Photo provided by Adebayo Adegbembo.
In 2019 as part of a social media campaign to celebrate linguistic diversity online [1], African language activists and advocates will be taking turns managing the @DigiAfricanLang [2] Twitter account to share their experiences with the revitalization and promotion of African languages. This profile post is about Adebayo Adegbembo (@technobayo [3]) and what he plans to discuss during his week as host.
Rising Voices: Please tell us about yourself.
I'm Adebayo Adegbembo, from Lagos, Nigeria. I'm the lead developer at Genii Games. I love the process that goes into making ideas come alive, hence my work with Genii Games among other things I'm involved in.
RV: What is the current status of your language on the internet and offline?
I would say the current status of my native Yoruba language is being revitalised considering the growth of the Nigerian entertainment industry, growing number of software to learn and type in Yoruba, books among others. Offline, I think the Yoruba language is undergoing a form of urbanization especially when you consider the manner it's being spoken in cities like Lagos.
RV: On what topics do you plan to focus during the week that you’ll manage the @DigiAfricanLang Twitter account?
I'll be focusing on general subjects affecting indigenous languages from the point of view of my works. This'll include fun facts.
RV: What are the main motivations for your digital activism for your language?
I'm motivated by a need to preserve and share the richness of our native language. When you consider the variations of a tonal language like Yoruba, you tend to appreciate its beauty.
What are your hopes and dreams for your language?
To present our indigenous languages in ways that make them fun and appealing to a global audience.