Pidgin English was never the problem, our African parents were.

Pidgin English was never the problem, our African parents were. Do you know the origin of this ‘forbidden language?’ In the seventeenth century, trades between the British and local people needed to be done in a language that the duo understood quite well since it was a business affair. So the origin of the Nigerian pidgin English lies historically around that, it is part of a continuum of English Pidgins and Creoles spoken by other West-African countries such as Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Ghana. Why do Nigerian parents forbid the use of Pidgin? As a child born and raised in a typical Nigerian diaspora, I was sternly warned against the use of Pidgin English or ‘Broken English’ as my parents termed it. However, my mum and her siblings spoke it a lot, mainly because they lived in Benin for a modest amount of their lives as teens and tweens. I loved the rhythm but I knew better not to be caught in the act. As a curious child in my early teens, I asked my mother, why can’t we speak broken English? Her response still rings in my ear till date. She said, “It’s razz and ghetto. I am not paying for your basic education only for you to speak the same language as an average person or practice your agbero. Here are some reasons that might have led to our parents forbidding Pidgin English: 1. They believed it would affect their children’s Standard English. This is probably the most common reason. Parents feared that if their children spoke Pidgin regularly, they would struggle with grammar, spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary in Standard English—the language used in schools, examinations, and professional settings. Since academic success depended heavily on English, many parents banned Pidgin to help their children become fluent in formal English. 2. They associated Pidgin with poor education. For decades, Pidgin was unfairly viewed as the language of people with little or no formal education. Someone who spoke Pidgin fluently was often assumed to be less educated, regardless of their actual intelligence. To avoid this stigma, parents encouraged only Standard English at home. 3. Colonial influence shaped perceptions of language. During British colonial rule, English became the language of government, education, and social advancement. Indigenous languages and Pidgin were often regarded as inferior. Even after independence, many Africans continued to equate speaking “proper English” with intelligence, class, and success. This colonial mindset influenced how many parents raised their children. 4. They wanted better opportunities for their children. Most parents acted out of love rather than prejudice. They believed that speaking excellent English would increase their children’s chances of gaining admission into good schools, securing prestigious jobs, and succeeding in life. In many ways, they saw banning Pidgin as an investment in their children’s future. 5. Pidgin was linked to street culture. In many communities, Pidgin was commonly heard in markets, bus parks, and among street traders or young people. Because of this, some parents associated it with rough behaviour, poor manners, or delinquency. Terms like “razz” or “ghetto” became attached to the language, even though a language itself does not determine a person’s character. 6. Society rewarded Standard English. Schools often punished students for speaking Pidgin, and some workplaces discouraged it. Parents reinforced these expectations at home because society generally valued Standard English more highly. Children quickly learned that speaking “proper English” earned praise, while speaking Pidgin often attracted criticism. Were these parents wrong? Not entirely. Their concerns about academic performance and future opportunities were understandable, especially in a society where English remains the official language. However, these reasons sort of show their lack of knowledge on certain controversial subjects. A language that is part of their national identity should never be termed as razz whatsoever. Ironically, English itself has a complicated and often violent history. It evolved through waves of invasions by the Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans, borrowing heavily from Old Norse, French, Latin, and other languages. Despite these origins, no one dismisses English as inferior because of how it developed. Instead, it is celebrated as a global language. If English can transcend its turbulent history, why should Nigerian Pidgin be judged solely by its origins in colonial trade?” In recent times, many people now argue that Pidgin English and Standard English do not have to compete. A child can become fluent in both. Around the world, millions of people are bilingual or multilingual, switching between different languages depending on the setting. Speaking Pidgin at home or socially does not automatically prevent someone from mastering Standard English. Why should anyone hate their own identity so much to the extent of investing in western education which is the means of brainwashing the younglings into forgetting their own history. Why should anyone hate what they barely have knowledge of; By the way there are many other pidgin languages —a total of 15 pidgin languages. What evidence do we have to agree that Pidgin isn’t “Bad English?” Nigerian pidgin English has its own grammar, vocabulary and sentence structures. It is a recognized lingua franca that allows millions of Nigerians with different languages from several ethnic groups to communicate. The following is proof of that: ● BBC Pidgin ● Wazobia FM ● Chatgpt pidgin customization ● Music by Davido, Olamide, Burna boy, etc.., where Pidgin is celebrated rather than ridiculed. To be fair, many parents discouraged Pidgin because they wanted their children to excel in school and gain access to opportunities that often required Standard English. Their intentions were rooted in love, even if the message unintentionally devalued part of our cultural identity. In conclusion,the problem was never Pidgin English. The problem was teaching generations of African children that sounding closer to Europe made them smarter than sounding like home. We can encourage proficiency in Standard English without treating Pidgin as something shameful. After all, language is more than communication—it is identity, history, and culture.