Actress and filmmaker Bimbo Thomas is urging Nigerian parents to be intentional about passing down indigenous languages to their children, stating that speaking a native language is not a barrier to success.
In a conversation with Saturday Beats, Thomas reflected on a viral clip of her son, Jayden Olanrewaju fondly known as Ogbeni Ajadi who captivated audiences with his fluent Yoruba and charismatic presence on the Yoruba-language game show Masoyinbo.
His appearance drew admiration across social media for both his eloquence and cultural pride.
“Back when I was growing up on Lagos Island, many Yoruba parents thought teaching their children Yoruba made them appear less refined,” she explained. “Yet, Igbo parents around us made sure their kids spoke both English and Igbo.”
Thomas shared that her son’s connection to Yoruba was deeply rooted in both family influence and daily practice.
“We speak Yoruba at home. My late mother had a big hand in this she gave him the name ‘Ajadi’ and always encouraged him to speak Yoruba, even if it wasn’t perfect. That encouragement made a difference.”
Watching her son excel on national television, Thomas said, was a deeply emotional moment.
“Masoyinbo helped him grow even more he’s now better at counting and expressing himself in Yoruba. Seeing him on that stage brought tears to my eyes. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.”
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