Business

P-Square’s Peter Okoye Fights Back, So What If I Don’t Speak Good English! “‘Speaking Good English Doesn’t Put Food on my Table”

The issue in this story is about the continuous attacks on Peter Okoye for not speaking “good English.” It’s funny, Oyinbo (White) people who own the English language do not attack Okoye for not speaking their language right. But, the Africans who were forced against their will to learn and speak another man’s language are the ones beating Okoye over the head with his inability to speak a White man’s language. As you will see below, and in my view, it was  unnecessary for Okoye to respond to these tweets. To engage persons who make such attacks is  to give life and  power into meaningless conversations. It also seems to suggest he is self conscious about what they say. Arguably, for some of you, his responses fall into the AML category of ‘Celebrities Behaving Badly,’ but I am not sure it fits that neatly. So, I am classifying it under ‘Music Business,’ instead.

I agree with Okoye’s position in rejecting those who attempt to belittle his inability to speak “good” English. Since when did English become our mothers or fathers’ first language? Sey na English we go chop? Okay, I’ll make a case for him speaking “good” English, for the sake of debate. Arguably, he should learn to speak “good” English because of the nature of his work, his celebrity status and his travels across countries as part of his job. Is it a life and death matter if he does not speak good English, absolutely not. Should he have to defend himself on or offline, no. He will learn when he is ready.

As Nigerians and Africans in general, we get too caught up in unnecessary ridiculous issues. When was the last time “good” English supplied basic electricity for 150million citizens, or built better roads, healthcare and other real nitty gritty issues of life? Below are Okoye’s tweets in response to those pestering his life about speaking the language of a White man, fluently, in his own country.

-Uduak
@uduaklaw

Photocredit: Peter Okoye Promo pic

Africa Music Law™

AFRICA MUSIC LAW™ (AML) is a pioneering music business and entertainment law website, livestream and podcast show empowering the African artist and Africa's rapidly evolving entertainment industry through its brilliant music business and entertainment law commentary and analysis, industry news, and exclusive interviews.

For general inquiries, advertising, licensing, or to appear on the show as a guest, please email ([email protected]). Thank you for visiting.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Credited for several firsts in the fashion and entertainment industry, Uduak Oduok (Ms. Uduak) is a fashion and entertainment lawyer, speaker, visionary, gamechanger, trailblazer, and recognized thought leader, for her work on Africa’s emerging global fashion and entertainment markets, and the niche practice of fashion law in the United States. She is also the founder of ‘Africa Music Law,’ an industry go-to music business and law blog and podcast show empowering African artists. Her work in the creative and legal industries has earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including an award from the American University Washington College of Law for her “legal impact in the field of intellectual property in Africa." She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at several institutions in the United States. For more information, visit her at https://msuduak.com.

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1 Comment

  1. Pls u guys should free him cos dat dnt matter as far as he can express him self

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