By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The recent Tyap Wiki Bootcamp in Kaduna marked a significant milestone in promoting the Tyap language, as 12 enthusiastic participants engaged in an enriching six-day learning experience. Organized by the Tyap Wikimedians User Group, this bootcamp aimed to equip participants with essential language skills—reading, writing, and speaking—in Tyap, particularly for those involved in editing Tyap-related Wikimedia projects.
Levi Kambai, the Executive Director of the Tyap Wikimedians User Group, highlighted the initiative’s importance in fostering literacy among both registered and potential members. The bootcamp focused on teaching participants how to contribute effectively to vital Wikimedia Foundation projects, including Tyap Wikipedia, Tyap Wiktionary, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons.
Participants hailed from various dialects within the Tyap language, identified by ISO code “kcg.” A selection process determined that 10 individuals would participate in this inaugural bootcamp, which was the first of its kind undertaken by a language-based Wikimedia affiliate in Africa.
The bootcamp was structured to be both educational and enjoyable, allowing participants to immerse themselves in language studies through engaging class assignments. Participants were divided into three “susot” (the Tyap term for “groups”), each comprised of four members. They competed in various games, including zwak (known as ‘dara’ in Hausa and ‘ayu’ in Yoruba), ludo, whot, and scrabble, with a strong emphasis on using the Tyap language throughout the activities. Participants faced penalties for communicating in Hausa, ensuring a focused language environment.
The event included a variety of activities: literacy classes, learning and performing Tyap songs, storytelling sessions featuring gifted participants like Gwakhap, Mashan, and Zwandien, and competitive games where a group emerged as the scrabble champion. Additionally, there were sessions dedicated to Wikimedia editing, emphasizing the aforementioned projects, and a fun excursion to Arcade Games in Narayi, where participants enjoyed a variety of games.
Kambai encouraged Tyap speakers to embrace their language as a means of preserving their cultural identity. He emphasized the importance of literacy in Tyap, noting that its orthography differs significantly from English and Hausa. He asserted that anyone unable to read and write in Tyap is considered illiterate, regardless of their academic qualifications in other fields.
This groundbreaking bootcamp not only empowered participants with crucial language skills but also reinforced the significance of maintaining and celebrating the Tyap language within their community.
