By Dada Ahmed.
Magongo, a community steeped in history and rich traditions, opened its arms this week to an unusual but exciting mission, the revival and preservation of its language and culture.
A team from the Department of Linguistics, Federal University Lokoja, led by Dr. Mayowa Oyinloye and joined by Mr. Emmanuel Ikpelemoh of the Department of Theatre Arts, arrived with a group of eager linguistics students.
Their quest? To breathe new life into the Magongo language and ensure its heartbeat is heard for generations to come.
Our correspondent reports that the visit was not a mere formality as it carried three powerful purposes:
To develop a standard orthography, a writing system that will give the Magongo language a permanent voice on paper.
To document the Magongo alphabet,preserving the script as a cultural treasure.
And to record the community’s heritage, capturing traditions, stories, and customs before time can fade them.
Welcomed warmly by Prince Akpata Jordan Alaba, President of the Magongo Development Association, alongside the Magongo Council of Chiefs and community opinion leaders, the scholars were celebrated for choosing Magongo as the focus of such an important academic and cultural mission.
In a show of unity, the community pledged full cooperation and promised to mobilise residents for the project’s success.
The university team, in turn, promised to return with more students from the Department of Linguistics at the end of August for intensive research and fieldwork.
They called for support, wisdom, and guidance from the elders to achieve the shared dream: a Magongo language and culture that not only survives but thrives.
As Magongo prepares to welcome its guests once more, the project stands as a shining reminder that when knowledge meets tradition, both the past and the future can speak to and be heard.
Ahmed is the publisher of The Reporters.
