-By Zik Gbemre
KUDOS TO UHS, USA, FOR NEW HEIGHTS AT PRESERVING URHOBO LANGUAGE
I thank, appreciate and commend Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) under the leadership of Dr. J.MA.Oyiborhoro for creating the platform in the just concluded 13th UHS Convention in New York City in New York State, US on 26th to 27th July 2024.
My thanks and appreciation go to Prof Ajovi Scott Emuakpor and Dr Isaac James O. Mowoe for their donations to Urhobo Studies Association (USA) led by Prof Rose Oro Aziza.
My thanks and appreciation also go to Chief Peter Obukohwo Essi and Michael Egi for their donations to Urhobo Studies Association (USA) to finance Urhobo language development program that will produce new words in Urhobo language.
Urhobo language is almost going into extinction if care is not taken.
I appreciate these efforts to improve on Urhobo language. If our forefathers who were not lettered were able to have words like Okoerharen (ship), Idjighere (bicycle) then we Urhobo sons, daughters and wives who are in this era should also have new words for computers, telephones, etc.
I also appreciate the Urhobo Studies Association (USA) led by Prof Rose Oro Aziza. We should also start this Urhobo development program at our homes by educating our children. All of us have a role to play in this Urhobo language development program.
Agreed those who I thanked and appreciated are Urhobo people but that doesn't mean we shouldn't appreciate them. There is an Urhobo proverb that says that "you must wash your own plate before you serve food on it."
Urhobos should be proud of our language, culture and religion.
If we Urhobos are not proud of our language then who will promote it. It is our responsibility to promote Urhobo language, culture and religion.
We are born Urhobo people and we are Urhobo nation as we are created by God.
Zik Gbemre
August 17, 2024
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes.
