Nigerian actress and former Big Brother Naija star, Erica Nlewedim, has responded to social media backlash over her struggles with speaking the Igbo language.
A video showing Erica trying to speak Igbo recently went viral, with many viewers—especially from the Igbo community—mocking her accent and fluency. Some even questioned her identity and criticized her harshly.
But Erica didn’t stay silent.
In a series of tweets, she addressed the criticism, accusing some members of her own ethnic group of promoting hate and division.
“Look at my Igbo people in the comments showing how much they hate their own!” she wrote. “You can’t be so openly divided against your own people and expect trust from outsiders!”
She also said it was unfair to insult someone just because they don’t speak their native language well.
“Don’t you think it’s foolish for someone to become your enemy because you can’t speak a language?” she asked. “You don’t see other tribes doing that. They are united!”
Erica added that shaming others for not being fluent in their native language shows a lack of love and unity.
“Is it your first instinct to insult someone who is from your tribe but can’t speak the language? We need to learn love and unity,” she wrote.
While some fans supported her, others said she shouldn’t have compared the Igbo community to other ethnic groups, arguing that it might create more tension.
Despite the backlash, Erica stood her ground, calling for more acceptance and understanding within her community.
