A prominent African official attending a formal event, showcasing leadership and professionalism.
Kenyan President William Ruto has ignited a diplomatic and digital firestorm after claiming that Nigerian-accented English is so difficult to understand that it “needs a translator.” Speaking to the Kenyan diaspora in Italy, Ruto boasted that Kenyans speak “some of the best English in the world” while using Nigeria as a punchline. The remark quickly drew criticism from Nigerians and other Africans, who argued that fluency in English—a colonial legacy—should not define intelligence or national value. Critics, including Hopewell Chin’ono, framed the comment as tone-deaf and divisive. While some defenders called the comments a “joke,” many observers viewed it as a continuation of the ongoing “cyber-war” between two of Africa’s largest economies, likely exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s recent claim that Nigerians are “better off” than Kenyans.
BBC