Words like"Acarajé",
"gogó", "Arembepe", or even the word "axé" are
terms and expressions from the Yoruba-Nago language. Despite being present in
Brazilian daily life, especially in Bahia, the origin of these words is little
known by speakers - as well as forms of speech such as "vumbora",
derived from the Yoruba "Mo mbọ̀ wa”
(meaning “I’m coming”).
To present these origins and teaching the language is precisely one of the set objectives of a course taught by professor Adelson Silva de Brito, the intensive “Yoruba Language Lessons for Beginners”.
Professor Adelson says he is inspired by the experience he had in his childhood, in Salvador in the 1960´s, when he could listen to Nago language as it spoken by the elderly blacks in the neighborhood.
The idea of the project is to
offer subscribers some content related to the Yoruba-Nago daily life, both in
Africa and in the various Yoruba communities all over the world. The
methodology includes the realization of five classes and the provision of
videos, texts, assorted news, literature, some proverb analysis and other
materials that can enhance the learning of that language and culture.
Brought to Brazil in the bodies
of people from the African Diaspora coming from the western coast of the
continent - from locations that today belong to countries like Sudan, Nigeria
itself, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Togo – the language
was initially known as “Nago” due to the
people who spoke it were called here by that name "Today, the Nago
language is called Yoruba or Yoruba-Nago, and the part of West Africa formerly
called kàrò-ojíire, is now known as “Yorubaland", points out the
professor.
Currently, in the Brazil whole country,
numerous Candomblé temples (terreiros) of the so called Queto nation (or Nago
nation) spread the use of the language in their rites and in their religious
practices. These institutions play a central role in the lives of
practitioners. But beyond that, Yoruba is a conversational language like
English or Spanish.
In Bahia, in particular, one
issue draws attention: in addition to the historical relationship with the Nago
people, the state has been considered, since 2018, the Yoruba Capital for all
the Americas - a Title that was forwarded by King Oba Adeyeye Babatunde
Ogunwusi II, of Ile-Ifé kingdom on an official visit to Brazil.
"It is from this acknowledgement
on, that the interest in the cultural exchange with the original communities in
Africa arose within the Yoruba-Nago communities in Bahia and grew up to the
perception that there is a living and pulsating universe that is rich in
culture, theater, music, literature and religion in the Yoruba language.
Therefore, everyone wants to learn ", justifies Adelson.
For him, "the course brings
the opportunity to include a language that raises the self-esteem of people of
African descent to the level of citizenship, and gives them the certainty of
the richness of their culture, unique and motivating for their pride and
independence".
Unlike the division between
secularism and religion practiced in Western culture, according to the
professor, Yoruba has as one of its pillars, the cult of Ancestry as a practice
of connection with the victorious experience of ancestors. "The westerner
decided to classify this philosophy of life as a religion, leaving no
alternative to Yoruba-Nago", he classified.
The course “Yoruba Language
Lessons for Beginners” takes place between the 24th of September and
the 22nd of October, with weekly classes (every Thursday, from 4:00 P.M.
to 6:00 P.M.) under the “online” format and a 20-hour workload, eligible to
certification,
The course is promoted by the
Portuguese Reading Office (Gabinete Português de Leitura – GPL), in Salvador.
Registration costs R $ 100 and can be done on Sympla and Eventbrite platforms.
Further information and the complete course schedule are available on the GPL
website ((clique aqui).
Sábado, 12 de Setembro de 2020 - 00:00
Transalted by Professor
Adelson from the original
Origem de expressões do cotidiano brasileiro, Iorubá é
ensinado em curso para iniciantes
