Yoruba is a beautiful language spoken by millions of people across several countries, but predominantly, it is spoken in West Africa.
It is one of the three most spoken languages in Nigeria. This language is spoken by the Yoruba people who are scattered around the world. You can find them in countries in West Africa and even some parts of Europe.
Though most indigenes of African countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Gambia may speak the Yoruba language fluently, it is no secret that most of our African languages such as Yoruba, for example, are becoming endangered.
Source: Blessing Kayode
Many Yoruba children, despite living in their own countries, can’t speak their mother tongue. This is why it is important to imbibe the love for their cultures, traditions and languages in these kids before it gets too late, before a whole language becomes a thing of the past.
The good news is that there are lots of educational resources in Nigeria provided for the learning of the Yoruba language, especially in the southwestern states (predominantly Yoruba states), but for other areas or other countries, there are hardly any resources provided for them.
For example, A Yoruba kid living in Los Angeles learns Spanish in class and is able to speak and understand only English and Spanish. At the same time, many may argue that the parent must teach the child his language at home.
It would not hurt for this child to have educational resources in the form of language learning apps like Duolingo and the like. That way, the child can practice the Yoruba language on his own. These resources exist but they may not be accessible to everyone at varying locations.
Some language apps may be available for only certain phone types and software or at only certain locations. When hiccups like these cause an obstruction, we must look for other means to learn. The question now is what other means exist for such situations. How can anyone who has an interest in the language learn it?
How can I learn the Yoruba language?
Though Yoruba language apps exist, they may not be accessible at all geographical locations. When such cases occur, other means you could explore include;
- Educational Yoruba YouTube videos: YouTube truly makes learning much easier. From anatomy classes to any DIY you can think of, everything is on YouTube. There are loads of YouTube creators who make videos specifically to teach the Yoruba language.
- Take a class on Udemy: Yes, Udemy has a crash course for anyone interested in learning Yoruba in 30 days. Fantastic.
- Watch Yoruba Movies: Just like Korean or Spanish dramas, when you watch it long enough, you can pick up a thing or two. Watching Yoruba movies will help you get used to speaking Yoruba as well as Yoruba slang.
- Practice it regularly: If you leave with your siblings and parents, you could make it a rule to speak Yoruba only on certain days of the week. If you do not have this luxury, find a Yoruba buddy you can speak the language with.
With languages, all you have to do is practice. Speak it as often as you can, and eventually, you will get the hang of it.
