Seems like Hollywood’s African accent problem is not going away anytime soon.
For some inexplicable reason, Hollywood directors seem to think Africans have only one accent, which is laughable considering the thousands of languages spoken in the continent.
Maybe they think it’s a case of one size fits all. From Will Smith in Concussion to everyone in Black Panther, Hollywood actors tend to stick to one generic African accent and it doesn’t matter where in the continent the character they’re portraying is from.
The latest blunder is in the last episode of Fox’s medical show, The Resident. The Resident has a Nigerian doctor, Dr Mina Okafor (pronounced Horrkefer by her colleagues and patients at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital), who is whip-smart, quick and very straight to the point.
We got to watch Mina’s mother, Dr Okeke (played by Emmy winner, Lynn Whitfield), who is saddled with what can be described as the worst Nigerian accent ever. In fact, that accent is not even Nigerian but more Wakandaish if you ask us.
Watch below:
Mina's mother made a memorable entrance on the latest episode of #TheResident — stream it now: https://t.co/y9rWxW1CMf pic.twitter.com/bC6oBi0Xua
— The Resident (@ResidentFOX) February 20, 2019
Well, we aren’t the only one who felt like our ears had been assaulted as fans called out the producers for being too lazy to carry out basic research. One can only hope that the next Hollywood director to portray an African accent would actually pay Africa the courtesy of using an actual African or at the very least hire an expert to train the actors.
Here is a selection of what fans of the show had to say:
You need to put more effort in your research. This particular episode is a slap on the face to Nigerians. It reads lazy! You can actually hire a Nigerian as a consultant!! The accents, off!! The way Adaku was pronounced, off!! And Gombe?!!
— Joanne (@miss_akozor) February 21, 2019
Pls next time, just get a Nigerian actor/actress to play a Nigerian role. There are many who would jump at the chance and kill it. That accent was painful to listen to!
