“For two years I pretended not to speak Yoruba” — David Oyelowo recalls his boarding school experience in Nigeria

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Nigerian-British actor and director, David Oyelowo shared an unexpected story from his teenage years, revealing that he once spent two years pretending not to speak Yoruba while attending boarding school in Nigeria.

The actor revealed this while reflecting on his school experience and how the decision shaped his interactions with other students.

The secret that changed school life

According to Oyelowo, although he understood Yoruba, he deliberately chose not to let the people know.

“I went to boarding school in Nigeria and I pretended I couldn’t speak Yoruba the whole time. I ended up dating twins at the same time because I understood what they were saying without them knowing it. It was a weapon.”

He explained that this move created an unusual advantage because students and people around him often spoke freely in his presence without realizing that he could understand their conversations.

The actor said the silence allowed him to observe more than most people expected and gave him insight into the situations that unfolded around him during his schooling.

His account has since sparked reactions online, with many people describing the experience as relatable and humorous, especially among Nigerians who have hidden language abilities in social settings.

At another point in the conversation, Oyelowo revealed that the situation had taken an unexpected social turn.

Speaking about his school years, he revealed that he ended up dating a pair of twins at the same time.

Reactions follow the actor’s discovery

After the interview, the story sparked conversations on social media platforms, with users sharing similar experiences of concealing their ability to understand local languages.

Others have debated whether language often changes how people behave around those they assume do not understand them.

The actor’s memoir continued to garner attention for its mix of humor, nostalgia and insight into boarding school culture.

Watch the video below…

David Oyelowo tells stories of how he pretended not to understand Yoruba while being sent back to Nigeria to study at boarding school and how he ended up dating twins at the same time pic.twitter.com/cuWc8Z3SRh

— Ademola (@alkaneseries) June 11, 2026