BONO LANGUAGE BOARD SEEKS TO PROMOTE ITS DIALECT

By Lawrence Manu-Gyan 

The usage of the Bono dialect which is the oldest among Akans, has been on a steady decline in recent times prompting traditional authorities in the Bono and Bono East area to act fast to salvage the situation. They have come out with the Bono Language Board, an intervention that seeks to promote the Bono dialect. But is it enough to save the situation? In this report, I put the Bono dialect into perspective and examine how it can be promoted.  

Bono,  alternatively known as Bono Twi, is a Central Tano language common to the Bono people and a major dialect of the Akan dialect continuum, spoken by 1.2 million in Ghana mostly within the Brong Ahafo enclave. It is mostly spoken in Dormaa Ahenkro, Berekum, Wenchi, Techiman, Drobo, Nkronza, Sunyani and the Gyaaman area. It is also spoken by over 300,000 people in the eastern part of the Ivory Coast. Bono is mutually intelligible with other Akan dialects like Asante, Fante and Akuapim and are collectively known as Twi.  

Regarded as the original language of the Akans, Bono is considered to have influenced other Akan dialects.  Along with Fante, Bono is the most conservative dialect of Akan, retaining several of its old features. With such a strong background, one would have expected the dialect to have taken its place as one of the widely used in the country but that's not the case, as its relevance seems to have been lost on the country.  

The Adonteng Hemaa of Mireku, Nana Sasraku Sradaa who is also an on-air media personality known in media circles as Show Sister, believes deliberate attempts by other tribes to marginalise the dialect is a factor. The other factor she believes has held the dialect back from taking off is the fact that it is not widely written. Unlike the other dialects of the Akan language spoken in the country like Asante Twi, Fante, Akwuapem and Nzema, Bono is not a widely written language. It was not written at all until a recent move from the Bible Society of Ghana got the New Testament translated into Bono. 

During an interaction, the broadcaster, who is known for her strong Bono accent, said she believes the formation of the Bono language Board will come in handy in the promotion of the dialect. She consequently urged Bono natives to be good ambassadors and promote the dialect wherever they find themselves. The Founder of One Ghana Movement  Bono dialect, Charles Yeboah also known as Sir Lord who is a strong advocate for the promotion of the Bono dialect among others wants the dialect to be used more in the media space within the Region to help in its promotion. He also believes convening individuals with extensive knowledge of the language to contribute their bit to its promotion will be beneficial to the agenda.

One individual who is unapologetic about her dialect is Garden City Radio's Agness Boakyewaa popularly known as Touch Me. She tells Ghana Today that she feels comfortable and confident speaking Bono Bono is a beautiful dialect with distinct intonation and features. As Bono, people we owe it a duty to be good ambassadors of the dialect.