By Towncriernews
Human rights and environmental activists have pushed for the popularisation of words such as ‘Ogonize’, ‘Sarowiwize’; ‘Shikokize’, ‘Aigbuhaenze’, ‘Awua’, ‘Brasinize’ ‘adanegberize’, ‘Otogize’, amongst others, in the campaign for human and climate justice.
The activists which included Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana; Interim Administrator, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Rita Uwaka; Programme Manager, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Innocent Edemhanria; Comrade Cynthia Bright, Executive Director, Grassroots Women Empowerment and Development Organisation (GWEDO), amongst others spoke at a programme organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) with the theme: Birthing Words for Campaigns.
Speaking on the origin of the words and their usages, the activists said ‘Sarowiwize’ was derived from an environmental activist name, Ken Saro-Wiwa, which means community mobilising for environmental justice; remembrance of hero in environmental justice, and that ‘Ogonize’ simple means struggle for environmental justice.
Saro-Wiwa led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multiple international oil companies, especially the Royal Dutch Shell Company, was tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged in 1995 by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha.
According to the activists,
‘Chikokize’, means a collective struggle; struggle for impacted communities, mangrove and workers.
They explained that, ‘Aigbuhaenze, which was derived from a Benin word means: Do not pollute the water or
do not compromise the source or collective welfare for generations to come, while Adanegberize, which was also derived from a Benin word means care for each other even in the struggle.
They further explained that ‘Awua’, was also derived from a Benin word, meaning: it is forbidden – economic injustice is forbidden.
According to them, ‘Brasinize’ was derived from an Ijaw word, meaning ‘leave the resources in the soil,’ while ‘Otogize’ was derived from a Yoruba word which means ‘enough is enough for oil extraction.’
The activists, who emphasised the need for the popularisation of these new words, stressed that words, if appropriate applied, are powerful, and could drive authority to speedy action.
In his opening remarks, Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, emphasised the need for activists to create new words in their campaign for environmental justice, saying these words can move authorities concerned to speedy action.
According to Bassey, words can be obscure and can also mobilise for environmental struggle if appropriately used.
In his key note address, a language expert, and
consultant for Oxford Dictionaries on review of lists of Nigerian English words for possible inclusion, Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, described words as action and powerful.
“When we speak, we are not just describing the words, but we are also acting in it. Because words are action, and words do things,” he said.
The translator and lexicographer, English-Igbo dictionary, and English Language consultant & tutor, iTutor Group, Taiwan, said words could shift the struggle for environmental justice, revealing that if these words are repeatedly used for 10 years, they could be considered for inclusion in the Oxford Dictionary.