ADVERTISEMENT

This Nigerian student speaks 11 South African languages

The student who has been living in South Africa for 17 years said she was born in Ibadan, Oyo state.

ADVERTISEMENT

Akinsola speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria explained how she learnt isiZulu, Setswana, Ndebele, Isixhosa, Sesotho, Tsonga/Xangani, Afrikaans, English, Sepedi, Venda and Swati.

She said, “in 2002, my parents moved to Botswana. There, we stayed in locations known locally as Metsimotlhabe in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

\

ADVERTISEMENT

“We were the only Nigerians there and most locals could not speak English. We used hands gesture to interact and communicate. As a child then, I started speaking Setswana, the Botswana language.”

Leaving Nigeria for South Africa in February 2010 marked the turning point in her ability to speak the languages

“I had just finished secondary school then. My family stayed in Soweto and the popular language was Zulu. In the shops, barbers shop, markets, churches and taxi drivers, everybody spoke the Zulu language.

“As I started school there, it took me one year and a few months to learn and speak the 11 languages in South Africa. I can also speak and write the Yoruba language fluently.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Her fluency in speaking the languages, however, earned her the role of an interpreter in her Church in South Africa.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

You should avoid boat rides for these 5 reasons

You should avoid boat rides for these 5 reasons

How to save a life by doing CPR during an emergency

How to save a life by doing CPR during an emergency

Avoid these 3 common mistakes when cooking fried rice

Avoid these 3 common mistakes when cooking fried rice

Okin biscuits and 9 other snacks millennials loved as children

Okin biscuits and 9 other snacks millennials loved as children

How 1 woman became first lady of 2 different countries — she married 2 presidents

How 1 woman became first lady of 2 different countries — she married 2 presidents

Ladies! Here are 5 things you shouldn't say to your man during sex

Ladies! Here are 5 things you shouldn't say to your man during sex

How parents, teachers can recognise when a child is being bullied

How parents, teachers can recognise when a child is being bullied

It's illegal to publicly celebrate your birthday in this country

It's illegal to publicly celebrate your birthday in this country

Here are 5 ways to survive Nigeria during fuel scarcity

Here are 5 ways to survive Nigeria during fuel scarcity

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT