Success Story

Supergirl Mabou Loiseau could speak eight languages and play eight instruments at age eight

In 2014 when Mabou Loiseau grabbed headlines, she was speaking eight languages — English, Kreyol, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin and American Sign Language. The child prodigy from Queens, NYC, was also learning Japanese while taking college level Algebra. What’s more, Mabou, who was just eight years old, could play the piano, harp, violin, guitar, clarinet, drums, conga and the flute.

“I was born smart, duh!”, the polyglot said when she appeared on the Katie Couric show in 2014. She could not be wrong though. The child genius grew up among a family that spoke about three languages, her mother, Esther Loiseau, said. Esther was a piano teacher who taught French at an American school before leaving Haiti for Queens decades ago.

“My husband spoke Haitian Creole fluently so he only spoke to Mabou in Haitian Creole,” Esther said in an interview. “My sister, who lived with us for some time, spoke Spanish fluently, so she only spoke to Mabou in Spanish.

“I spoke French fluently, so I spoke to her only in French,” Esther said.

However, when Mabou was only one year and a half, she started repeating some words in French that she was not yet taught. Interestingly, she knew the meaning of those words, and this was when Esther realized that her daughter had a gift. By age five, Mabou’s parents were spending $1,500 a week on tutors and lessons, including hiring nannies who spoke different languages. She could sing her ABCs in Spanish, read fairytales in Russian and count in Mandarin, Daily News reported.

At the age of eight, her typical weekday was like this:

8 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.: Russian speaking Nanny
11.00 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Lunch break / other activity
1 p.m. -5 p.m.: Arabic speaking Nanny
5 p.m. -6 p.m.: Activity of choice
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Music lesson (harp, guitar, violin and/ or piano)
8 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Swimming lessons

Mabou’s days naturally came with so many activities and lessons, but her mom made sure she had enough time to play as a kid. “Many people make that mistake, thinking I am pushing her. She is pushing me. Believe me,” Esther said of her daughter.

Now 15 years old, Mabou recently added more to her list of talents — singing, painting and dancing. Her YouTube channel has more than 9,000 subscribers. She is, however, still working towards her goal of becoming a brain surgeon, singer and lawyer. “I defend myself pretty well, so many I can defend other people. I want to understand the brain. It’s very fascinating. I want to be a singer ….” Mabou said when she was eight.

Mildred Europa Taylor

Mildred Europa Taylor is a writer and content creator. She loves writing about health and women's issues in Africa and the African diaspora.

Recent Posts

How Crawford-Williams started a movement in her apartment that now supports hundreds of small businesses in Detroit

Get to know Jennyfer Crawford-Williams; she is behind All Things Detroit Day, an annual event…

11 hours ago

Two friends treat South African security guard to once in a lifetime helicopter ride over the rainbow nation

Two friends in their 20s made a heartwarming gesture to their apartment's security guard after…

11 hours ago

From errand-runner to multi-business owner, meet 2024 Enterprising Woman of the Year Roslyn Ellerbee

Roslyn Ellerbee, the CEO and founder of Dream Team Digital Marketing, Manifesting Greatness with Roslyn…

12 hours ago

Kevin Hart loses big after selling his Bored Ape NFT, raises concerns over future of NFTs

In 2022, American actor and comedian Kevin Hart joined a growing list of celebrities who…

16 hours ago

Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley makes history again with national coach of the year win

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has picked South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley…

18 hours ago

First grader who overcame trouble hearing accepted into Mensa

Taurian Collins is making waves with his intelligence. The first-grader has already been accepted into…

18 hours ago

Halle Berry shares how a doctor misdiagnosed her perimenopause as the ‘worst case of herpes’

During a talk about women’s health with First Lady Jill Biden at Monday’s A Day…

20 hours ago

Nicki Minaj and husband ordered to pay $500K to security guard who sued them

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered rapper Nicki Minaj and her husband…

20 hours ago

Nigeria: Chinese businessman sentenced to death for fatally stabbing girlfriend

A 49-year-old Chinese businessman accused of fatally stabbing his Nigerian girlfriend has been sentenced to…

20 hours ago

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse: Baltimore mayor calls for prayers as 6 missing now presumed dead

Six workers who were missing after the Baltimore bridge collapsed are presumed dead, officials said.…

24 hours ago

Woman completes chemo and gets proposal from her boyfriend of 10 years in emotional video

Angelica May experienced a series of mind-blowing events in one day. The 27-year-old North Carolina…

1 day ago

Self-styled Bishop sentenced to prison for deceiving at least 10 women into marrying him

A Houston man, Orlando Coleman, 51, has been sentenced to prison for deceiving at least…

1 day ago

Oprah Winfrey reveals why she keeps a whole octopus in her fridge

Oprah Winfrey has confirmed long-standing rumors about an unusual item in her fridge during an…

1 day ago

Nigeria: Crypto platform Binance charged with tax evasion as executive escapes detention

Crypto platform Binance has been charged by Nigerian authorities for tax evasion, according to Tech…

1 day ago

‘Ghostbusters’ star Ernie Hudson says he only pocketed $370 out of his first $10K Hollywood paycheck

Ernie Hudson is an American actor fondly known for his role in the "Ghostbusters" franchise…

1 day ago