Surprising My Nigerian Family by Secretly Learning Their Language

What a special moment.

Learning a new language is always a special experience. But this was something else. Finally I felt like I embraced my heritage, my roots and was able to connect to my family by speaking their language

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Hello, I’m an Irish-Nigerian-American language learning Youtuber hailing from New York!
I currently speak seven languages. Six of which I taught myself from scratch. By 2023, I aim to learn another five. The languages I currently speak are English, Japanese, Russian, Dutch, French, Chinese and Spanish.

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[IkennaLanguages]

Learning a new language is always a special experience. But this was something else. Finally I felt like I embraced my heritage, my roots and was able to connect to my family by speaking their language

[AdamYLM]

That smile on your Dads face after hearing you speak Igbo.

[LanguageSimp]

My native language is Igbo and I have to say you absolutely shocked my socks off.

[mlm]

You dad’s face when you told him you loved him in his native language was just beautiful. What a touching moment!

[juliana__]

Your father looks like the type who doesn't express emotions very loudly but is always genuine about it. Very wholesome video!

[chrisnnaji]

As an Igbo, I don't think the video even shows just how much PRIDE and JOY he's brought to all those family members. Honestly one of the best things he could do for them. Class act

[mattb]

The fact your dad is walking up and down while you are talking on FaceTime to them just shows how happy he really inside this is a great video mate SUBSCRIBED

[jessicaevans]

When you told your father you loved him in his language, I know that was extremely touching for him and it made me cry. I'm sure it's something that you always dreamed of.

[joshcook]

I’m a white English guy and I’ve been learning small parts of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa in order to make the vast amounts of Nigerians at my work feel more welcome

[finnbootes]

that 30 minutes of your dad teaching you his dialect must have been incredible. proud of you dude!

[jerrypie]

4:05 it’s cute how you inadvertently pickup a Nigerian accent when you’re speaking to her there lol

[strictedMiko]

it’s mad impressive how much he managed to learn in 1 month

[feddef]

As a father of a mixed boy, when you said your dad that you love him in his language, I straightaway burst into tears 🥲. You are a great kid with a golden heart ❤️. I hope one day my son can do the same ❤

[EzugoLive]

This video hits home as a first generation Nigerian American, who really wants learn to how to speak Igbo. I've always been able to understand it but crossing the speaking barrier has been tough. Thank you for this video. It's inspiring.

[mikeg]

I'm Portuguese and nobody in my family can speak it. I wanna change it, but if I'm honest I don't have the attention span. I'm disabled as well, mentally and physically, which really makes it harder to believe I can do it, but you inspire me man. I don't know you, but I'm proud of you and thank you for posting this

[aarongibson]

I'm going through a relatively similar journey right now. British colonialism destroyed our language amongst other things and there are only small pockets of Irish speaking communities left around the country. I always felt a profound sense of shame attached to the language so much so that I never cared to learn it. That changed a few months back when I heard a couple of young women speaking in Irish and the shame I felt for not understanding what they were saying completely outweighed the shame attached to the language from our colonial past. So here I am at 32, just learning the basics of MY language.

Tá súil agam go bhfuil tú barr na sláinte.

[Chiggianya]

Ikenna, I am a 24 year old Hmong American girl. I know EXACTLY what you mean by you were more interested in doing fun things rather than learning your mother language. I don’t speak Hmong, I never learned. I’ve never been able to have a conversation with my grandparents other than just saying very very basic things. But now that I’m an adult, I realize how important it is to learn my mother language. Thanks so much for sharing your journey!

[olushinaogunlana]

This is very impressive! As a Nigerian living in Nigeria though a Yoruba by tribe, I am really impressed with your determination to learn Igbo. I also wish I can speak the language inspite of serving in Abia state for a full one year.Thumbs up !

[ananovoa]

2nd gen Latina here. Learning Spanish made me feel a whole helluva lot closer to my family, but of course it's a little scary speaking to them with my limited vocabulary. That's awesome that you were able to connect with your family this way, and surpass that fear ❤

[saralee]

I learned Swedish to speak with my nan as she grew older, and one day she said, "I am glad you picked up Swedish, because I had forgotten how to speak it, " lol. I thought she missed her language, because everyone speaks German, Spanish or English at home. However, she didn't even know her own bloody language. So we both spoke broken Swedish until she passed. It made her smile though, and I am sure dad felt the same.