Kemi Badenoch Clarifies Identity, Emphasizes Yoruba Roots Over Nigerian Unity
United Kingdom Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has reiterated her connection to the Yoruba ethnic group, emphasizing that her identity aligns more with her heritage than with the broader Nigerian entity.
In a recent interview with The Spectator, a British political and cultural magazine, Badenoch addressed ongoing discussions surrounding her cultural ties. Her remarks come in the wake of criticism over previous comments she made about Nigeria’s governance, which some Nigerians found contentious.
Born in the UK to Nigerian Yoruba parents, Badenoch spent part of her childhood in Nigeria before relocating to the UK at age 16. Her surname changed following her marriage to a Scottish banker. Reflecting on her upbringing, she has often highlighted her Yoruba roots as central to her identity.
During the interview, Badenoch stated that she feels no connection with northern Nigeria, referencing cultural and religious differences. She noted her pride in her Yoruba ancestry, which she described as a source of strength and identity.
“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,” she explained. “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.”
Her depiction of Nigeria as a country riddled with corruption, insecurity, and socialism has previously drawn backlash, including comments from Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, who advised her to drop her Nigerian name if she no longer wished to identify with the nation.
In response to her remarks, former Nigerian Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode criticized her stance, stating that Nigeria does not require her validation.
Badenoch’s comments have reignited debates about identity, diaspora connections, and the perception of Nigeria on the global stage.
