of the city and decide to reside permanently.

Historically, the city founded by multiple tribes and ethnic nationalities speak, although different languages, but united with common purpose and progressive bond.

Found in the city are Fulani, Gobir, Gambari, Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe, Kannike and all these ethnic groups have their uniqueness and cultural beliefs, beside Islam, that serve as compass in their daily affairs.

With multiplicity of tribes and languages and the attendant dichotomy, natives of the city believe in the mental power the nature has endowed them. They are educated, exposed, industrious and well traveled. Not only within the shores of Nigeria they are found, a cursory look at other developing and developed nations of the world also indicates that indigenes of the city have continued to dictate pace.

Prior to the advent of public service, which many Nigerians now lay ambush for, the industrial prowess and creativity of the ancient Ilorin city is a force to reckon with. Apart from some indigenes who are revered as successful business moguls with spiralled business empires, others are reputed middlemen.

Because of the breakthrough in the business world, it is a common phenomenon in the city to find some households named Ile-Baker, Ile Olowo-Opan and Ile Baba-Masini among others. The same is also known with business people who travel to or stay in particular towns for their businesses. For instance, some Ilorin people might be called Baba Ijesa, Alhaji Inisa, Baba Jos, Mummy Kaduna, Alhaja Ghana and Kawu-Kano. The list is inexhaustible.

However, the dichotomy that exists on account of the diverse and plurality of cultures of people of Ilorin has made very herculean it to determine where the Yoruba part belongs to in the history of Yoruba nationality. There is no way the history of Yoruba in Ilorin is mentioned without recourse to the very foundation, traced to the patriarch, Afonja. The endless debate on where to place the city of Ilorin within the circle of major ethnic nationality has given a lot to ponder about. That the city stands as a gateway to different parts of the country is probably not a subject of debate any longer.

Going by the plurality of tribes in the city, which now prides itself as a metropolis with people of different backgrounds forming it including historians, educationists, seasoned administrators, bureaucrats and businessmen and women, it is hard to believe that a female will one day, rise and break the jinx that surrounds the identity of the Yoruba in the town.

Before now, it has not happened in the book of history of several decades of Ilorin that a Yoruba woman has written publishable books either as novel, poem, play and other writings.

But for Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf, a teacher of many years, what began as a wishful thinking materialized last Saturday as she unveiled her novel "Omolabake" in a glamorous style, thus pioneering and ending the jinx that has existed over the years especially within the Ilorin city.

It was a beehive of activities at the launch of the 14 chapters' book held at the popular African People Hall along Onikanga, GRA, Ilorin, as top government officials, erudite scholars, clerics, teachers and students of public secondary schools converged on the venue to grace the event.

Among dignitaries were Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Maryam Ayo Garuba; Dean of Arts, University of Ilorin, Professor Ahmad Abdulssalam and an Executive Director with Harmony Holdings Limited, Dr Yinka Yahaya.

The chapters in the novel included Oro Omo, Olomo Lo Ma Ro Ja, Iriri Dogbon, Oga Ni Fade, Kaka Ki Akere Ma Dun Obe, Labake Jawe Olubori, Wuraola Di Oloogbe, Ori Leja Fi N La Ibu, Ibere Ki I Sonise, Oju Tun Ra Ri, Gege Se Gege, Aluwala Ologbo? Ife Ododo, Omo Inu Ahusa and Adun Nii Gbeyin.

Yinka Yahaya, who chaired and declared the book launch open, observed that writing book is an arduous task, but remains a legacy that outlives the author.

He, however, expressed dismay over deliberate attempt by some parents within the elite class who de-emphasize Yoruba language while communicating with their children, adding that it was disheartening that mother tongue could be sacrificed for alien languages such as English.

He pointed out that members of the elite class are guilty of tossing around their native language in their households and urged them not to allow Yoruba to go into extinction.

Also speaking, Professor Olalere Adeyemi of Linguistics Department, University of Ilorin expressed concern over severe threat local dialects are facing in African nations due to advent of modernity. He said about 5000 languages in the continent are going extinct daily.

Adeyemi posited that the local dialects are facing the hurdles due to the refusal of the native speakers to cherish them.

The don explained further that members of the elite hide under the guise of modernity to toss the native language away while giving preference to alien languages.

Adeyemi said it was alarming that most households in Africa especially those who underwent western education have decided to scornfully despise their native languages and warned against continuation of such abominable practice.

"There was a time we traveled to the United States of America for a programme. Members of the contingent from Nigeria especially those of us that speak Yoruba, were communicating in our dialect. One of us was even using his oratory skill to entertain us. A woman saw us, she almost shed tears. She beckoned on me and said, all my children are here in America. I have been here for a long time too. None of my children could communicate in our language. It is so saddening. There is no way I can make them to speak the language again.

"That is to tell you that our language is undergoing serious threat. About 5000 languages in Africa are going extinct daily. And we need to begin to see reasons for us to, as parents and guardians, communicate to our children and wards in our languages", Adeyemi said.

The don, however, stated that despite the challenges faced by local languages, Hausa, Yoruba and Hausa still enjoy preference in their localities.

In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Maryam Ayo Garuba, said it was imperative for stakeholders to support the campaign to re-launch local languages in various households.

Hajia Garuba, who expressed delight that the book was the handiwork of a Yoruba teacher in the state, said the Ministry will deliberate on the possibility of adopting the book for use in Secondary Schools across the state.

The permanent secretary, who eulogised the novelist for doing her family, Ilorin and the state proud, also praised teachers in their relentless efforts in building the nation.

In her speech, the Ilorin pioneer female novelist, Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf, said the book was conceived and birthed with the primary motive of preserving cultural heritage of Yoruba language currently threatened by preference for foreign languages.

Dedicating the book to her late husband, Barrister Saka Yusuf, the novelist told the gathering that the rationale behind the book was also to use her native language of Yoruba to portray the plight and status of women in the society that accords attention largely to their male counterpart.

"It is of utmost importance to say to the hearing of all that we should all try to uphold our language i.e Yoruba language, our language, our culture, your heritage, our source, our strength, our unattended to. It must be persevered. This amounts to one of the reasons why the novel- Omolabake was born into the literary world, and it is our hope that copies of the novel would go round every academic level as a work of study for relevant areas especially literary appreciation.

"Equally, the novel, as work of art, would be appreciated as a good piece for readers of Yoruba language as an educating and entertaining material for our community, far and beyond. I equally pray for our beloved country Nigeria, that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.

"My purpose for writing this work is based on my long-term ambition to put something meaningful on paper in Yoruba language that would discuss women related issues concerning their plight and status in the society and possibly to show the different experiences encountered in life and its complexities.

"The novel presents the picture of teenage girl in a typical Yoruba setting showing some of the basic roles played by mothers in their respective homes. Focused and determined, with relentless effort and parental support, she was successful. She was made to appreciate the outstanding qualities inherent in a woman and the comparative advantages, which make a woman to be very unique, useful and important in the society, and above all to be diligent and Godly.

"The novel further shows clearly the need for a girl-child education thereby negating the ugly impression that female education is non-essential to recreate awareness for female empowerment and social freedom. This tends to vehemently proclaim and conclusively affirm the slogan, which says 'Train a girl, you have trained a nation'. The basic and outstanding qualities highlighted show the valour and strength of the African women", the author said.