The Ekegusii Project
WHY WE ARE PUSHING THIS PROJECT
We are a group that was born and brought up in the rural areas where in our youthful years we enjoyed a close association with the elders who taught and explained to us what they also learnt from their parents. This wisdom and knowledge was practiced and passed on in word form from generation to generation in Ekegusii and encompassed the traditions, rites, values, food, animals, relations and taboos – a complete way of life,. It therefore saddens us to imagine that in the near future all these will be lost. Although we know that traditions change, our strong conviction is that languages should for ever live on.
For these reasons and armed with little or no knowledge in book writing, we mutually set out to compile a full account of Ekegusii that will culminate in an encyclopedia of the language. Towards that end, we have phased the work to be done in stages, whereby the first phase will be a compilation of an Ekegusii dictionary. This dictionary will be translated into English for larger scholarship and access by those who do not speak Ekegusii- even if only to preserve “What we learnt and know”. A majority of people with whom we have shared this idea have immensely encouraged us and many are eagerly waiting to read the first edition. The majorities of Ekegusii speakers in different “Diasporas” have expressed enthusiasm at this ambitious project and have stated that they have wanted something to work with in order to help impart Ekegusii to their offspring.
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THE EKEGUSII ENCYCLOPEDIC PROJECT
dONLINE EKEGUSII ENCYCLOPEDIA |
copyright Kennedy Bosire / Nigel Deacon, Diversity website
