The Nigerian Tribune printed an article with the headline “Four Americans Here to Learn Yoruba Language” in the Saturday, October 2 edition of the paper. The article, by Sunday Saanu features a page-width picture of us, confusing information about our program and Yoruba language pedagogy in the U.S., and finally completely botched quotes from Kevin and I. You must understand that journalism in Nigeria does not have the same standards as journalism in the U.S. I am not trying to condemn Nigerian newspapers, but they do not adhere to credible methods of verification, which is so critical to journalism in the U.S. Direct quotes are not common, and if they do appear in an article, it’s not until the end. Such is the case with this article printed about us. Here is how they quoted me:
‘According to Cara who is now Titilayo, “I love Nigeria, I am really enjoying every minute, in fact, I can even get married here if I see an interested man because I am an open-minded person.”‘
I did not say this. Yes, I did use the words ‘open-minded person’, ‘enjoying Nigeria’, but not in any way that resembles “sentence”. I am not happy. I have received hoards of Facebook friend requests, messages and inquires from men about the possibility of me marrying them. Men are ruthless here. I think my professors here at the Yoruba Language Flagship Center are demanding a correction be printed.
A small saving grace: they printed my name “Cara Hashman.” Hopefully this glaring mistake will throw people off when they try to find me on the Internet.
North of Lagos 
No wonder! I couldn’t find Cara Hashman to marry! I kid! I kid! I couldn’t read Yoruba anyway.
Well, just days ago that I discovered your videos from a Ugandan friend, and thus I started reading your blogs! So you not only a journalism student, proficient at Yoruba, but you can edit and make videos, Premiere Pro I believe, no wonder so many men like ya -)
Btw, if you ever need an editor, let me know, I know Avid, FCP, and Premiere (shameless self-promotion here -).
But I’m on getting ready to study and explore Europe this summer, not with any program, it’s my own personal adventure. So the inspiration from reading your journey (blogs, videos) is a rapture to my plannings.
Seeing that you will soon be leaving Nigeria, I’m sure you have mixed feelings because you miss the US but will also miss “North of Lagos”, same thing I felt 4 years ago when I taught English for a few months in Vietnam.
Don’t worry, you will get to go back, the world is a small, if you think big.
Maybe you can create a Yoruba language newspaper in America? That emphasize in verifying last names and such, so people can hookup and get married? or a foundation to teach Yoruba worldwide? Good luck anyhow!!
Big Fan!
i’m a victim of such journalism myself. i feel your pain
Just realized i did not scroll down the entire list i recognize a few more- 3 to be exact.- The Guardian is on the list, The Sun (which i do not recommend) and ThisDay!
I was referring to the list of newspapers on the link you sent Michele!
The Nigerian Tribune is not by any means one of the papers to be interviewed by. I cringed when I read your post but its what you experienced and Im sorry you had to go through that. I also went through the list of Nigerian newspapers supposedly said to be the 50 most popular newspapers read online. I am in my early 30’s and have only every heard of 2 of those papers( The Daily Times- which used to be one of the foremost papers and I thought it had gone out of business and the Daily Champion- which I have never read). The others are probably small name papers trying to make a living (which does not excuse their foibles) but if the truth be told they are not papers that are considered of any repute in the country.
The Guardian and The Daily Independent Newspapers are some of the best around.
I guess I have done enough defending for the day!
i work with the highest selling paper in Nigeria the punch newspaper and i will tell you as an insider i can tell you that you are wrong. where i work you must be credible and objective. Tribune newspaper is an old newspaper that is not widely read ( most of it readers are in Ibadan). It has lost it good standard over the years. You cannot use that paper as a yard stick for other newspaper in Nigeria.
hmmm @ “Men are ruthless here.”….Titilayo thats not true. just like not all men in america are ruthless, don’t generalize. Anyhoo, ur blog is entertaining. I hope u hv fun in ibadan but lagos,abuja and port harcourt are much more fun places to be but they dnt speak yoruba like in ibadan.
Marriage proposals, lmao. Pathetic. Naija guys sha. I really like reading ur blog, makes me laugh im yoruba from lagos and i cant even speak yoruba as well as you.*shame on me* huh. i’m really impressed, well done Titilayo.
i think cara is right, and to think i read the piece and (jokingly) indicated interest in marrying you now makes me ashamed i fell in the swoop that saw so many sending you friend requests and marriage proposals. i think its more about the paper your story was published. i dont even read the paper myself but interestingly for the first time i must say, my family got the paper (for different reasons though). mean while, im a journalism major here, just graduated with a Distinction from the (Nigerian institute of Journalism), im a practising journalist whos worked for both print, broadcast and online media, i know very well what you mean.- to a large extent your very correct.but indeed your even lucky is nigeria. check the press performance in other African countries.. yould be shocked. im sorry about that. and for my “proposal” as well.. its more about the hospitality here, i must say.. lol
I’m very sure u cannot compare journalism in America to the sort of charade we have here. Its always like that and we over here are used to it like i said sometimes ago, most of us just take out the important details which in your case is Oyinbo learning and speaking our local dialect. I read the news too and was thrilled about u guys coming to Nigeria and i did add you and your friends on fbook not with the motive of getting married to you, of course Ive got my own relationship but i did extend a hand of friendship because of the amazing stuffs you guys were doing. Im not disputing the fact that there are also some ruthless guys, your words, out there using every opportunity to get across to u.
do stay blessed and enjoy your time around here. Cheers!
That’s SO insane! When I saw your fbook status I initially thought that it was just misquoted or something but that’s just making things up. Crazy!
As a J major, I can sympathize with you on this. However, I must say that there is not a day that goes by that I do not see a glaring error in MAJOR print media here in the US. Nothing this glaring, obviously. Get that retraction, or you might be scooped up and married in Nigeria!
Hugs,
Michele
Yes, I know major print errors exist in the U.S. but they are of a different scale then the errors or fabrications here. Check out some of the Nigerian newspapers here: http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/nigeria.htm and let’s chat about the differences in journalistic standards. Some of the articles are laughable. I think we are getting a retraction. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Big hugs
Hi Cara,
That’s almost funny, but not really at this time. Much later it will be a funny story to tell.
If they get a retraction perhaps it would be best if you or one of your professors wrote it. At least then you should know what it would say. And I would suggest NOT correcting the spelling of your name.
love you, hope all else is well. Keep the post coming!