Why is a native language important in this 21st century? Especially if said language is not widely recognized in the world? Of what benefit, will it be for a child to speak Igbo, a language that is predominantly spoken in the SE region of Nigeria?

Usability is believed, by many, to diminish the further one moves away from ala Igbo (Igboland). People have literarily questioned the benefits of retaining their Igbo language knowledge and even teaching it to their offspring when they have no intentions of moving back to Igboland. This question is somewhat valid considering the reality that most of our offspring, especially those in diaspora, will never settle in SE Nigeria.

So, what are the pros of teaching our children Igbo? Well, learning multiple languages especially at a very early age is highly beneficial for cognitive skills since the brain cells work harder to efficiently translate each word in context. This fact can be backed up with several scientific studies which I can’t specifically quote/refer to now. So, just trust me… haha!

Now, honing into the specific benefits of Igbo, my take is that being able to understand and communicate in Igbo helps foster a sense of belonging and the identification with our rich heritage. Knowing our culture creates awareness and understanding for diversity as we Igbos even differ in several ways. Being able to not only differentiate but to respect various ways of life will set our children up for a successful future.

One does not have to relocate to SE of Nigeria to find a community of Igbos anymore! We are everywhere these days… and my Igbo fluency has helped me in several random situations all over the world (US, Paris, Canada, Taiwan, London, etc.)!!

Also from a creative perspective, my son, Kehz identifies multiple uses of certain Igbo words and this sometimes gets him thinking hard on alternative usages or connotations of phrases. It’s quite refreshing to watch him innovate… yes, as an engineer, I do think innovation starts from simple thought processes :). Oh well, the intent of this high-level write-up is to get us conversing… please feel free to share thoughts on why a native language, especially Igbo, is important.

A piece to ponder: How will speaking Igbo negatively affect children’s development?