Mission to revive, preserve Challa, one of Ghana's dying dialects

For every tribe or ethnic group, one of its most crucial selling or preservation points is language. But for different reasons, native languages continue to 'disappear' in the face of growing times and domination by stronger languages.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, has reported that the majority of the world's languages risk extinction in the next three decades.

It is this grim forecast that has buoyed a group to push for the preservation of one of Ghana's least known dialects, Challa. It is the mother tongue for the people of Challa who are predominantly based in Ghana's Volta region.

One may ask, what is a mother tongue? In very simple terms, it is one's native language; the language learned by children and passed from one generation to the next.

The task for Challa youth to preserve their mother tongue was recently supported by the Assemblies of God (AG) Church in the area. Dubbed 'Reviving the Challa Dialect,' the AG's head of literacy and evangelism was the main speaker.

Speaking at the conference, Mrs. Ellen Adjetey, explained the importance of a mother tongue and proposed inter-marriages as one of the best means of preserving the tribe and language. According to her, this was a sure way of voluntarily passing on the dialect to generations yet unborn.

Other church leaders pointed out that AG was going to give prominence to Challa in its engagements as an active contribution to the preservation efforts. The traditional authorities who were also represented pledged to partner in any such efforts.

Natives, especially from youth groups and elders, from across the country were also present at the conference. A representative of the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South was also in attendance.

Participants were also thrilled by a song by Dr. Sapale, an upcoming musician who vowed to place Challa on the continent through music in Challa, a source familiar to the gathering said.

About the Challa people

They are broadly categorized under the Gur group of languages with Sissala, Kusaa, Delo, Kotokoli (tem), Waala, Chakali, etc., It is believed that the total population of Challa currently stand at approximately 28,500 people living in Ghana.

They are scattered around the country among other places in Odomi, Keri, Agou1 and Agou2, Nbowura (Joadigbe), Kabiti, Nkwanta, Dekpalitie, Kpandai, Accra, Kumasi, Salaga, Koforidua, Nkawkaw, Ho, Swedru, Asamankese, Cement, Dodi Papase, Ahamansu, Yendi and Senchi.

Challa people who have had little documentation in the history of Ghana are the traditional rulers of the following towns and villages; Nkwanta, Kabite, Agou1 and 2, Keri, Odomi, Dekpalitie all in Oti Region and Mbowura (Joadigbe) in the Northern Region.

Challa people are known to be peaceful and successful indigenous tribesmen found mainly in Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria where their majority can be found.

Nima’s toilet reality: Ignorant stray insult vs. dissing fightback

Social media has given many the public avenue to air grievances on any and everything – that in and of itself is not an issue, save for the way and manner some of the reservations are voiced.

I won’t look on as anyone insults me especially over three issues – my religion, my family and where I come from. Even though all three are connected to me directly – you’d better direct an insult at me than at the three – in that order.

But I’m minded that Islam which is the utmost thing I’d defend any day anytime and anywhere lays out a module for a response. I’d dwell on two: The Quran tells us to respond with peace to the ignorant.

The categorical admonition of Prophet Muhammad – May Allah exalt his mention – tasking us to not get angry, i.e. opt for patience, as best as we can when provoked. Inference: even when responding to insult get a grip on emotions.

The issue at hand: A Member of Parliament and Minister makes classically ignorant and blatantly untrue claims about a vicinity whiles on the floor of parliament. His attention is drawn, he refuses to see the truth – sense if you want.

Then came a blitz on social media calling for RA – retraction and apology from the MP. Then a series of abusive posts and reactions describing the MP among others as being “stupid, foolish, mindless” etc.

Then for anyone who tries projecting the other side of things, you are tagged as backing the MP. Insulters don’t get it, for them if you won’t join us insult them you are affiliated to the other side – what a fallacy!

The MP said Nima will for the first time have residents flushing toilets like people across town – in East Legon. That it’s thanks to slum upgrade efforts of the government.

It is funny how in this day and age, a Minister believes that there is a slum in Ghana where a water closet cannot be found. Downright ignorant and arrogance on refusal to concede he was wrong.

This is a Ghana in which the government has long campaigned to end the traditional pit latrines and where even public places of convenience are transiting from KVIPs to WCs. Does that make him stupid, foolish, idiotic, NO!

Then the “clapback” enters a more weird arena of baseless comparison. The Minister was about Nima, the insulted insulters went on rampage insulting the Minister’s constituency – so his constituents might as well insult back eh, see why I said it can’t be a stupidity contest?

Some dragged in the President because his house falls under Nima, but so what? That’s the point about an ignorant comment and also we all know the Nima the Minister was referring to – even though wrongfully so.

Those that claim the president also comes to ease himself in non-WC toilets did, those that went on a census of WC public toilets gleefully did so. Fact is Nima still has houses where pan latrines are used, public toilets have a mix of WC and pit latrines.

Lest I forget, those that said Nima was the “ish” because it housed the presidency and the president, the French embassy et. al. went about their businesses thanks to technology and data.

Ah Alfa, you mean there was no need to react to the Minister? There was an absolute need. He needed to be educated not insulted. How about a press release calling him out with a hashtag and posting photos of WCs dotted in Nima? I’m just saying.

For too long, social media militancy has seen people huff and puff on Facebook threatening any and everyone. So instead of righting the wrong, they increase the violent perception.

How many years since 1992, Zongos are still breeding grounds for political thuggery. Some of these violent posturing only seek to emphasize them. Our response to anger – justified or not, cannot be insults. Who insults epp?

Feb. 2019 Reviews: A twin-read on Islamic history and it's impact in Africa

Reading is a passion I have had and one of my most proud fortes. To me, it has gone beyond being a mere hobby, really and truly I see it as a profession – at a point, of course; not because I am a journalist.

It brings me relief, joy, a sense of fulfilment and above all perspectives of others. It has helped me build analytical posturing on a number of issues and of course, the part about vocabulary building.

I dealt with two books in February 2019 – “Nurul Anwar,” in part a historical text and an academic work and then “Islam in Africa throughout History” – both by African writers.

The first was a special book from afar, for me. It was authored by a childhood friend whose secular academic strides are enviable. The second also stirred some pride, it was written by an Ethiopian who served Islam extensively in Saudi Arabia.

My review summary for Nurul Anwar (The Light of the Lights) is as follows: “A good material in tracking the before, during and after years of incontestably the greatest man to walk the face of the earth – Mohammed, May Allah exalt his mention.

“Plus a good peek into how Islam gained root in sub-Saharan Africa. A must read, with all its challenges.”

“Islam In Africa Throughout History,” by Sheikh Muhammad Aman Al-Jami was a masterpiece that expounded on three phases of the entry of Islam into Africa across three different epochs.

The first, details how in the early years of prophethood, Makkans fled to Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea) and the days of expansion of territory under third caliph Uthman Bin Affan.

The second era combined the impact of Muslim traders and Sufi ideology. The traders shared as much as they knew of their faith especially with East Africans in areas as Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Lack of knowledge was main impediment as identified by the author.

The Sufi brand of Islam swept through three main blocs of Africa at the time, West, East and North Africa. Sheikh Al-Jami gives detailed explanation of why and how the Sufi ideology is and will continue to be detrimental to “true” Islam.

The final phase is of “rectification,” which basically is the need to “undo” as much damage of faith that had been sown by the traders and by Sufi methodology. Erudite varsities in Saudi Arabia – Madina, Riyadh, are leading the charge.

He identifies how the Muslim students that get to study in Saudi especially are crucial to the rectification of Islam in their localities. He mentions how their benefit of true knowledge and understanding of local realities makes them key change makers.

The two books interface on three main areas:

1 – Tracing how Islam arrived in Africa, incidentally they converge and diverge on some routes.

2 – They both recognize the impact of African scholars in advancing Islamic call, Uthman Dan Fodio (Nigeria) makes the list in both cases.

Nurul Anwar credits Muhammad Bello of Nigeria and Sheikh Al-Kenami of Libya whiles History of Islam Throughout Africa credits Sheikh Muhammad (native of Mali) and Sheikh Tahir of Algeria with instrumentality of spreading the religion.

3 – Finally, An-Najashi – the king of Abyssinia – gets a big treat in both books with the e-book going a step further with his position as a believer at the time despite not being qualified as a companion.

T’was a good month by every stretch of the work. Tough keeping up but exciting scrapping through. On to the next, Kintu (pronounced Chintu) by Ugandan author Jennifer Nasunbuga Makumbi and 1984 by George Orwell.

Let’s keep reading, shall we?