The Beauty of Speaking Like My Ancestors

My mother tongue is not just a way of speaking, it is a way of being. When I speak Fulfulde, I do not only hear words, I hear the footsteps of my ancestors, the laughter of my grandparents, and the rhythm of cattle bells moving across the savannah. My language is my inheritance, my pride, and my identity.To speak like my ancestors is to carry history on my tongue.I remember sitting beside my mother as she sang soft Fulani lullabies, her voice rising and falling like the wind over the grasslands. Those songs were more than music, they were stories of love, patience, courage, and dignity. Even today, when I hear Fulani music, my heart feels at home. The sound of the hoddu and the poetic flow of Fulfulde remind me that the Fulani people are not just herders, but artists, storytellers, and keepers of tradition.Our language lives in our food and daily life too. When we gather to share meals like fresh milk, nono, butter, and fura, the conversations around the bowl are always in Fulfulde. Every word carries warmth, respect, and belonging. Food fills the stomach, but language fills the soul.The Fulani people are known for our grace, discipline, and respect, values we express through our greetings. A Fulani greeting is never rushed. We say:“Jam na?” meaning Is there peace?“Jam tan.” meaning There is only peace.And in that moment, we are not just exchanging words, we are exchanging goodwill, care, and humanity.Our language even carries our deepest emotions. When we say “Mi yiɗi maa” meaning I love you, or “Mi amini maa” meaning I trust you, the words carry sincerity, loyalty, and the depth of our relationships. Fulfulde does not just speak, it feels.Historically, the Fulani people have travelled across West Africa for centuries, known for our pastoral lifestyle, scholarship, and leadership. From the great Islamic scholar and reformer Usman dan Fodio to respected modern figures like Muhammadu Buhari, the Fulani have contributed greatly to society through knowledge, governance, and faith. Our history is not only written in books, but spoken in our language, preserved in our proverbs, and remembered in our stories.One Fulani proverb says“Ko woni waɗi, woni waɗi; ko woni waɗi e jam.”Whatever is done should be done in peace.Another beautiful proverb reminds us of unity“Pooli wo kawritan de iida.”Unless birds come together, a flapping sound is not heard.These proverbs teach us that peace, unity, and community are the foundation of Fulani life.Yet today, many young people are forgetting their mother tongues, choosing foreign languages over their own. This is a silent loss. When a language dies, a culture fades, and a people lose part of themselves. My two cents is this, we must not allow our mother tongue to disappear. Speaking Fulfulde is not backward, it is powerful. It is a connection to identity, ancestry, and pride.I choose to speak like my ancestors.I choose to preserve their voice in mine.I will teach it to my children, sing it in my songs, and carry it proudly wherever I go.Because when I speak Fulfulde, I do not speak aloneI speak with generations behind me.And that is the true beauty of speaking like my ancestors.

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