The Abagusii Culture and Development Council (ACDC) has expressed fear over the risk of the Ekegusii language becoming instinct.
The council, led by their chairman James Araka, says that children in urban areas have resorted to using foreign languages at the expense of their mother tongue, a move he noted as one that is hampering the growth of Ekegusii language.
“I want to tell you that our language is on the verge of vanishing because we have taken our children to live in the cities where they use foreign languages. This has made it difficult to pass on cultural values to our young people,” he said.
Speaking at Matutu in Nyamira County during the burial of Kisii county senator Dr Chris Obure’s brother-in-law Robert Nyachieo, he said it has now become difficult to impart cultural values in the youth, who have embraced the foreign cultures and languages. He added that if not addressed, it will lead to the death of Ekegusii.
Araka however called on parents to use Ekegusii language for their children to embrace it. He said that it is language that is used to transmit cultural norms and values to children and the community cannot afford to lose it at any cost.