I’m Yoruba, have nothing in common with northerners- Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch, leader within the United Kingdom Conservative Party, has declared that her identity is more aligned with her Yoruba heritage than with Nigeria as a whole.

Speaking in an interview with The Spectator, a British political and cultural magazine, Badenoch addressed ongoing discussions about her ties to Nigeria, following earlier criticisms of the country’s governance and societal issues.

Born in the UK to Nigerian Yoruba parents, Badenoch grew up in Nigeria before returning to the UK at age 16. Her last name, originally Yoruba, changed after marrying a Scottish banker.

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Badenoch’s comments about Nigeria being plagued by corruption and insecurity had previously sparked significant backlash. Vice President Kashim Shettima responded to her remarks, suggesting she abandon her Nigerian name if she no longer wished to associate with her homeland.

In the interview, Badenoch emphasized her Yoruba identity, distancing herself from northern Nigeria, where Shettima hails from. She stated:

“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba). That’s what I really am.

“I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, Boko Haram area, where the Islamism is. Those were our ethnic enemies and yet you end up being lumped in with those people.

“Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were the warriors,” she added.