Lagos, Nigeria – October 3, 2025 – In a bold Instagram post that’s ignited fierce online debates, controversial Nollywood actor and self-proclaimed prophet Yul Edochie has placed the blame squarely on Igbo parents for the growing number of children who can’t speak their native tongue. The 43-year-old star, known for his unfiltered takes on culture and spirituality, declared it a “failure” on parents’ part, urging an immediate cultural reckoning before the language fades into oblivion.
“Today, many of us who are Igbos, our children cannot speak Igbo. It’s a failure on our part that must be corrected moving forward,” Edochie wrote in the post, which has racked up thousands of likes, shares, and heated comments since dropping late Wednesday. Accompanied by a striking photo of himself in traditional Igbo attire, the message strikes at the heart of a longstanding crisis in Nigeria’s southeastern communities, where globalization and urban migration are eroding indigenous languages at an alarming rate. Edochie, a proud Igbo man from Anambra State and son of veteran actor Pete Edochie, emphasized that teaching the mother tongue isn’t optional—it’s a sacred duty to preserve identity and heritage.
The post has struck a nerve, amplifying discussions on platforms like X and TikTok under hashtags like #SaveIgboLanguage and #IgboParentsFail. Supporters hailed Edochie as a cultural watchdog, with one fan commenting, “Yul is speaking facts! My kids speak Igbo fluently because we made it non-negotiable at home.” Others shared success stories, including viral clips of mixed-race children abroad mastering Igbo through dedicated parental effort. But detractors fired back, accusing the actor of hypocrisy amid his own high-profile family dramas, including his 2022 polygamy announcement that strained his marriage to first wife May Aligwe. “Start with your own house before lecturing us,” sniped one commenter, while another quipped, “English paid for your cars and houses—now you want Igbo for clout?”
Edochie’s critique isn’t new for him; he’s long championed Igbo pride, from advising diaspora Igbos in July to return home amid xenophobic backlash in Ghana to bagging the chieftaincy title “Isi Ogidi Ntorobia Niine” (Warrior Leader of Igbo Youths Worldwide) earlier this year. His words echo broader concerns raised by educators and linguists, who point to similar trends across Nigeria’s ethnic groups. A 2020 report from The Guardian highlighted how mothers often default to English during early child-rearing, stunting linguistic development, while UNESCO warns that over 40% of the world’s languages risk extinction by 2100—Igbo among the vulnerable.
This isn’t just parental negligence in Edochie’s view; it’s a spiritual and communal betrayal. “Our ancestors are watching,” he added in a follow-up story, tying language loss to a deeper erosion of traditional values like Omenaani (ancestral worship). As Nollywood’s enfant terrible—fresh off roles in hits like The Black Book and amid whispers of a 2025 directorial comeback—Edochie wields his 1.5 million Instagram followers like a megaphone for Igbo revival. Whether his call to action sparks real change or dissolves into more social media noise remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: in a nation of 250+ ethnic tongues, voices like his are keeping the conversation alive.
What steps are you taking to pass down your language? Sound off below, and follow Yul Edochie on Instagram (@yuledochie) for more unapologetic truths.