KING CHARLES HIGHLIGHTS YORUBA, IGBO & HAUSA PROVERBS

March 19, 2026 • Dons Eze • 1 min read

Britain’s monarch King Charles III surprised guests at a state banquet in Windsor Castle by speaking multiple Nigerian languages while addressing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other dignitaries.

The King opened his speech in Yoruba, saying: “Ẹ káàbọ̀, şé dáadáa ni” (Welcome, how are you?), which drew laughter and applause from the room.

He went further to reference:

A Yoruba proverb about unity

An Igbo saying on knowledge

A Hausa idiom about change

He then ended his speech in Nigerian Pidgin English with:
“Naija No Dey Carry Last!” — a moment that sparked loud reactions from guests.

The event took place at Windsor Castle during Nigeria’s historic state visit to the United Kingdom — the first in 37 years.

King Charles also spoke about Nigeria’s global influence, describing the country as an economic and cultural force, while acknowledging historical ties between both nations.

The moment has since gone viral online, with many Nigerians reacting to the unexpected use of local languages by the British monarch.

Watch the full moment below:

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.