Our guest today is the Promoter of the popular Nigerian based YouTube Channel known as Yoruba Gigi TV, who gave us the honor to respond to our questions.
The Cotonou Times: Can you please introduce yourself?
Yoruba Gidi TV: My name is Kúnlé Fáṣugbà, a content creator and the Creative Director of Yoruba Gidi TV.
The Cotonou Times : Why and when did you start this Youtube Channel?
Yoruba Gidi TV: The YouTube channel commenced in January 2022 to promote Yoruba language and culture and to foster a change within our society.
The Cotonou Times : Are the operations of your YouTube Channel your sole source of income?
Yoruba Gidi TV: No this YouTube channel it is not my sole source of income, because I am also a radio broadcaster and an advertiser for large Nigerian companies. I use most of these revenues to invest on my YouTube channel. Running a YouTube Channel actually requires a lot of resources for someone who really wants to produce something tangible.
The Cotonou Times: What are the challenges you are facing while carrying out your operations?
Yoruba Gidi TV: Running a YouTube Channel actually requires a lot of resources. There are many expenses for someone willing to produce something that is tangible. One must have resources persons, sufficient cash flow for transportation, Internet data equipment and other related expenses.
The Cotonou Times: What are according to you the challenges faced by the Yoruba language in the South West of Nigeria?
Yoruba Gidi TV: Many people don’t want to speak Yoruba in some places. Even if you to some remote villages and you start speaking Yoruba to the people, they will respond in English to show that they are not “peasants” and that they too speak English even if that “English” is “very basic”. As you know it is not possible to speak someone else’s language like ours. Rather than speaking their own language, many think that English is the language of “modernity” ignoring the fact that the person who speaks Yoruba knows exactly what is doing. As far as I am concerned only my native tongue enables me to express easily and deeply. Moreover because Nigeria is a country with multiple languages, it is sometimes difficult to just start speaking Yoruba in some areas, as one may wonder if the person we are speaking Yoruba to actually understand what is said. Your interlocutor may actually not respond to you. This is frequent in Lagos. Schools as well do not enable pupils to speak Yoruba, they consider it as a “vernacular language «which is “prohibited”
The Cotonou Times: For the past couple of months, many Yoruba online agitators have been calling for the self-determination of the Yoruba people. As someone living in the south west of Nigeria who is constantly on the ground, do you actually feel the effects of their mobilization?
Yoruba Gidi TV: My view is that most people in Yoruba land are still not aware of the meaning of self-determination
The Cotonou Times: Is the project of establishing an independent Yoruba Nation is viable according to you?
Yoruba Gidi TV: This project can still be achieved, but it will take some time before actualizing.
