Source: Instagram
Vincent Mboya, a well-known Kenyan content creator, has recently made headlines for an unusual reason. After relocating to Toronto, Canada, nine months ago, Mboya is now searching for someone to help him relearn Kiswahili, the language that he fears he is starting to forget.
His predicament has sparked a mixture of surprise and amusement among Kenyans, many of whom are puzzled by how quickly he claims to have lost touch with his native language.
Mboya, who has built a reputation as a vocal and sometimes controversial YouTuber, took to social media to express his concerns. In a video shared online, he explained that since moving to Toronto, he has had very few opportunities to speak Kiswahili.
In Canada, his daily communication mainly involves English, Spanish, and French, the languages he encounters most frequently in his new environment. As a result, Mboya says he is beginning to forget Kiswahili, a language he grew up speaking fluently in Kenya.
"It's been nine months since I came to Toronto, and I've started forgetting Kiswahili," Mboya said in his video. "Here, I speak English, Spanish, and French, and I can't remember the last time I spoke Kiswahili. I'm getting worried because I'm forgetting my language. If you can help me, please DM me on Instagram or TikTok."
His appeal highlights the challenges that can arise when someone relocates to a new country and becomes immersed in a different linguistic environment. While some people can maintain their native language without much difficulty, others, like Mboya, may find that it starts to slip away, especially when they are not using it regularly.
Mboya’s request for a Kiswahili teacher has sparked a wide range of reactions on social media. Many Kenyans have expressed surprise that someone could forget their first language so quickly, especially after only nine months abroad.
One commenter, Babake Willie, doubted Mboya’s claim, saying, "Does he even look like a person who has forgotten Kiswahili, let alone his mother tongue?" Another user, Makokha James, joked, "Hope he remembers how he failed the English exam."
Others offered humorous takes on Mboya’s situation. Keh Ruboh likened Mboya's experience to his own as a child, recalling how he would momentarily forget his mother tongue during trips to Nairobi until a sudden scare, like being chased by a dog, would quickly bring it back.
Similarly, Mum Marcella Wamboi shared that despite living in America for over 20 years, she and a friend still communicate fluently in their mother tongue, suggesting that Mboya might be exaggerating his language loss.
However, not all responses were dismissive. Some users empathized with Mboya’s situation, understanding that living in a foreign country can sometimes lead to challenges in maintaining one’s native language, especially when there is little opportunity to use it regularly.
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