I speak Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Berom, Idoma, Itshekiri, Igala and Urhobo fluently. Don't blame me - blame my parents who carried us across the country as kids and my brain that is naturally wired for languages (at least none of my brothers or sisters speak less than Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo). Yoruba, Itshekiri and Igala are kind of similar but not really. I not only understand these languages, I also understand these cultures because I lived among these people.I learnt Igbo in Lagos (my place of birth) because I spent time, as a kid, playing with my next door neighbors from Owerri. Then my family moved to Jos were I learnt Hausa and Berom (Berom language is beautiful - if you have opportunity learn it) and Idoma (neighbors). I lived with my uncle who married into an Igala family. I moved to Warri as a teenager and learnt Itsekiri ( a language I already had an ear for since my mother, an Ijebu woman spoke it fluently for some reason) and Urhobo - the hardest language for me 2 learn.

I am what the Yorubas call Jomijoke - I have been in situations where people think I belong to their tribe and they begin to say bad things about the other tribes. This is very common among the Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas. One of my Yoruba friends actually stopped talking to me for a while when he saw me speaking Igbo - it took him sometime to accept that we are tribesmen. He was really shocked to see me speaking Igbo like am eating moimoi. One of my Igbo classmates to this day does not believe I am Yoruba - even now when we talk on the phone its una this una that - that's how we relate to each other to this day. He was the only Igbo in my class when I was in primary school in Jos -and we became friends because we understood each other. I have caused quite a few shock faces when people realized I understand EXACTLY what they are saying. When I visited Kano (dressed in my flawless babariga) 2 years ago one Fulani man was complaining in Hausa about Yamirin (Igbos) and Yorubawa looking down on his people - and I smiled and told him that am sure the Yorubas/Igbos can't believe how they've been ruled for this long by Fulanis. He smiled and said this to me in Hausa "...we (including me) are natural leaders because we have the brains and they (Yorubas/Igbos) just like to run their mouths." Anyone that tells you that they can tell someone's tribe by looking at their natural features don't understand how human psyche works. If you dress like a Hausa and speak flawless Hausas/use their mannerism even Hausas will think you are Hausa. The same thing applies to any other tribe.



Advantages of been a polyglot? Well not much advantage in Nigeria because most Nigerians these days try to pose. I have met some Nigerian parents who are almost bragging about how their kids can ONLY speak English - talk of colomental (Fela RIP). However, I have dated women (who say they will never date this tribe or that tribe) but didn't know I am not from their tribe. I find Idoma and Hausa women to be the most caring and least tribalistic to be honest. If a Yoruba woman really loves you - then your problems are over. She will trek from here to Ogbomosho for you - basically treat you like a god . Igbo women know how to keep house and make you feel comfortable at home- zuru eziokwu . The most beautiful Nigerian woman I ever saw (in flesh not tv or internet) and dated was an Igala from Kogi - Ani Eledumare bo omo ye lewa. When it comes to performance in the bedroom - it has nothing to do with tribe in my opinion but the one Nigerian girl that would do ANYTHING (and I meant ANYTHING) I want in bed was from Langtang. I have gotten some 'connections' from people who thought I was 'one of them.' Every Nigerian tribe IMO have their own strength but tribalism has made it difficult for Nigerians to come together and take full advantage of their diversity. And don't think these applies to Nigerians (Africans alone), my experience in America taught me that bigotry is universal. Even though I didn't leave the shores of Nigeria until I was well into my twenties, it took me less than 3 years living in ATL to speak/understand badass Ebonics/mannerism and its easy for me to blend in and just be a member of their 'tribe.' - and yes African Americans are quite suspicious of Africans in general. One thing that makes them really angry is that they KNOW that some Nigerians/Ghanaians call them Akata (cotton pickers). I have seen them lose their minds when the get into this - talks of Africans need to go back to their mud huts in the Savannah and eat flies abound etc.

Because of my experience, I hate tribalism and I laugh at tribalists or give them a dose of their own medicine. In US I see how Nigerians segregate along tribal lines and I shake my damn head. I have seen how members of the 3 major tribes (WAZOBIA) act with such arrogance like the other countless minority tribes don't really exist. Tribes like Tiv, Idoma, Efik etc. see Nigeria in a way that is very difficult for us, the members of the majority tribes, to see. If Nigeria must survive Yorubas, Hausas and Igbos have the responsibility to elevate the discourse and try to be more inclusive of all the other Nigerians whose cultures are as legitimate as ours. Oro pari (Shikena)

I'd really love to be like u OP.





But since 2010 or so I joined Nairalanid I still don't know the full meaning of OP

This is cool.... so cool!

kindl0:
I'd really love to be like u OP.





But since 2010 or so I joined Nairalanid I still don't know the full meaning of OP

Ha my friend OP- means Original Poster - you are joking right?

modelmike7:
This is cool.... so cool!

Thank you.

Good one poster. Wouldn't mind being friends thanks to your exposure and non ethnic biase. Hit me on whatsapp +2348035167144

ibrokola:
Good one poster. Wouldn't mind being friends thanks to your exposure and non ethnic biase. Hit me on whatsapp +2348035167144

Sure thing -where are you based if you don't mind?

Emilokoiyawon:


Sure thing -where are you based if you don't mind?

Kaduna bro. But move around alot. You?

ibrokola:

Kaduna bro. But move around alot. You?

Cool, my step-sister lives in Birni Gwari. In fact I visited her a couple of years ago. I live/work in Dallas.

ibrokola:

Kaduna bro. But move around alot. You?

Lagos, Jos, Warri, Kano and Kaduna are my main hang outs whenever am in back home.

Emilokoiyawon:
I speak Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Berom, Idoma, Itshekiri, Igala and Urhobo fluently. Don't blame me - blame my parents who carried us across the country as kids and my brain that is naturally wired for languages (at least none of my brothers or sisters speak less than Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo). Yoruba, Itshekiri and Igala are kind of similar but not really. I not only understand these languages, I also understand these cultures because I lived among these people.I learnt Igbo in Lagos (my place of birth) because I spent time, as a kid, playing with my next door neighbors from Owerri. Then my family moved to Jos were I learnt Hausa and Berom (Berom language is beautiful - if you have opportunity learn it) and Idoma (neighbors). I lived with my uncle who married into an Igala family. I moved to Warri as a teenager and learnt Itsekiri ( a language I already had an ear for since my mother, an Ijebu woman spoke it fluently for some reason) and Urhobo - the hardest language for me 2 learn.

I am what the Yorubas call Jomijoke - I have been in situations where people think I belong to their tribe and they begin to say bad things about the other tribes. This is very common among the Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas. One of my Yoruba friends actually stopped talking to me for a while when he saw me speaking Igbo - it took him sometime to accept that we are tribesmen. He was really shocked to see me speaking Igbo like am eating moimoi. One of my Igbo classmates to this day does not believe I am Yoruba - even now when we talk on the phone its una this una that - that's how we relate to each other to this day. He was the only Igbo in my class when I was in primary school in Jos -and we became friends because we understood each other. I have caused quite a few shock faces when people realized I understand EXACTLY what they are saying. When I visited Kano (dressed in my flawless babariga) 2 years ago one Fulani man was complaining in Hausa about Yamirin (Igbos) and Yorubawa looking down on his people - and I smiled and told him that am sure the Yorubas/Igbos can't believe how they've been ruled for this long by Fulanis. He smiled and said this to me in Hausa "...we (including me) are natural leaders because we have the brains and they (Yorubas/Igbos) just like to run their mouths." Anyone that tells you that they can tell someone's tribe by looking at their natural features don't understand how human psyche works. If you dress like a Hausa and speak flawless Hausas/use their mannerism even Hausas will think you are Hausa. The same thing applies to any other tribe.



Advantages of been a polyglot? Well not much advantage in Nigeria because most Nigerians these days try to pose. I have met some Nigerian parents who are almost bragging about how their kids can ONLY speak English - talk of colomental (Fela RIP). However, I have dated women (who say they will never date this tribe or that tribe) but didn't know I am not from their tribe. I find Idoma and Hausa women to be the most caring and least tribalistic to be honest. If a Yoruba woman really loves you - then your problems are over. She will trek from here to Ogbomosho for you - basically treat you like a god . Igbo women know how to keep house and make you feel comfortable at home. The most beautiful Nigerian woman I ever saw (in flesh not tv or internet) and dated was an Igala from Kogi - Ani Eledumare bo omo ye lewa. When it comes to performance in the bedroom - it has nothing to do with tribe in my opinion but the one Nigerian girl that would do ANYTHING (and I meant ANYTHING) I want in bed was from Langtang. I have gotten some 'connections' from people who thought I was 'one of them.' Every Nigerian tribe IMO have their own strength but tribalism has made it difficult for Nigerians to come together and take full advantage of their diversity. And don't think these applies to Nigerians (Africans alone), my experience in America taught me that bigotry is universal. Even though I didn't leave the shores of Nigeria until I was well into my twenties, it took me less than 3 years living in ATL to speak/understand badass Ebonics/mannerism and its easy for me to blend in and just be a member of their 'tribe.' - and yes African Americans are quite suspicious of Africans in general. One thing that makes them really angry is that they KNOW that some Nigerians/Ghanaians call them Akata (cotton pickers). I have seen them lose their minds when the get into this - talks of Africans need to go back to their mud huts in the Savannah and eat flies abound etc.

Because of my experience, I hate tribalism and I laugh at tribalists or give them a dose of their own medicine. In US I see how Nigerians segregate along tribal lines and I shake my damn head. I have seen how members of the 3 major tribes (WAZOBIA) act with such arrogance like the other countless minority tribes don't really exist. Tribes like Tiv, Idoma, Efik etc. see Nigeria in a way that is very difficult for us, the members of the majority tribes, to see. If Nigeria must survive Yorubas, Hausas and Igbos have the responsibility to elevate the discourse and try to be more inclusive of all the other Nigerians whose cultures are as legitimate as ours. Oro pari (Shikena)

Odikwa mma. Kee ka I mee? Kee ebe I no kita?

Emilokoiyawon:


Ha my friend OP- means Original Poster - you are joking right?

Lol OK. Wasn't joking o

bigfrancis21:


Odikwa mma. Kee ka I mee? Kee ebe I no kita?

A di mma imela. M na-ebi Dallas. Ebee ka i bi? Udo odikwa your side?

kindl0:
Lol OK. Wasn't joking o

okay o - no yawa I understand

Emilokoiyawon:

A di mma imela. M na-ebi Dallas. Ebee ka i bi? Udo odikwa your side?

Igbo gi digodi mma, di anyi!
E bikwa m n'obodo oyibo. Daalu rinne!

Cc lalasticlala

Emilokoiyawon:


A di mma imela. M na-ebi Dallas. Ebee ka i bi? Udo odikwa your side?

Udo odikwa ebe I no?

90% out of 100

Phut:


Udo odikwa ebe I no?

90% out of 100

ezi okwu

Otu onye tuo izu, o gbue ochu

daalu

Emilokoiyawon:

ezi okwu

Otu onye tuo izu, o gbue ochu

daalu

O!

Igbo gi amaka. Ji si ike

Emilokoiyawon:

ezi okwu

Otu onye tuo izu, o gbue ochu

daalu

Nna men, Igbo gi digodi sharp. I na-asupu ya bu ife ka nwa afo, o na-eyi ife. Jisie ike!

Emilokoiyawon:


Cool, my step-sister lives in Birni Gwari. In fact I visited her a couple of years ago. I live/work in Dallas.

Wow cool. That's not far from Kd town. Lemme have your Facebook addy

bigfrancis21:


Nna men, Igbo gi digodi sharp. I na-asupu ya bu ife ka nwa afo, o na-eyi ife. Jisie ike!

Nna daalu 10 times

Phut:


O!

Igbo gi amaka. Ji si ike

;Daalu Imeela

ibrokola:

Wow cool. That's not far from Kd town. Lemme have your Facebook addy

I actually deactivated my Facebook some years back - too much distractions. But I will definitely get in touch with you whenever I visit.

Emilokoiyawon:


I actually deactivated my Facebook some years back - too much distractions. But I will definitely get in touch with you whenever I visit.

Lol. Nigerians back home are distracting you financially! Haha, welcome to Naija!

ibrokola:

Lol. Nigerians back home are distracting you financially! Haha, welcome to Naija!

My guy you be sharp guy - who read na im serious, who pass na im know book

Hmmm

Emilokoiyawon:


My guy you be sharp guy - who read na im serious, who pass na im know book

Haha. We sabi we people die

Hmmm

I know your type - you are one of those that deny IT because you don't have IT. Guys like you will say 'size don't matter,' because you don't have IT.

Great one bro. Its indeed incredible and in you I see the true Nigerian.
I personally think any Nigerian aspiring to be President should be a polyglot.
Just like you.