We are too ‘woke’ as Yoruba, and it is destroying us.

We are too ‘woke’ as Yoruba, and it is destroying us.
by Kunle Ojeleye

I have in the past written about Indians, Pakistanis and Bengalis in Europe, and I have found the same true of them in Canada.
Their children who have never stepped into India, Pakistan or Bangladesh are as steeped in their culture and language as those who have never left those countries.
Yet, in the academic or workplace in Europe and America, when they open their mouth to speak English, you would find it hard to differentiate between them and the well-educated native speakers.

That cultural and language ‘indoctrination’ is also witnessed in the Igbos and Hausas regardless of where they are domiciled.

For the Yoruba, we are a different breed.
We are more English than the British, more Catholic than the Pope, and more sophisticated for our good.
It is among us, even in many homes in Nigeria, that you would find a child unable to communicate in Yoruba because the parents see speaking in Yoruba as a sign of ‘less class’ or ‘inferiority’.
As unfortunate as it is, we have since transferred the language deficiencies to the cultural and ethical upbringing of our children.

My 8-year-olds who had never been to Nigeria first took their cue from seeing their 40+ aunties kneeling to greet me every day. So, I had to teach them how a Yoruba man should greet an older person both orally and in deferential respect.

Initially, they would come and greet me each morning prostrating as they uttered “Good morning, Dad”. Then, the older one last year suddenly switched to prostrating and uttering “e kaaro ba’mi’ from watching Àbẹ̀joyè, and the younger one followed suit. Except you are Caucasian, walking in through my door means prostrating and greeting you as Auntie/Uncle or Grandma/Grandpa based on their judgement of your age.

Continue to be ‘woke’.

Èèpà npa ara ẹ̀, ó lóun npa ajá.

Facebook Post: 2024-01-29 T12:01:17