What an incredible, action packed month it’s been for Genti Media. Since the 15th of February, the Tongues and Voices Audiovisual Exhibition has been on, with several engaging workshops taking place weekly.
Sponsored by MTN Nigeria and in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, we put this exhibition together to showcase the magic of Nigerian Languages and to respond to the underappreciation of local languages, especially those termed “minority languages”, too often assumed to simply be variations of the more dominant ‘Wazobia’ languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
The exhibition puts a focus on 8 languages - Berom, Ezza, Hausa, Igbo, Ijo, Nupe, Pidgin and Yoruba, and mentions all 500+ other Nigerian languages on our language wall providing a platform for tongues and voices often overshadowed.
In addition, we’ve held weekly workshops with writers, language advocates, and leaders within Nigeria’s literary landscape. A special thank you to Emalohi L. I., GAMBADATOUN Georges, Chinyere Obieze, Data Phido, Ogini Bernard, Eriata Oribhabor, Maria Ihuoma, Jahswill Stephen, Ogochukwu Nancy Peter, Dr. Blessing Vou Dakat, Chief Adolphus Munamuna, Okpara Aba, Victor Akudigboo, Damilola Makinde, David Odiase, ISAAC GODSWILL, Gerald Eze, Ololade Otusanya, Emamoke O., Stephen Ohimai Agbi, Abimbola Ogundiran Adeola Omokhudu and Michael E. John for being an integral part of our workshops and our exhibition, and to Nadine Siegert and Ta'Yali Wetzel, who have made Goethe Institut a comfortable space for this exhibition.
Of Tongues and voices will run until Wednesday, the 27th of March at Goethe Institut, VI, Lagos, 7 Anifowoshe Street, Lagos, Nigeria. Visit the link below for the schedule and details of upcoming events as well as for the virtual version of the exhibition: https://lnkd.in/eBdfgB9g
Join us at the Goethe Institut this Saturday March 23rd for our next workshop “Language in African Literature”– a reading and discussion session on Ngugi wa Thiongo’s seminal work, Decolonising the Mind, in which he advocates for the use of African languages in literature. Also drop by for the closing ceremony on the evening of Wednesday 27th March. We look forward to seeing you at one or both events!
