International Mother Language Day

*

“Following a proposal made by Bangladesh, UNESCO created International Mother Language Day in 1999. The date chosen was 21st February in commemoration of the movement  in which five students died in on this date in 1952 defending recognition of Bangla as a state language of the former Pakistan, the eastern part of  which became Bangladesh after the war of liberation. 

A culture of peace can only flourish where people enjoy the right to use their mother language fully and freely in all the various situations of their lives. 
The International Theatre Institute supports the UNESCO resolution which affirms that acknowledgement and respect for cultural diversity in the area of language inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue, and that all moves to promote the use of mother languages serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to increase development of fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world. 

In unanimously adopting the resolution below at its 28th World Congress, « Utopie 2000 » held in Marseilles (France) in May 2000, the International Theatre Institute joins with UNESCO in observing International  Mother Language Day on 21st February .

« “International Mother Language Day provides an opportunity to theatre people all over the world to project the uniqueness and diversity of each culture, language being at the core of the national culture.
Words, or language, is also a core element of theatre. ITI, being a  defender of cultural rights of each people and a propagator of maintaining universality through diversity of culture, considers International Mother Language Day a most appropriate occasion to uphold this lofty aim and calls upon the theatre community everywhere to observe the day, declared by UNESCO, in a befitting manner. 
When many national languages face threat of extinction, national theatres are also endangered. We strongly believe theatre can play an inspiring role in protecting the rights of the mother language. » 
 

   2004: The Congolese Centre of ITI Celebrates International Mother Language Day 2004

POINTE NOIRE (Congo) Celebration of International Mother Language Day, 21 February 2004 by the Congo ITI Centre. In preceding years, the Centre had honoured this event by awarding the Pierre Tchicaya de Boampire Prize to encourage the creation of works in native tongues. However this year’s celebrations were organised differently, as they were held at the Pierre Tchicaya de Boampire middle school. For the Centre this was a way of focussing on the accomplishments of the late de Boampire (1864-1964) and of honouring him posthumously. Mr. De Boampire was the author of a considerable number of poems, maxims and other writings, composed in vili. He also translated “Les Trois Glorieuses”, the Congo national anthem, as well as several biblical texts, from French into Vili. 
On this occasion the Centre was financially supported by the Departmental Office of Cultural Affairs of Koilou, the International Linguistics Society (SIL Congo) and the PTB Middle School, and the Institute of Local Languages of Koilou (Ilalok) as well as a donation by board member  Germaine Ololo. 
The events were well publicised and consisted in public speeches by the school director, M. Richard Paraiso, and Mr. Okemba, a representative of the local education department, Mr. Joseph Tchiamas of ILALOK, and Mr. Frédéric Pambou, Departmental director for culture, who thanked the ITI Centre and its Secretary General, Mr. Jean Leopold Ngoulou, for their efforts in organising this event.
Several people also gave papers on local languages and the results of studies on local cultures, such as Mr. Prosper Boumba (CCLC), Mr. André Pandzou and Paul Humberg (ILALOK). The evening ended with a book exhibit and sale.

Contact: Centre de la Rép. du Congo de l'IIT, Dir. Régionale de la Culture & des Arts à Kouilou, BP 1225, PONTE NOIRE - CONGO . TEL:242/941579, ngoujel@hotmail.com
 
 

• International Theatre Institute (ITI) projects in connection with   International Mother Language Day 2003


Translation of the World Theatre Day (27th March 2003) Message into the languages of all ITI National Centres http://iti.unesco.org/pages/wtd/wtd.htm   We invite all ITI Centres to translate the International Message for World Theatre Day by German playwright Tankred DORST into their language and to send it to the Secretariat  for publication on Internet.

ARCHIVE - IMLD Events in 2002

• Translation of the World Theatre Day (27th March 2002) Message into the languages of all ITI National Centres  http://iti.unesco.org/pages/wtd/wtd.htm   all ITI Centres were invited to translate the International Message for World Theatre Day by Indian playwright Girish Karnad into their language and to send it to the Secretariat  for publication on Internet.

 
• Launching of  the Pierre Tchicaya de Boempire Prize for the Promotion of the Loango Languages.This is a project initiated by the Congolese Centre of the International Theatre Institute (Pointe Noire). In line with the ITI resolution on the celebration of UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day, the Congolese Centre of ITI (Pointe Noire) launched the  Pierre Tchicaya de Boempire Prize for the Promotion of the Loango Languages on the 30 November 2001 in the  presence of the President of the Dignitaries of  Bwali THEOUSSE Bernard, those in charge of the Kouilou Institute of Local Languages, the Centre of Studies of Loango Civilizations and the Kouilou lay Committee of Catholic notables. 

• The Bangladesh National Centre of ITI   organized an International Seminar and Festival of Indigenous Theatre  (a flagship event of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace) leading up to the commemoration of International Mother Language Day in Dhaka  on  21 February.

• The Georgian ITI National Centre  in cooperation with the  Chavchavadze State University of Languages and Culture co-organized  a one day conference to celebrate  International  Mother Language Day  on 21st of February. Six papers were given on Georgian language and culture and the conference was moderated by the rector  of Chavchavadze State University, Mr. Iuri Mosidz .

 
• In celebration of International Mother Language Day - 21 February and in preparation for World Theatre Day on 27th March, the ITI Secretariathas begun to publish on Internet all  translations received of  the 2001 World Theatre Day International Message.

• All ITI Centres are invited to inform the ITI Secretariat of other activities organized in celebration of this Day. 

• ---

 DHAKA (Bangladesh) International Seminar and International Festival of Indigenous Theatre. The Bangladesh National Centre of ITI under the presidency of Ramendu Majumdar organized an International Seminar and Festival of Indigenous Theatre leading up to International Mother Language Day on  21 February
In holding these events the Bangladesh Centre is making concrete the conviction affirmed by ITI worldwide that the theatre can play a major role in the protection of mother languages. It is putting into effect the resolution adopted by the 28th ITI Congress in Marseilles associating ITI and its Centres with the celebration of UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day.
Through the Festival and the Seminar, the Bangladesh Centre brought together artists and scholars to review the current status of indigenous theatre in different countries and to try to determine ways in which the theatre traditions could be carried forward in the future. 
The Declaration*  issued at the end of the seminar  may now be found below
The seminar was held from 18 to 20 February, 2001. The three working sessions dealt with the topics: 'Indigenous Theatre: Uses and Abuses', 'State of Indigenous Theatre in the New Millennium' and 'Indigenous Theatre: The problem of survival'.
By the word 'indigenous' is meant not only 'traditional', but also 'zonal', 'local' and 'national' theatre as well. The Festival ran from February 14 to 20 February, 2001 in 7 different venues simultaneously in Dhaka. Performances of international companies, Bangladesh traditional theatre, contemporary theatre, student theatre and children's theatre were included in the programme. 
Seven  foreign theatre companies  took  part in the Festival including groups from Japan, Cyprus, India and Nepal
 More than 25 foreign delegates participated in the Seminar. All   ITI centres were invited to send a delegate and 9 ITI centres were represented. There were approximately a hundred delegates from Bangladesh. Bangladesh ITI   provided local hospitality (accommodation & meals) for the foreign delegates and for the theatre groups participating in the Festival during their stay in Bangladesh. The President of the Korean Centre and Coordinator of the Asian Regional Bureau Ms Hysook Yang,  Heino Byrgesen (Denmark) Member of the Executive Board and Jennifer Walpole, Assistant  Executive of ITI, UNESCO, were present at these events at the invitation of the 
Bangladesh Centre. 

International Theatre Seminar on "Roots and Blossoms"
Organised by ITI Bangladesh Centre (18-20 Feb 2001)

*DECLARATION
 

"Delegates assembled in Dhaka (Bangladesh) to attend the International Theatre Seminar on "Roots and Blossoms" organised from 18 to 20 February 2001 by the Bangladesh Centre of the ITI :
 

-       Welcome the declaration of 21 February as "International Mother Language Day" by UNESCO, specially in the context of celebrating global diversity and  empowering indigenous cultures around the world;

-       Also welcome the adoption of the resolution concerning of observance of International Mother Language Day at the 28th World Congress of ITI, and the Congress call for the theatre community everywhere to observe the day in a befitting manner;

-       Pay tribute to the people of Bangladesh, whose passion for their own language has inspired the designation of 21February as the "International Mother Language Day";

-       Welcomethe prospects and promises of globalisation, specially in creating a frontierless global culture, where all cultural traditions are the collective heritage of mankind;

-       Take note with concern however, of the prospects of marginalisation of various indigenous cultures that the process of globalisation poses;

-       Call for encouraging effective exchange between and among cultures, as well as among segments of individual cultures, to promote synergy between indigenous and mainstream theatre and a more inclusive diversity in world theatre;

-       Call upon governments, civil society and theatre activists to provide support and safety nets for indigeneous theatre forms as well as artists engaged in indigenous theatre;

-       Underscore, in this regard the need to address the changes in the external context,
socio-economic milieu inclusive, that affect the continuity and evolution of indigenous theatre;

-       Express gratitude to the ITI Secretariat for its support and assistance in organising in the International Seminar and Theatre Festival;

-       Congratulate the Bangladesh Centre of ITI and all the co-orrganisers, viz. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation and Bangladesh National Museum for organising the successful seminar and the accompanying weeklong Festival.

-       Wish to record this appreciation to the people of Bangladesh and theatre community in particular, for their warmth, hospitality and friendship."
 
 

The International Seminar and Festival of Indigenous Theatre is a Flagship event  in the Framework of the UN - UNESCO International Decade for a Culture of Peace in which both  ITI worldwide and its Bangladesh Centre are partners. The events have been selected to receive financial support through the framework agreement between ITI and UNESCO.  Information :Bangladesh Centre of the ITI, 144 New Bailey Road, DHAKA 1000, BANGLADESH TEL: 880/2/956 23 80, 880/2/956 83 26, FAX: 880/2/956 08 82 email : iti@adexpressions.com