Language as an Instrument for Building a Sustainable and Resilient Future Among the Igbo
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Patience Nonye Edeoga
Presentation Date: February 23, 2026 @ 14:21 PM
Tags: Nigeria University of Lagos Lagos
Abstract
Every society needs resilience to build a sustainable future. Many people lack the resilience to face challenges. This has led to the moral breakdown in the present age, especially among the youth. The contemporary soft life and get-rich-quick ideology pose a massive challenge to the world at large and to the Igbo in particular. Renowned for their hard work and resilience, the Igbo of southeastern Nigeria are facing ideological change among the youth, due to a generational divide. This study explores how language, as reflected in Mike Ejeagha’s hit song Ụwa Mgbede ka mma, can be used to bridge the ideological gap, teach resilience, and reorient young people to adopt resilience rather than succumb to crime during challenging times and circumstances. The Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) will be adopted in the analysis of this study. Findings reveal that music – a genre enjoyed by people of all ages – is a viable instrument in bridging the gap between the old and the young. Also, proverbial sayings like a na-ebido n’anị wee rịba enu, and a na-azọsịa anị wee zọba ute, among others, teach that there are stages in life. Therefore, members of society should be patient and choose the right.
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