When it comes to conveying material in the entertainment sector, language is crucial. It is sometimes important to adopt a language that is not one’s own dialect in order to please one’s target audience.
Despite the fact that the Yoruba language is only spoken by a few tribes in Nigeria, some non-African entertainers have had to learn it and are able to communicate well with their Nigerian audiences. Three of them are listed below.
1) Oyibo Rebel
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Fares Boulos, popularly known as Oyibo Rebel, is a popular rapper who is originally an American.
He was born in Houston, Texas in the US. Due to a “family business” his parents were involved in, Oyibo Rebel moved to Nigeria at a very early age with his family.
He spent a lot of time in Nigeria before moving back to the US to study liberal art at the University of Los Angeles. It was during his time at the university he started rapping.
He made it known that when it comes to music, his biggest influence is late music legend, Fela-Anikulapo Kuti. He used to go to the Fela shrine to watch his son, Femi Kuti, perform.
He came back to Nigeria in 2012 to continue his music career. His first song was titled “Oyibo Rebel” and he has wowed a lot of Nigerians with the way he uses the Yoruba language in his raps
2) Tiago Ishola
Tiago Ishola is a content creator and skit maker on Instagram. He has been able to win the heart of so many Nigerians with the way he speaks Yoruba, his mother tongue.
During a live video with Tunde Ednut on Instagram, Tiago revealed that he was able to learn the Yoruba language so well because he grew up in Nigeria.
He is actually from Portugal. He came to Nigeria at the age of 10.
He is currently at Ibadan where he schools. Tiago doesn’t only speak the Yoruba language, one can hear the deep Ibadan accent in his voice whenever he speaks it.
This has given him the opportunity to meet prominent Yoruba people like the Alaafin of Oyo.
3. White Agbero
Gautam Sabnani AKA White Agbero is an Indian Nigerian based comedian, entrepreneur, actor and social media influencer. His name, “Agbero”, which is a Yoruba word for a tout came from his ability to act like a tout in movies/comedy skits.
He is also good with the Yoruba language and has featured in skits with the likes of Brodashaggi, Nasty Black etc.