Sandema Naab calls for collective effort to preserve Buli language

The Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, Azagzuk Azantilow II, has underscored the urgent need to preserve and formalize the Buli language, describing it as central to the identity and survival of the Builsa people.

Speaking at a consultative meeting on the Unified Buli Orthography Project, the Chief expressed profound gratitude to participants who had gathered to contribute to the initiative aimed at standardizing the language for teaching and learning.

He stressed the deep cultural and historical significance embedded in native tongues and cautioned that the loss of language poses a serious threat to the existence of any community.

“If a community loses its language, then the people in that community are equally lost,” he stated.

Naab Azantilow further noted that development within communities sometimes requires external support, citing historical precedent to reinforce his point. He recalled that the first Buli dictionary was compiled not by a native, but by a German scholar, Francs Kröger.

Drawing a parallel to current efforts, he commended the leadership of language experts Samuel Atintono and Samuel Issah Alhassan, who are spearheading the development of the Unified Buli Orthography.

He urged all stakeholders to dedicate their utmost efforts to the project, stressing that their contributions would leave a lasting legacy.

“This is a historic responsibility. Your names will be remembered for the role you played in shaping the future of our language,” he said.

Sandema Naab extended appreciation to Dr Clement Abas Apaak, the lead sponsor, as well as other individuals and groups supporting the initiative in various capacities.

The Unified Buli Orthography Project aims to push the Buli language as a formal medium of instruction, ensuring its preservation for future generations while strengthening cultural identity and community development.

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