Media mogul and EbonyLife Group Chief Executive Officer, Mo Abudu, has stated that she will not tolerate being casually addressed by younger individuals, emphasising the importance of traditional boundaries and cultural respect in professional and social settings.
Speaking in a recent interview with media personality Toke Makinwa on the digital talk show Toke Moments, the 61-year-old entertainment executive described herself as deeply rooted in traditional values, noting that her upbringing heavily shaped her stance on age hierarchy.
“I am very traditional” — Mo Abudu on her Ondo upbringing
During the sit-down, Abudu revealed that her expectations around honorifics stem from her childhood years spent in Ondo State under her grandmother’s guidance.
“I am very traditional. I was brought up in Ondo by my grandmother. You can’t be calling me by my first name anyhow. I won’t take it!” Abudu stated.
She added that it particularly bothers her when younger people accord titles to others while addressing her casually: “The thing that annoys me the most is that there are people younger than me, you call them mummy and then call me Aunty.”
Cultural heritage and correcting the younger generation
The EbonyLife chief executive expressed concern over a shifting trend where younger people greet her with a simple “Hi” or use first names without accounting for cultural protocols.
She noted that while she adjusts her expectations based on a person’s cultural background, she actively corrects individuals who should know better.
“I always ask where they are from. If they are not Yoruba, then I can be a little more forgiving, but if you are Yoruba? I correct them politely, but it is just important we never forget our culture,” she explained.
A growing conversation on corporate and cultural respect
Abudu’s comments reflect an ongoing public conversation regarding African traditional etiquette within modern professional spaces.
Her remarks come just weeks after United Bank for Africa (UBA) Chairman, Tony Elumelu, publicly cautioned a young lady who addressed him simply as “Tony.”
The interview clip has since sparked reactions across digital platforms, with commentators debating the balance between casual workplace dynamics and traditional respect for elders.
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