Pidgin English in Grand Style From Nigeria

Enjoy Pidgin English in Grand Style From Nigeria

Author: Emeka Esogbue

I have decided as a follow up to my earlier articles on pidgin as spoken by Nigerians add this very one because of series of requests from my audience for better understanding. I have written “This is what Nigeria has done to Pidgin English,” “The Amazing Pidgin English as spoken by Nigerians,” Nigeria: taking Pidgin Language to Greater Heights. Reactions from foreign speakers of English language that are curious to know more about this language of Nigerians however necessitates this very write-up.

It is good to understand that Pidgin is fast emerging as a major language of its own in Nigeria and it is now a glory to understand this kind of language in addition to the English which is widely spoken as official language in the country but it must be understood also that this language has no grammatical rules which makes it quite easier to be understood and spoken by all. Again, the language is such that it has inherited more a thousand words from several languages whether international or local. A good number of these languages are French, German, Portuguese, Yoruba, Igbo, Urhobo, Ijaw etc. The language as spoken in Nigeria of today has also come to identify itself with a number of slang which differ from one region of the country to the other.

The people from Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Edo would seem to me better and grandiloquent speakers of this language. It is hard to tell exactly when this language emerged because of the absence of records in the Nigeria but we well know that the language must have began as a social mix up between the early European Missionaries particularly the Portuguese who came to trade with the people. Inadequacy in fully comprehending the languages of the people of the present South-south region may have given birth to Pidgin language.

Some of the earlier words of Pidgin English are:

Pikin (Baby) or (Child)

Waka (walk) now used to mean (Leave) in recent pidgin

Halla (Shout)

Palaver (trouble)

Inyanga

Shakara

Siddon (Sit down)

Chop (Eat)

Abeg (Please)

Oga (Boss)

Wetin (What)

In the Nigerian entertainment, a lot of songs sang in pidgin have gained prominence and equally more musicians from the country have acquired fame singing in Pidgin. By far, the Late Afro-beat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti made popular the art of singing in Pidgin and ever since a lot of other musicians has carried this afar to neighboring countries as far as Cameroon. Such musicians are 2face Idibia, D’Banj, Faze, Blackface Naija, Black tribe and a host of others.

The influence of these musicians mostly from the southwestern part of the country have made expressions from Yoruba language the most frequently used in Pidgin English as spoken in Nigeria. “Omo,” “Magoo,” “Sha” “Jare,” “Sheh,” are all aspects of Yoruba words commonly used in Pidgin English as spoken by Nigerians. Surprisingly, songs in Nigeria done in Pidgin which the educated would have thought lacking in intellect are fast becoming the most well appreciated kind of music in the country. This is fast relegating those of foreign nations to the background, leaving them to suffer neglect or struggle for survival. Traditional musicians in some parts of the country are following suits with the making of songs in pidgin.

Nollywood is not left out too. It will interest you to know that almost all the artistes in the Nigerian film industry can all ably express themselves in pidgin better or more fluently than you may imagine ever. A beautiful lady playing a big role in the film industry who have done better in the art of pidgin may catch your attention if she quickly tells you “Omo I dey house for you” meaning she is prepared to match your trouble with trouble”. These kinds of films do better in the industry and sponsors want to see this language spoken in other to attract wider audience.

On the Nigerian local radio stations too you “My people how una dey, una don wake up?” I say “If una don wake up make una take Omi wash una face well, well so that una ears go stand make una hear me na me, Mr Wole una presenter” On the football pitch you hear your favorite Super Eagles star shout “that ball wey you no pass because only you wan chop Baba money for Abuja, you go hear am hot if we lose this match” If eventually, he scored, you would expect to hear “Guy nothing do you, you dey knock ball well”

To the Area Boys (Street urchins) in the streets of Lagos, the first phrase a visitor to the state understands is “You don collect my “Shandy for me? “Omo I go burst your eye for you” or “No let me give you fight this morning abi your fowl born lizard for you? “I go destroy your papa for here and nothing dey happen” “As you see me so I be like person wey come count bridge for Lagos” Omo settle me make you go your way I no fit shout abeg, I chop pepper”

Have you noticed that certain words are lacking in pidgin, such as Excuse me, Pardon me etc? While offensive words are commonly on the increase in pidgin maybe because words are commonly in the language are mainly devised by the uneducated. However, in spite of all these there is no doubt that Pidgin has taken as well as occupied a prominent position in Nigeria and refining the language will only soon help to bring it the door of the government as another official language of the country or our government may just wake up and discover that the language has plotted coup and overthrown the British English in the country.

Article Source: Link

About the Author:

Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is a Historian and International Relations graduate with lots of tremendous published and unpublished works.


emekaesogbue@yahoo.com