A Professor of Drama, Dramatic Theory and Criticism at the Niger Delta University, Prof. Benedict Ebimotimi Binebai, has called on Ijaw people, particularly the younger generation, to reconnect with their cultural heritage, language, traditions, and ancestral values to preserve the identity of the Ijaw Nation for future generations.

Prof. Binebai made the call while delivering a lecture titled "Cutting the Rope That Ties the Canoe to the Riverbank: Restoration of Izon Heritage, Legacy, Identity and Values in Traditional Ijaw Society" at the 7th Mega Elective Convention of the National Association of Gbaramatu Students (NAGS), themed “Culture and Identity: Preserving the Heritage, Values and Legacy of Our People,” which held in the Town Hall of Kokodiagbene Community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Using the metaphor of the canoe, rope and riverbank, the professor explained that the rope symbolizes Ijaw culture, language, ancestral values, traditional institutions and communal bonds; the canoe represents the Ijaw people and their journey through history; while the riverbank signifies the ancestral homeland, heritage and collective memory from which the nation derives its identity. 

He noted that Agadagbabou remains the ancestral cradle of the Ijaw people, where the foundations of their values, governance, spirituality and communal life were established before spreading across different kingdoms and communities.

According to him, colonialism, missionary education, foreign religions and modern globalization gradually weakened African cultural institutions, replacing indigenous values, languages and traditional systems with foreign ideals, arguing that these influences contributed to the erosion of cultural pride, communal living, indigenous languages and ancestral knowledge among younger generations.

The scholar lamented that many young people now regard their native language and traditions as inferior, warning that the disappearance of language ultimately leads to the loss of identity and collective memory. 

He stressed that the suppression of traditional institutions and the abandonment of ancestral heritage have created a disconnect between modern generations and their cultural roots.

Prof. Binebai acknowledged the historical contributions of notable Ijaw figures, including King Koko of Nembe, King Jaja of Opobo, Chief Dappa Biriye and Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, alongside traditional rulers and contemporary institutions such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and NAGS, for sustaining the struggle to preserve Ijaw identity and territorial heritage.

He identified the core pillars of Ijaw heritage as the Izon language, canoe craftsmanship, Egbesu traditions, cultural performances, communal responsibility, respect for elders, courage and justice. However, he warned that rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, language loss, neglect of oral history and the distortion of historical narratives continue to threaten the survival of these values in the 21st century.

To reverse the trend, the professor urged families to teach the Izon language, proverbs and cultural rites at home, while schools should include Ijaw history and traditions in their curriculum, while he also called on communities to establish cultural archives and heritage centres, encourage media production in the Izon language, and urged political, traditional and community leaders to invest in cultural preservation alongside physical development.

Concluding the lecture, Prof. Binebai emphasized that preserving Ijaw heritage is essential to safeguarding the people's identity, unity and future, as he encouraged every Ijaw son and daughter, both at home and in the diaspora, to remain connected to their ancestral roots, insisting that as long as the rope of culture remains firmly tied to the riverbank of heritage, the canoe of the Ijaw Nation will never drift. 

He commended the leadership of the NAGS for organizing the lecture and encouraging conversations that promote cultural consciousness among the younger generation.