You are an Iraqi based in London, United Kingdom - how did you learn to speak Yoruba? "I trade at Woolwich Market. That is where I work and where I started meeting many Nigerian customers, especially Yoruba people. Many of the Nigerians I met at the market spoke Yoruba when they came to buy things from me. At first, I did not understand what they were saying, so I became curious and started asking them to interpret the words they used.
That was how I gradually started learning Yoruba from my customers." What do you sell? "I used to sell pepper and fruit, but now I sell cosmetics and hair. My business has changed over time, but I have continued interacting with many Yoruba customers at the market." How did you first become interested? "About 95 per cent of my customers are Yoruba. Whenever they came to buy things, they would speak Yoruba to me.
Instead of just listening, I started asking questions whenever I heard words I did not understand. The more I listened, the more interested I became - I think Yoruba is a sweet language, and that was what encouraged me to keep learning it." How did you get the name "Olakunle Oshodi"? "One of my customers gave me the name. She is a lovely person, and she is Yoruba. She said the name was good for me, and that was how I got the name."
Any family connection to Nigeria? "No, I don't have any family connection to Nigeria - I have never even been there. My connection with Yoruba came through my customers." How long have you been learning? "It has been about three years. I have been learning mainly through my customers and everyday conversations at the market." What made you decide to speak Yoruba with customers?
"Basically, I just wanted to learn. Yoruba people joke with you and laugh with you - they want happiness, and they are not fake. That is why I love them. Even when wahala comes sometimes, they are still just lovely." Has speaking Yoruba affected your business? "Yes, it has made the business grow. When customers realise that I can speak their language, it creates a different kind of relationship - we can joke together, laugh together, and communicate more easily."
How do customers react? "They are shocked, and they laugh. Sometimes you can see that they did not expect a white man to speak Yoruba. I enjoy seeing their reaction because you can immediately see the happiness on their faces." Has it helped you gain their trust? "Yes, 100 per cent..." (Interview continues in thread)