My customers taught me Yoruba – London trader, ‘Olakunle Oshodi’

An Iraqi trader based in London, United Kingdom, has revealed how his interactions with Nigerian customers, particularly Yoruba people, inspired him to learn the Yoruba language and even earned him the name “Olakunle Oshodi.”

Speaking about his experience, the trader said he works at Woolwich Market, where he has built relationships with many Nigerian customers over the years.

He explained that he initially knew nothing about the Yoruba language but became curious after repeatedly hearing his customers speak it among themselves.

“I trade at Woolwich Market. That is where I work and where I started meeting many Nigerian customers, especially Yoruba people,” he said.

“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.”

The trader said his business had changed over time. He initially sold pepper and fruit but now deals in cosmetics and hair products.

He added that his continued interaction with Yoruba customers had not only helped his business but had also provided him with an opportunity to improve his command of the language.

According to him, about 95 per cent of his customers are Yoruba, making the market environment an important part of his language learning experience.

“Whenever they came to buy things, they would speak Yoruba to me. Instead of just listening to them, I started asking questions whenever I heard words I did not understand. I would ask them what the words meant, and that was how I learnt little by little,” he said.

The trader said he eventually developed a genuine interest in Yoruba because of the way it sounded and the manner in which his customers communicated with him.

“The more I listened to them, the more interested I became. I started enjoying the language because I think Yoruba is a sweet language. That was what encouraged me to keep learning it,” he said.

He also disclosed that the name “Olakunle Oshodi” was given to him by one of his Yoruba customers.

“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 ‘Olakunle Oshodi,’” he explained.

Despite his affinity for the Yoruba language and culture, the trader said he had no family connection to Nigeria and had never visited the country.

“No, I don’t have any family connection to Nigeria. I have never even been there. My connection with Yoruba came through my customers and the people I have met at the market,” he said.

He said he had been learning Yoruba for about three years and found the process relatively easy because of his love for the language and the frequency with which he used it.

“It has been about three years. I can speak it because I really like the language, so it has not been that hard for me. I have been learning mainly through my customers and through everyday conversations at the market,” he said.

The trader explained that his decision to speak Yoruba with his customers was mainly driven by his desire to connect with them.

According to him, the friendly and humorous nature of his customers made the experience enjoyable and encouraged him to continue learning.

“You know, Yoruba people joke with you and laugh with you. They want happiness, and they are not fake. That is why I love them,” he said.

He added, “Yoruba people are lovely. Even when wahala comes sometimes, they are still just lovely. I enjoy the way they joke and laugh with you. They want happiness, and that is something I really like about them.”

He said speaking Yoruba had also had a positive effect on his business, as it helped him establish a closer relationship with his customers.

“Yes, it has made the business grow. Speaking Yoruba has helped me connect with my customers better, and I believe that has been good for my business,” he said.

“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.”

He said customers were often surprised when they discovered that he could speak Yoruba.

“They are shocked, and they laugh. I see them happy, and I laugh with them. Sometimes, you can see that they did not expect a white man to speak Yoruba, so their reaction is usually one of surprise,” he said.

According to him, the surprise often creates a relaxed atmosphere in the market, allowing him and his customers to interact beyond the usual trader and customer relationship.

“Sometimes, they will look at me again as if they are trying to confirm whether I really understand what they are saying. It is always a funny and enjoyable moment for me,” he said.

The trader also believes that speaking Yoruba has helped him gain the trust of his customers.

“Yes, 100 per cent. I’m always with them. I spend a lot of time interacting with my customers at the market, so speaking Yoruba has helped me become closer to them,” he said.

He said his relationship with his customers goes beyond business, adding that he enjoys spending time with them and engaging in conversations.

“I am not just there to sell something to them; I enjoy being around them and having conversations with them. That connection is important to me,” he added.

Recalling some of his funny experiences, the trader said customers often respond with expressions of surprise whenever he speaks Yoruba.

“Yes, I have. They say, ‘Ah ah!’ when I speak. They are usually surprised when they hear me speaking Yoruba, and that reaction can be funny,” he said.

He explained that much of what he knows about the language came directly from his customers.

“When they speak Yoruba and I do not understand a word, I ask them what it means. That is how I learn. It has been a gradual process. I listen, ask questions, and then try to use the words when I speak to them,” he said.

Although he has never visited Nigeria, the trader disclosed that he plans to travel to the country in the future.

“As I said earlier, I have never been to Nigeria, but I have plans to go. I have not had the opportunity to visit yet, even though I have developed such a strong interest in the Yoruba language and culture,” he said.

He added that visiting Nigeria would give him an opportunity to experience the language and culture beyond what he had learnt from Nigerians living in London.

“I have a plan to go. I have never been there before, so I would like to experience the country and meet more people. I have learnt Yoruba mainly from people in London, so visiting Nigeria would allow me to experience the language and culture differently,” he said.

Speaking about Yoruba culture, the trader said he had developed an affection for it through his interactions with the people.

“I love the culture. I love Yoruba natives. My connection with Yoruba has grown through the people I meet and the language I have learnt from them. Even though I have never been to Nigeria, I have developed a love for the culture through my customers and the people around me,” he said.

He also appealed to Yoruba people to understand that his interest in their language is genuine and that he hopes to become even more fluent.

“I want them to know that I love all of them, and I want to learn more of the language if I can. I speak well, but I only need time. One day, they will see,” he said.

“I want them to know that my interest in Yoruba is genuine. I did not learn it because somebody forced me to; I learnt it because I met Yoruba people, I enjoyed being around them, and I fell in love with the language.”