A question about Yoruba at a Lagos town hall has become one of the most talked-about language stories in Nigeria this month. At its heart is a worry many Yoruba families share: many children growing up in Lagos are no longer speaking Yoruba. This article explains what happened, what was said, why the language matters, and what families can do at home. It is about the language and culture, not about who to vote for.
What happened
On Thursday, 1 October 2026, candidates for the Lagos governorship took part in a town hall with young voters organised by The Platform Nigeria for its Independence Day edition. According to Opinion Nigeria, an attendee said many Lagos children cannot speak Yoruba, pointed to countries where children keep their home languages, and asked what would be done to preserve Yoruba culture, tradition and language.
Reports say some in the audience asked the candidate who was answering, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to reply in Yoruba, and the room briefly became rowdy before he continued. In a later video reported by Vanguard on 5 October, he said his difficulty was fluency, that he has never denied his Yoruba identity, and that cultural preservation can be driven by government policy. Premium Times reported that he promised a ministry for culture, and noted that the other candidates’ remarks on Yoruba were not reported in its account.
Why this question struck a nerve
Whatever people think of the candidates, the question touched something personal. In many Lagos homes, English is the language of school, television and phone screens, and parents sometimes speak English to children to help them in class. Over a generation, the mother tongue can fade. Language carries proverbs, greetings, praise names and the way elders show respect. When children cannot follow Yoruba, they also lose access to those things.
The debate also revived an old complaint: that pupils in some schools were once discouraged or even punished for speaking Yoruba on campus. Reports of the town hall repeated that claim. We have not independently verified how common this is today, so treat it as a concern raised in the discussion, not a proven finding.
What the state has already done for Yoruba
Lagos has taken some cultural steps in recent years, including setting aside a week for Yoruba culture. See our explainer on Lagos Yoruba Week for the details. Whether such events change what children speak at home is a separate question, and that is where families come in.
How families can keep Yoruba alive
- Pick a Yoruba hour. Choose a daily time, such as dinner, when everyone speaks Yoruba.
- Start with greetings. Children can learn the proper morning, afternoon and evening greetings in a week. See our Yoruba greetings guide.
- Use everyday words. Teach foods, animals, numbers and time. Our food vocabulary page is a good start.
- Tell the meaning of names. Every Yoruba name is a small lesson. Try our guide to Yoruba name structure.
- Make it a game. Take our Yoruba language quiz together.
- Let grandparents lead. Stories, songs and proverbs from elders are the best classroom.
All our lessons are collected on the Learn Yoruba page, for children, parents and diaspora learners.
A balanced view
Some people argue that speaking perfect Yoruba is not necessary to protect Yoruba culture, and that policy on schools, museums and festivals matters more. Others say language is the heart of culture, and that leaders and parents should model it. Both views are part of the conversation, and most agree on one point: children need chances to hear and use Yoruba every day.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Lagos children not speaking Yoruba?
Common reasons include English-only homes and schools, city life with many languages, and media in English. Parents often choose English hoping it helps school results.
Can a child learn Yoruba if the parents do not speak it well?
Yes. Parents and children can learn together using lessons, quizzes and time with grandparents.
Is Yoruba taught in Lagos schools?
Yoruba is part of the curriculum in many schools, but how it is taught and used varies. Check with your child’s school.
Sources
- Opinion Nigeria, 1 October 2026.
- Vanguard, 5 October 2026.
- Premium Times, 1 October 2026.
Images: Unsplash photographers (Emmanuel Ikwuegbu and Michael Ali).
