Sports commentator Aderonke Adesola doesn’t fit the typical radio host profile that many Nigerians expect to hear. At 25 years old and hosting her show in the local Yoruba language instead of the dominant English, Adesola is breaking the mold.
She launched her sports program in 2019 on Splash FM, a renowned radio station in the southwestern city of Ibadan with over 3 million listeners.
“There is a high level of illiteracy in Nigeria, where some people don’t understand what the commentator is saying in English,” Adesola told media.
“As a Yoruba commentator, my show comes to fill the gap.”
Referred to as “Olori Sports” on social media (with “Olori” meaning “queen” in Yoruba), Adesola provides commentary on a wide range of sports, including both local and international soccer matches, as well as sports like squash, cricket, golf, and Formula One racing.
Her show is called Jawonsi, which means “Let them know”.
“I really wish and hope to expand sports in Yoruba globally,” expressed Adesola, who, despite not being an athlete, has a strong passion for soccer. Beyond her studio duties, she dedicates her time to pursuing a degree in mass communications.
Listeners say they like her show’s humorous banter and wordplay.
One evening in Ibadan, a gathering of men gathered outdoors to engage in a board game while tuning in to Adesola’s radio show on a portable radio device.
“Before, when the commentary was in English, only a few listened, but now everyone is interested because it is in a language we understand,” said Suru Olayande, a welder.
