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James F. Entwistle, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, speaks Pidgin English during an interview with Wazobia FM in Nigeria.
NPR (National Public Radio)
March 15, 2014
It's not often that a broadcast interview by a diplomat wows listeners, but a recent conversation involving the American ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, is causing a buzz – and winning applause.
The praise is not so much for the content of the interview or the pressing issues the ambassador discusses. It's more for the language in which he chose to express himself: pidgin English.
Pidgin, or broken English, is the popular lingua franca spoken throughout West Africa. The patois cuts across Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation, which is home to hundreds of local languages, making it easier for millions of Nigerians from different parts of the country to communicate.
Entwistle was recently interviewed by Nigeria's Wazobia FM, the first radio station in Nigeria to broadcast in pidgin English. He was asked about Nigeria's controversial new anti-gay legislation and whether the U.S. might impose sanctions. "The U.S. government no say sanction go dey for Nigeria, because of same-sex palava-o," Entwistle said.
In other words, the U.S. is not going to impose sanctions on Nigeria for passing a law criminalizing same-sex marriages.
Video & Audio clips are two different versions…… Audio Interview
It's not often that Westerners learn to speak, and master, pidgin.
So Onimisi "OJ" Adaba, the coordinating manager of Wazobia FM, says he was surprised when he received a call from the American Embassy suggesting the live studio interview in pidgin with the new ambassador. "I'm like, 'Wait a minute, Wazobia? I mean, we're talking about the U.S. ambassador! Does he speak pidgin in the first place?'" Adaba said. Adaba was told the ambassador was practicing, trying to pick up things from here and there. "And I'm like, 'OK, it's worth giving a shot,'" he said.
Quote
“ He sold himself into the hearts of many Nigerians. That's quite a plus for the American Embassy. -..Lolo David, radio host....
Omotunde "Lolo" David, the host, was delighted to converse in pidgin with the American diplomat live on the air. She's a self-confessed aficionado of pidgin and says, though it may not be the language of diplomacy, it reaches people at the grassroots level.
Wazobia FM callers asked the American ambassador a range of questions – including one about next year's much-anticipated elections in Nigeria. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan's party is expected to be pushed hard by the opposition, and they wanted to know the U.S. position on the vote.
His answer?
"Make I tell you say U.S. no get any candidate for mind. The only ting wey go sweet us be say make the election dey transparent, credible and concluded," Entwistle said in Pidgin. "Make Nigerians pick candidates wey go sweet their belle, wey go do well well for them."
Did you get that? Here's a translation: "Washington does not have a preferred presidential candidate. Just let Nigeria's elections be
This happened ages ago 12thFebruary 2014 if I am correct! But good on him.
Now he has shown if you put in the effort you can try another language - a particular high ranking lady in Nigeria can improve her use of the English language!
Posted: at 17-03-2014 07:38 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
This happened ages ago 12thFebruary 2014 if I am correct! But good on him.
Now he has shown if you put in the effort you can try another language - a particular high ranking lady in Nigeria can improve her use of the English language!
Truly it did happen at that time which I read online but these clips (Video & Audio) were not available until March 15, 2014 and I thought it would be a good idea to post these clips.
Good luck to the high ranking lady in Nigeria I am sure there will be an improvement as far as English language is concerned. Whoever she is I’ll say keep trying…. ..no bi Naija language.
Posted: at 18-03-2014 01:11 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
dlimelite at 18-03-2014 04:35 PM (10 years ago) (f)
That is a distraction to make we Africans/Nigerians think that they are our friends. The white man isnt your friend. (Do your research) He's only there to steal our resources/money. I bet the missing $20 billion is in the hands of the white man now. Ivory Coast president & first lady have been arrested for refusing to give them their country's money/resources.
Posted: at 18-03-2014 04:35 PM (10 years ago) | Hero
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