Nigerian musician and cultural advocate Charles Onyeabor has sparked a conversation about language and intelligence, challenging the widespread notion that fluency in English equates to intelligence.
In a recent statement, Onyeabor criticized the societal preference for English over indigenous African languages, urging Africans to take pride in their linguistic heritage.
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“Perfect English is not a measure of intelligence; it’s just a measure of linguistic ability,” he stated. “We have been conditioned to believe that speaking better English means being smarter. That is not true.”
Onyeabor further emphasized the irony in how language is perceived in different cultures. “In countries like France and Italy, people proudly speak their native languages, yet in Nigeria, people mock those who struggle with English instead of valuing their own dialects,” he noted.
He also urged Nigerians to shift their mindset, advocating for greater respect and appreciation for local languages. “Instead of saying, ‘He/she can’t even speak good English,’ people should start saying, ‘You can’t even speak your own language.’ Our indigenous languages are part of our identity, and we must preserve them,” he added.
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