That Nigerian Kid: Secretly,

thatnigeriankid:

I’m jealous of African kids, or any 1st generation immigrant for that matter, who can speak their native language. My parents didn’t “Americanize” me, actually they did the complete opposite of that, and although they speak my language at home and sometimes use it when talking to me the never …

It’s the same for me too. I was just talking about not being fluent in Yoruba with my cousins. I envy all my cousins that are fluent. My mum stopped speaking it to me when I was a little kid because she was afraid that for some reason I would get confused between English and Yoruba. I would seriously do anything to be fluent. It feels like a part of my identity is lost because I can’t speak my language. Learning it feels like something I absolutely have to do, I want it so bad. I’ve even considered going to live in Nigeria, or going to university over there. But for now it looks like I may just have to settle for taking classes in the next university Im going to. It sucks.

Reblogged from thatnigeriankid, 50 notes, May 18, 2011

  1. lainesperado reblogged this from thatnigeriankid
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  6. thagoodthings reblogged this from thatnigeriankid and added:
    You’re not the only one....I was never taught...see my...
  7. moreattentionlessaffection reblogged this from thatnigeriankid
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  14. sociallyguillotined reblogged this from thatnigeriankid
  15. thefleetfooted reblogged this from thatnigeriankid and added:
    me too. I was just talking about not being fluent in Yoruba with my cousins. I envy all my cousins
  16. nnafsi reblogged this from thatnigeriankid
  17. lovealwaysabisola reblogged this from determined0ptimist and added:
    Me too ; I’ve picked it up through Yoruba movies and songs and I speak it fluently ; however, when I try to converse...
  18. bl3ssing-in-disguis3 reblogged this from determined0ptimist
  19. determined0ptimist reblogged this from thatnigeriankid and added:
    This is always something...has bothered me. I CAN speak, I’m
  20. naijabynature said: i definitely agree! same with me…and when i go back to nigeria, my family gets mad at me as if i raised myself!! but i really wish i was fluent
  21. aintnowayaroundit said: i can’t speak my language. tried to make my parents teach me and it’s just too hard to learn as an adult, especially nigerian ones. smh.
  22. lipstickjungles said: aww i can teach you the Benin language seens your parent are from edo? don’t feel it took me a while to speak mine i mainly know the bad word in the language and a few good one
  23. siodoilvero said: Damn. I can speak and I take it for granted. I barely speak it.
  24. beautifulcauseshethinkso said: aww I hear you, I speak my language but my lil brother (7) doesnt speak it. (tv and school) our plan is to drop him off at my uncles house in Africa for two weeks by himself. his punk self is gonna toughen up & LEARN! lol :)
  25. pricelessbeauty said: OH MY GOSH, ME TOO !
  26. thatnigeriankid posted this