US envoy speaks pidgin English in ‘soft power’ diplomacy

Ambassador Entwistle when he inspected a guard of honour in Abuja

 

 

 

 

 

US ambassador to Nigeria took to the airwaves to speak in the vernacular about the most pressing issues between the two nations, from gay rights and presidential elections to visa rules.“Me I no talk say sanction go dey for Nigeria,” James F. Entwistle told presenter “Oga Madam” on a recent visit to Wazobia FM.

“Make I repeat myself, the US government no say sanction go dey for Nigeria because of same-sex palava o.”


 Do Washington have a preferred candidate for next year’s elections, at which incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling party is expected to be pushed hard by the main opposition.

“First make I tell you say US no get any candidate for mind,” he said, according to the weekly English-language news magazine, Tell.
“The only thing wey go sweet us be say make the election dey transparent, credible and concluded.”

The linguistic prowess of the ambassador — whose profile on the US Embassy website lists him as a French and Thai speaker — provoked a response from listeners.

Some were amused that a middle-aged white man in a suit was speaking the language of the street, Tell reported.

“Oyinbo man talk am for Pidgin and laugh wan kill me die. Lol,” wrote one listener. (The white man is talking pidgin. I’m laughing so much I might die.)

Oyibo man too much joor, he fit go any mile to communicate to person unlike our own people wey they blow oyibo man grammar like say na competition we dey do for person thing.