Which Kmtyw Languages are u Interested In? Why?-gctid23463

[jthig]

Peace to the family. Very strong points here. I totally agree that language is an extremely important aspect to reKmtywize ourselves but where to begin is the issue for me. @Obadele, how did you start and maintain your skills?

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Ekundayo;110252 wrote: Baba, it's an interesting conundrum. What I've found from observation and from my own personal practice is that you can only go so far in Ifa without being fluent. You will hit walls time and time again. Now, I don't take the position that the deities don't hear you in English, however I would say that they hear you better in Yoruba-the vibration is higher.

I also wouldn't say to Kmtyw people that you can't practice the tradition without knowing the language, because that just keeps us further away from our culture, which keeps us further away from truly knowing and being ourselves, my thing is start-with one or the other and continue to add each piece as you go. It is not an either or proposition, it is a both and proposition.

Lastly, what amazes me is the number of black folks that claim/rep Kmt, are down for the/their people and the/their culture but DON'T practice Kmtyw traditional culture. That boggles my mind. (Especially in the year 2014 where there is SOOOO much access to our traditions).

I like your concept of both/and with regard to this. I think the challenge is complacency in any aspect. In my own experience, though, I know comparatively very few Diaporan Kmtyws who are fluent or have attained mastery in an Kmtyw language who don't practice Kmtyw traditional culture. For most who study - and, again, this is from my own vantage point of interacting with learners regularly through aK here - practice of Kmtyw traditional culture is the reason why they take up learning in the first place. On the other hand I personally know hundreds of people who are initiated (or "initiated") without knowing anything in the language which is where the knowledge of Kmtyw traditional culture is contained.

jthig;110346 wrote: Peace to the family. Very strong points here. I totally agree that language is an extremely important aspect to reKmtywize ourselves but where to begin is the issue for me. @Obadele, how did you start and maintain your skills?

I started in 1998 through my mother bringing me on the Sankɔfa Journey: http://www.sankofajourney.com
Kmtyw languages and linguistics are what I do for a living (economically) and what I do for a living (mission). In terms of the nuts and bolts of maintaining, becoming literate in indigenous languages is a major help so that when you're not around other speakers, you can maintain and even expand your base of knowledge.

[Kwadwo Tòkunbọ̀]

I would say Twi and Yoruba.  Twi first. I have a long feeling that Akan is my genealogy. Long story.  But I do want to learn the language to start my journey into studying the spiritual system. (don't like the term religion).  Ga is another. I recall Dr. Clarke as being enshrined by the Ga as he mentions in one of his lectures.

[Kwadwo Tòkunbọ̀]

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