US EditionKenya's President William Ruto Faces Backlash After Mocking Nigerians' Spoken English
The remarks reignited debate over language and identity, with critics saying Ruto dismissed Nigeria’s English while ignoring shared economic pressures across Africa.
- On Monday, President William Ruto told Kenyans in Italy that Nigerian-accented English is incomprehensible and requires a translator, boasting that Kenyans speak "some of the best English in the world."
- Online commentators suggested the remarks may respond to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who told Nigerians on April 10 they were "better off" than people in Kenya and other African countries despite rising fuel prices.
- As former British colonies, both nations share English as an official language, though Nigeria has more than 500 languages which shape its distinct cadence and intonation, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic mix gives rise to its own accents.
- Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani posted on X that Ruto is "mocking the English of the country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner," referencing Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
- Frequent online barbs between Kenya and Nigeria are marked by volatile cyber wars on X regarding economic comparisons, pop culture, and political remarks, with critics urging Ruto to address cost-of-living pressures instead.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Kenyan President Reenacts Famous Scene From Night on Earth, Mocking Nigerians' English Pronunciation
In Jim Jarmusch's legendary comedy, Night on Earth, there is a scene where two drunk Cameroonians hail a taxi in Paris and then insult the Ivorian driver in an increasingly jerky style, just because he is Ivorian, before he ends up throwing them out of his car: The mood of this scene was evoked by Kenyan President William Ruto, who gave a speech to Kenyans living in Italy, and during which, according to the BBC, he shared the following realizati…
Nigeria: Kenyan President Hits Back At Tinubu, Mocks Nigerians
President William Ruto has criticised Nigeria's economic conditions and English usage, pushing back against comments by President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians are better off than citizens of other African countries.
Kenyan President Hits Back At Tinubu, Mocks Nigerians
President William Ruto has criticised Nigeria’s economic conditions and English usage, pushing back against comments by President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians are better off than citizens of other African countries. The exchange followed remarks by Tinubu during a visit to Bayelsa State, where he inaugurated key infrastructure projects and defended his administration’s economic policies despite rising fuel prices. “It is very important that we are…
Reactions As Kenya's President Ruto Hits Back At Tinubu, Mocks Nigerians
There has been reactions as Kenyan President William Ruto criticised Nigeria’s economic conditions and English usage, pushing back against comments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that in terms of economic conditions, Nigerians are better off than citizens of other African countries, especially Kenya. The exchange followed remarks by Tinubu during a visit to Bayelsa State, where he inaugurated key infrastructure projects and defended his administ…
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