CHIEF TELLS VILLAGERS TO ACT VIGOROUSLY AND SAVE DYING LANGUAGE

A map of Choiseul Province in which the Ririo group is located. Photo credit: SIBC

Chief Edison Biliki of Susuka village, Choiseul Province is appealing to all native Ririo tribes not to sit and watch while their mother tongue, the Ririo language becomes extinct.

The Riokana tribal Chief says if nothing is done about it, Ririo language will be wiped out of the face of the earth within the next five to 10 years.

“We should be very careful because within the next five to 10 years there will be no Ririo, so very soon we will lose our identity especially in the Ririo.”

Mr Bikili adds, only as few as 50 old people can still speak the language adding, the more than 8,000 Ririo tribal members are now using the Babatana language.

He calls on all educated Ririo people to vigorously plan and implement strategies to revive the dying language.