Cambridge University Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) has admitted their error in publishing an interview where European author and journalist Trish Lorenz falsely claimed christening young Nigerian protesters ‘Soro-Soke’, a Yoruba phrase that gained popularity during the 2020 #EndSARS protests against decades of police brutality in Nigeria.

While promoting her book, ‘Soro Soke: The Young Disruptors of an African Megacity’, which chronicled the travails and agony of young Africans, Ms Lorenz falsely asserted the brazenness and outspokenness Nigerian youths demonstrated during the nationwide #EndSARS protests prompted her to name them the ‘Soro-Soke generation’. 

‘Soro soke’ is a Yoruba term that means speak up. 

The statement attracted a deluge of criticisms causing Cambridge University CRASSH to retract and admit their error in publishing Ms Lorenz’s unverified claim. 

Judith Weik, who conducted the Cambridge interview, told Peoples Gazette that it was an “unintentional turn of phrase” by the European author.

“There was no intention by Trish Lorenz or anyone involved with the book to appropriate the Yoruba expression ‘soro soke’ or the phrase ‘soro soke generation’, and no such claim is made in the book,” Cambridge University CRASSH told The Gazette on Tuesday morning.

“Rather it was an unintentional turn of phrase in a single interview, the text of which has now been corrected. Soro Soke was chosen as the title due to its use as a rallying cry and call for change among young protestors in Nigeria – something which is made clear in the book,” the London University added.

Checks by The Gazette showed that CRASSH had removed the section of the interview where the European journalist claimed naming rights to the Yoruba phrase with a note admitting their error.

“*An earlier version of this interview contained wording that suggested the author had invented the phrase ‘soro soke generation’. This was not her intention and the interview text has now been corrected,” wrote Cambridge University CRASSH on their website.

The retraction has now put to rest agitations from aggrieved Nigerians who described Ms Lorenz’s claim as a mockery of the struggle that many of the youths paid for with their lives.

An excerpt of the initial version of the author’s interview stated, “This cohort exhibits a confident outspokenness and a tendency for creative disruption, leading me to name them the “Soro-Soke” generation (Soro Soke means ‘speak out’ in the Yoruba language).”

‘Soro soke’ is used generally to scold or nudge someone in Yoruba. 

For example, someone may be asked to speak up due to poor audibility. It had long been online among Yoruba speakers but only gained worldwide popularity during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.