LANGUAGE PRESERVATION THROUGH TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS

REVISITING THE KALANKUWA FESTIVAL OF NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Language is so important to human existence that man cannot live without it. Thus, a society without language is without culture and identity. Hence, language preservation is a critical component of cultural heritage, facilitating the continuity of identity and tradition within the community. Festivals are part of our traditions, which are longstanding customs and beliefs handed down from our forefathers. They are part of our identities that shape our ways of thinking and behaving within the society. This paper explores the role of the Kalankuwa festival in northern Nigeria as an avenue and mechanism for the preservation of the Hausa language. The Kalankuwa festival is practiced in different parts of northern Nigeria. It is not religious-oriented but a festival showcasing the agricultural expertise of Hausa communities. The paper reveals that Kalankuwa festival helps preserve the Hausa language thr ough socialization and bonding, propagation of cultural heritage, serving as a medium for intergenerational transmission of language, sharing of oral histories, a source of entertainment, and cultural conservation. The Kalankuwa also supports the enrichment and preservation of the Hausa language lexicon. Thus, it is important that this festival is celebrated annually as it is an avenue for Hausa language preservation.