Proverbs in the Battle Against Covid 19 and Insecurity in the Niger Delta

Abstract:

It is difficult to see any correlation between proverbs, songs, chants and COVID 19. It will take only an avid researcher to observe the surreptitious and subtle correlation observed here. The world of science has produced various vaccines to tackle the menace that is COVID 19 and governments the world over are doggedly fighting insecurity. No sooner have we found a vaccine than mutation and difficult strands of the COVID are springing up here and there, telling us that the battle is only half won. From the medical point of view the solution remains in distancing, washing of hands, wearing masks and observing COVID 19 protocols. Another area that is most effective in curbing this dreaded disease is in creating sufficient awareness. The people that are enlightened will not fall prey to the dreaded monster. This is where proverbs, songs, chants, myths, folklore, folktales, legends, traditional stories, and received wisdom become very powerful tools for checking this global pandemic. In the first instance, there is no nation in Africa without this troika (proverbs, songs and folktales). All we need to do is deploy them in creating sufficient awareness in handling loved ones affected by this death. The western world is depending on the television, radio, newspaper, magazine, social media outlets and other means of mass communication to disseminate information on how to deal and relate with this hydra headed monster. But these are luxuries that we in the developing world cannot afford, and even the few that can afford them, there is no constant light to power the instruments and enable us to get the message. Illiteracy is another big hindrance, a lot of us cannot use English effectively, and a lot more cannot understand messages spread via the medium of English. The most reliable means of communication with the people remains their mother tongue. Therefore, this paper argues that governments and agencies of government must embark on translating their messages into songs, chants and proverbs. These will resonate with the rural populace more easily than radio or TV adverts. The data collected and analysed in this paper prove the claim that language is a powerful tool in tackling insecurity and generating sufficient awareness for COVID 19.