ILA Foundation LBG
ILA Foundation LBG is an international non-profit organization for the preservation of indigenous languages: Africa. Our purpose is to heighten and elevate the necessity of preserving indigenous languages in Africa as prescribed by the United Nations Declaration Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIPS).
According to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIPS), affirms “that indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples, while recognizing the right of all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different, and to be respected as such.” In Article 8, paragraph 1 of the Declaration, “Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.”. Our mission is of humanitarian interest.
The ILA FOUNDATION LBG has captured the interest of Non-Governmental Organizations, Schools, Women’s Empowerment Groups & Language organizations that support Indigenous Languages in Africa & the Diaspora.
We want to elevate the status of African languages at home, in education and in society. In no way does this pose to eliminate knowledge of mainstream languages; however, use of African dialects for greater understanding and respect for these dialects, as with any other Continents or Nations, supports and promotes the status associated with the African indigenous languages.
“We are the fabric, a network, by which culture, talent & human interest are combined”
Origin
Meaning of ila: From the island (origin: French)
The Ila people of Zambia, numbering 73,500, are dedicated but unreached. They belong to the Bantu, Central-Southern ethnic group within Sub-Saharan Africa. This ethnic group exists only in Zambia. Their main language is Ila. The main religion of the Ila is ethnic religion. Ethnic religion is deeply rooted in the ethnic identity of a people and conversion is essentially tantamount to cultural assimilation.
Our aim is the preservation of indigenous languages: Africa hence, ‘ILA’.
Vision Statement
To empower the guardians of culture and knowledge embedded in indigenous languages to protect, preserve and profit from the value inherent in the language.
Let’s harness technologies such that these benefits are owned and utilized in a culturally appropriate manner.
Motto
Genuine multilingualism = Diversity of languages = Diversity of views and experiences = Diversity of solutions.
Meet The Founder
Meet Chief Williams, a dedicated woman who has traveled, lived, trained and worked in Africa for many years. Bestowed a Chieftaincy title in 2005, by His Royal Highness, Akabueze Palace, Anambra State, Nigeria during Ofala. Her work, planning, capacity building, training and education, as well as humanitarian interest in many African nations remains connected to this day. She is called, a woman of goodwill, “umunwanyi nwere ihuoma” in Igbo language.
Board of Directors
International Law – Barrister Chike Ekwueme
Advocacy – Dr. Henry Liu (Chairman)
Management – Chief Gloria Taylor Williams (Founder/Co-Chair)
International/Political – Princess Edith Kachale Banda aka/ Edith Akridge
Financial/ Serial CEO – Mr. Theo John-Phillips
Accountant: Kwame Asante & Associates
Secretariat (Pending)
Advisory Consul Represents: Media, Business Consulting, African Language Academy
Remembering the ILA Heroes
From Left to right (Capt. Raynold Mitchell, Dr. John Enahoro, Dr. Kolleh A Bangura, Ms. Deon Seymour Cox, Hon. Christine Tolbert Norman, Mr. Joseph E. Agbi, Mr. Henry Wolokolie, Hon. Mayor Jack Sims aka/Chief Dike Namba)