Celebrity Gossip & Gist

“Why My father banned us from speaking English at home” – Naira Marley reveals

Published

10 months ago

July 20, 2023

Popular rapper, Azeez Fashola, professionally known as Naira Marley, has revealed why he speaks Yoruba fluently despite growing up in London.

The British-Nigerian artiste, while being interviewed on Cool FM Lagos, said his father banned the speaking of English in their house while allowing only Yoruba.

The music executive said that though he was in England, most of the things he did and liked were mostly traced to Nigeria.

Naira Marley noted that he listened to Fuji music, ate African foods and they lived in Peckham, which was like an extension of Lagos.

Naira Marley said:

“What made it easy for me [to blend with Nigerian street music] is that I grew up in South-East London, Peckham to be precise. That is like small Lagos, you know what I mean?

“And all my life in England, my dad banned speaking English in the house. So, we had to speak Yoruba and all these Yoruba stuff. I still listen to Fuji. We eat African foods. Even though I’m in England, it was like I’m still in Nigeria. Yeah, it was easy for me. When I came back [to Nigeria], people didn’t really know I came from London.”