GATHER MEDIA: Do you remember the first time your accent was noticed?
CHIDI: First week at my new job in Toronto. I introduced myself in a team meeting. After, one lady came up and said, “Oh my God, I love your accent. Where are you from?” Something about it made me feel like I had been sorted into a category before I even opened my laptop.
GATHER MEDIA: Did it affect how you spoke?
CHIDI: Over time, yes. I started editing myself in real time — like running a translation app in my head before every sentence. “Ehn” became “right.” “I am coming” became “I will be right back.” It was exhausting.
“I started editing myself in real time — like running a translation app in my head before every sentence.”
GATHER MEDIA: Has your accent ever opened a door?
CHIDI: Yes. There is a warmth that comes with it sometimes. The same accent that makes someone dismiss you in one room makes you memorable in another.
GATHER MEDIA: What would you say to someone self-conscious about how they sound?
CHIDI: Your accent is not a problem to solve. It is evidence that you speak more than one language, that you have crossed borders. The world is full of smooth talkers who have nothing to say. You have something to say. Say it in your voice.
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