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Several Yorùbá people living abroad find that maintaining a connection to their language and culture is a difficult journey. Parents want their children to be able to understand and speak the language of their roots. Young adults want to speak and relate with their grandparents back home in Nigeria. And for others, learning Yorùbá is simply the only way to reconnect with their identity.
Thanks to technology, it has made it easier than ever to learn Yorùbá, no matter where you are residing or living in the world. From Social Media platform to Mobile apps, to online tutors, to YouTube Channels, to podcast, the language is finding a new voice in the digital age
To bring this into existence, let’s hear a short story from a man who has walked this path.
Tàlàbí’s Story: A Journey Back to Language
I am Tàlàbí. I was born in the New York City. When I was growing up, my parents spoke Yorùbá when they didn’t want us to understand what they were discussing. It always felt like a secret code, and I was locked out.
One day, my grandma came to visit. I was 17. She brought gifts, blessings, and stories, but I couldn’t respond in her language. I remember the look in her eyes when I said, ‘I don’t understand.’ She smiled, but something in her spirit folded.
That night, I downloaded my first Yorùbá learning app. Not to impress anyone. Not for school. I just wanted to say, “Ẹ̀káàsán ma,” and mean it. Today, I speak better than I ever imagined. And now, every Sunday, I tell her a story in Yorùbá.
The language that once locked me out… now connects me in.”
Tàlàbí’s journey is one many in the Yoruba diaspora can relate to. If you’re ready to start your own, here are the best tools to make it easier.
Top Apps for Learning Yorùbá in the Diaspora
1. Yoruba101 (by Genii Games)
A fun, interactive app for children and adults. Teaches basic words, numbers, greetings, proverbs, and cultural facts through games and audio pronunciation.
Platform: Android & iOS
2. Lesson notes in Yoruba
A treasure trove of simplified class notes for students following the Nigerian curriculum. Even though it’s designed for school kids, it’s surprisingly helpful for adults too. I’d sneak in 10 minutes a day and learn basic sentence patterns, greetings, and cultural notes that made me feel reconnected. Before long, I was teaching my kids how to say ‘Ẹ káàbọ̀’ instead of just “Welcome.”
“But I didn’t stop there. I wanted to understand why Yorùbá is structured the way it is, so I downloaded this app.” Tàlàbí said
3. Grammarific: Yoruba Grammar.
This app felt like sitting in class with an old-school Yorùbá teacher—strict but effective! It focuses on verbs, sentence structure, and those musical tones that make Yorùbá so rich. It broke everything down into simple rules and helped me fix those little mistakes I used to make without even knowing.
4. YouTube Channels (Free and Effective)
- Másòyìnbó: This focuses on asking questions without code-mixing with English or any other Language, strictly Yorùbá
- Blessing Kayode: This is a channel that helps to train Yorùbá online by a very young lady with the YouTube handle @DiamanteBox
- Learn Yorùbá On Online: Perfect for diaspora children learning greetings, alphabets, and songs. @learnyorubaonline
5. Learn Yoruba Language
This app is built by Bluebird; it is the game-changer. It offers practical words, which are over 2000 practical words with audio lessons for Yorùbá native speakers. It is a perfect app for those people living in the diaspora. It works offline too; this makes it one of the best apps to learn the Yorùbá language. The app can be mimicked because it is an app that has voice audio; for instance, “Màmi, Ẹ fún mi ní omi!”
Other Valuable Resources
6. WhatsApp Language Groups
There are active Yorùbá-speaking groups for learners. Some focus on daily conversations, others on proverbs and prayers. Look for Facebook groups that share links.
7. Podcasts
Discover Yorùbá: This is a YouTube channel that is owned by Mrs. Ọlọkọ̀, where you can learn Yorùbá fluently. You can also learn about Yoruba entrepreneurs making their products by themselves, speaking extensively in Yoruba about what they do on the Discover Yoruba Podcast.
8. Yorùbá names (web & mobile)
Websites like yorubaname.com offer not just translations but deep cultural meanings and audio pronunciations.
9. Online Tutors
Websites like Preply and italki have professional Yorùbá tutors who can modify lessons to your pace and goals.
Tips for Learning Yorùbá Consistently
1.Practice speaking daily, even if it’s just greetings.
2. Watch Nollywood movies with subtitles.
3. Call your elders and try to speak; they’ll appreciate the effort.
4. Listen to Yorùbá music and try to translate lyrics.
Yorùbá is more than just a language; it is rhythm, respect, memory, and identity. Whether you’re learning to connect with elders, teach your kids, or rediscover yourself, the tools are now within reach.
As Tàlàbí showed us, it’s never too late to begin. Your language is your story. And thanks to technology, you can now tell that story fluently.
References
- Adébáyọ̀, K. (2021). Technology and African Language Preservation: A Case Study of Yorùbá. Lagos: Culture Connect Press.
- Ojo, A. (2018). Digital Tools for Learning African Languages. Journal of Language and Society in Africa.
- Genii Games—Yoruba101 App: www.geniigames.com
- YorubaName Project: www.yorubaname.com
- Discover Yoruba: www.discoveryoruba.com
