LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigerian-British actor David Oyelowo has shared a surprising story from his teenage years, revealing that he spent two years pretending he could not speak Yoruba while attending boarding school in Nigeria.
Speaking on the One54 Africa podcast, the actor reflected on his school days and explained that although he was fluent enough to understand conversations, he deliberately kept that fact hidden from classmates for two years.
Oyelowo explained that the decision gave him an unexpected advantage and allowed him to hear conversations that people never expected him to understand.
“I went to a boarding school in Nigeria and pretended I couldn’t speak Yoruba the whole time,” he said.
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According to the award-winning actor, he quietly listened, observed situations unfolding around him and gained insights that others unknowingly revealed.
What began as a language experiment eventually turned into one of the most memorable chapters of his school life.
Oyelowo disclosed that the situation even led to him dating twin sisters at the same time, a revelation that sparked laughter and surprise among podcast listeners.
“I ended up dating twins at the same time because I understood what they were saying without them knowing. It was a weapon,” Oyelowo added.
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Even more shocking, he said he kept up the act until his final day at school before revealing that he had understood Yoruba all along, leaving many of his classmates stunned.
Beyond the humorous boarding school tale, Oyelowo also touched on wider conversations about identity and representation in the film industry.
The actor, who earned global recognition for portraying civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, urged people to focus on unity rather than division when discussing actors taking on roles outside their cultural backgrounds.
