A disturbing video has sparked outrage online after a white teacher was filmed leading a classroom birthday song for her 6-year-old pupil, where she repeatedly referred to him as a “black monkey who lives in the zoo.”

The clip, which has since gone viral, shows the boy sitting quietly as his classmates joined in the chant.

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While some of the children laughed, the boy appeared visibly uncomfortable, fuelling anger over the teacher’s actions and the racial undertones of the incident.

Backlash over classroom incident

Many viewers condemned the teacher’s choice of words, describing it as insensitive and harmful to the young child. 

They pointed out that while the teacher may have intended it as a playful chant, the language carried clear racist undertones that should never be normalised in a school environment.

Social media reactions

The incident has generated heated conversations across social media platforms, with Nigerians and other Africans expressing deep concern about the impact of such casual racism on children.

Nwamama95 wrote: “Disrespecting a child and calling him legend at the same time. What kind of legend she mean?”

tfdsefl said: “Oga rest, we sang this in primary school. But her she suppose know say e dey insensitive. Omo wait o na racist.”

iam_juice99 commented: “That black boy for back no find the song funny at all. That boy go strong for future. If you even notice self, na only the white kids find the song funny. Them already know racism from small pikin.”

Ehinome… added: “Not surprised though. In Africa churches angels wear white and devil wears black. We already created it in our head that good is white and evil is black. I hope this child grows above this trauma and the teacher is punished for ruining the child’s day.”

Watch the video below…

Video shows a white teacher singing a birthday song to her 6-year-old pupil, referring to him as black m0nkey who lives in the zøo.
pic.twitter.com/XJJ6kiOQzO

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) October 2, 2025