The British once tried to eliminate the Edo language from Nigeria. On arrival in 1902 after British invasion the British missionary (CMS) forced the Yoruba language on the Edos. This was champions by Bishop Tugwell & British Commissioner of Benin Provinces, James Watt.
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Tugwell: "It ll not be possible to translate the scripture or to produce literature of any kind in these [Edo] languages since the population don't warrant the necessary expenditure of time, labor, money & the No. of persons acquiring an intelligent knowledge of English is small"
Tugwell adviced James Watt to force the use of Yoruba as the lingua franca in Benin & Delta Provinces. So Yoruba was then made the official language in Benin & Delta Provinces. Yoruba was enfoced as the language for communication of in churches, schools & courts.
This imposition happened for years but Edo people refused to learn Yoruba instead learned English while struggled to promote Edo language. In 1917 the chief of Igarra in Akoko Edo was fined 15 shillings by the British for failure to speak Yoruba in court.
Bcos of the experience, Edo people started developing Edo orthography & grammar on their own. Edo in the Benin province formed the Institute for Home-Benin Improvement comprising Benin, Esan, Afenmai, Ora, Agbor, Igbanke & Sobe people in 1932 to promote Edo unity & development.
It was this institute that later became the Edo National Union in the 1940s with Anthony Enahoro, T.J Akagbosu, Gaius Obaseki, M.N. Banmah, e.t.c as members of the executive council. Catholic Mission in Benin helped promote Edo language as they commitmently used Edo in the church
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