Among hippie secondary school teenagers and universities undergraduates here in Lagos, Nigeria, It isn’t out of place to hear the morally denigrating word ‘motherfucker’ used freely and frequently. Even in lyrical content of our musical superstars. In similarly fashion, we don’t react bitterly perhaps the import doesn’t done on us for its foreignness. Well in simple Yoruba translation it means ‘A child that have sex (incest) with the mother’. What a taboo? what a disgusting expression you might have on your face right now.
So have you ever been called a bastard,idiot, fool or moron by a friend or foe while growing up. One thing is so certain your chagrin might not really be in full force until those insults are haul against you in your native language. Writing this piece brought me to one of childhood struggle with the difference in meaning to the same word used in english and my mothers tongue still within similar context. For instance while growing up myself and my elder brother had always engaged in familiar sibling rivalry,we certainly used unprintable names on each other in english language. Until one Saturday when he did the unimaginable he called me a ‘bastard’ but this time he was retaliating to the same insults I had haul against but the sin he committed was calling me such in our native yoruba dialect ‘Omo Ale’. I cried all day and demanded explanation from my grandma, Aunties and Mother I nearly caused a turmoil in the family. Although, I saw my brother crying and proving his innocence that I used the bastard word against him first. Truthfully, I did but his transgression was calling me same not in english but in Yoruba. That was a sin, it was blasphemous and the bond of ‘siblinghood’ must be atoned by his thorough flogging.
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Language has always been the vehicle of culture. The sacred source of communication between us and our ancestors. That’s why when we break cola nuts or pour libation we offer prayers to our ancestors in our native dialects. Cause our ancestors don’t communicate in foreign language(English). Although, must people parents would agree there is a decline in our moral values. But what we seemly get wrong is that the more decline in our native language the higher immortality. It is not uncommon to see young people demanding for sex on first date,apparently this is requested in english. With expression such as ‘Can we behave like adults’. No right thinking guy would look into the eyes of a lady and say in her native language can we have sex on our first date.
Over a year ago Nigerian former president (Pres Goodluck Jonathan) was enmeshed in a bitter controversy for saying corruption is different from stealing. Although I watched the said interview where he made the popular that ‘Ole is Ole’ Which loosely mean ‘stealing is stealing’. Although, he was right to say when a man is called a thief in his native language it carried a sentence more than leprosy rather then the english term of corruption . The President albeit right in his assertion,yet failed to recognise the politics of language. If his statement had been said in his native Ijaw then translated into english it might have been well received.
Fifty six years after political independence, our people still grapple with the colonial stereotype of seeing government as a foreign institution. Hence, the low motivation to pay taxes and low maintenance culture of government properties. While the same people would be the first to maintain their local streams and village streams. Well if you seem to doubt this correlation between language and moral decadence kindly take a moment to use those unprintable names like Motherfucker in your native language against that same friend. And watch the anger that would follow suit.
Indeed language is the oil we use in eating the yam of expression.
To be continued……..
Awesu Jomo is a poet, feminist and a lover of books
