Africa's mother tongues are finding new life as youth connect with roots and relatives

A television game show in Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos has an unforgiving rule: Speak English and you lose. For a U.S.-born millennial in the audience and a student of her parents' mother tongue, the high-stakes setting is a perfect classroom.

Africa's mother tongues are finding new life as youth connect with roots and relatives

TL;DR

  • A television game show in Lagos, Nigeria, penalizes participants for speaking English.
  • The show's rule makes it a unique educational setting.
  • A U.S.-born millennial in the audience views the show as a classroom to learn her parents' mother tongue.