Toke Makinwa Address The Issue Of People Referring To Her As “Dear”

Media personality and entrepreneur Toke Makinwa took to her Twitter page today, February 19, to warn people against addressing her with “dear.”

Toke went on to state that addressing someone as “sis and bro” is also abusive. She also wondered if it is against the Nigerian culture to address someone by their name.

The OAP cleared the air that the only people allowed to address her as “dear” is her buddies, those in her circle and those living with her.

See her tweet below;

“Nothing makes me cringe as much as hearing a younger person using “dear” to address me. Even worse, if we are not friendly, stop using endearing words for people who are not in your circle. Who is your “dear”? Use my name or just say hello/hi. You don’t know me that well.

I am not so big on respect, but if there’s a good 15 years between us and I am not your buddy, just say hi/hello or use my name, endearments are sometimes too familiar or is it the African in me jumping out, I’m open to this discussion

I’ll pick darling over “dear”. Maybe I just don’t like that word. Again only if we are familiar. Maybe I’m not “western” enough. Perhaps I need more westernization

Another one, why do we sis a lot? Is calling someone by their name really against our culture? Why do we like to use sis or bro a lot?

It’s not really about the age but more the “familiarity”, if we are not buddies, in the same circle, living together, I’ll just preferred if words of endearments such as “dear” are left outside our interactions.”