Community Perceptions of Yoruba Language Revitalisation Efforts in the Diaspora: Evidence from London, UK

Yoruba diaspora communities in the United Kingdom represent an important site for language maintenance and revitalisation, where parents and community organisations make deliberate choices about the intergenerational transmission of Yoruba. This study investigates community perceptions of Yoruba language revitalisation efforts among Yoruba diaspora residents in London, UK. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 30 Yoruba-speaking adults in London boroughs with significant Yoruba populations, including Southwark, Hackney, and Lambeth. The study examines participants' awareness of and attitudes toward organised Yoruba language classes, cultural events, and digital revitalisation resources. The theoretical framework draws on language revitalisation theory, diasporic identity theory, and transnationalism. Existing studies on African diaspora language maintenance have largely focused on quantitative measurement of language retention, with qualitative exploration of community motivations and perceptions remaining limited. This study fills that methodological and contextual gap. The research investigates whether Yoruba diaspora residents perceive language revitalisation efforts as successful, what barriers they identify, and what community-led or institutional interventions they consider most effective. Findings are expected to reveal that community school programmes and digital media are most positively perceived, while formal institutional support remains insufficient. Recommendations will address transnational language policy advocacy and the design of community-based Yoruba revitalisation programmes tailored to diaspora contexts. Keywords: Yoruba diaspora, language revitalisation, community perceptions, London, language maintenance.