When I first arrived in Abuja I did a post entitled ‘Wetin Dey Happen’ and this would have a good time for my Nigerian friends to inform me that there a myriad of ways for us to ‘greet ourselves’ here in Naija. Below is what I have managed to come across so far and would welcome corrections for any spellings, meanings and usage that I may have got wrong- oh and any other greetings I may have missed out.
Well Done: Nearly every morning I would exit the lift at work and the security guard on duty would say what I thought was “Welcome Ma’” to which I would respond with, “Thank you, how are you?†Soon after I worked out that he in fact was saying, “ Well done Ma’!’†and though I would often wonder what he was congratulating me for, I would still thank him and ask how he was.
A colleague later explained that in as much as it appears to be a greeting, the context of the phrase that I was already familiar with (i.e. well done as a congratulatory remark) remained the same. In essence the security guard was applauding me for turning up for work and encouraging me to have a good day.
How you body de? Pidgin English; often used when addressing someone who has been unwell. The first time I heard it was during my first week in Abuja. I was staying in a hotel and had just developed a cold. The guest relations manager knowing that my Pidgin English was not my strong point, opted to greet me in what can only be termed as the literal translation of the phrase. I can not even begin to describe my shock when I heard her utter the words “How is your body?â€
Compliments: This word is a contraction of the phrase “Compliments of the festive season to you†of which the UK equivalent is either/both Merry Christmas and/or Happy New Year. Given that the December holiday period not just about Christmas and that Nigeria is a religiously (culturally) diverse nation; it is the perfect way to greet your workmates. It is just a little confusing hearing it in the short form for the very first time.
How far? Similar to “How is it going?†though the first time I heard it I didn’t have time to think of it in those terms. All I could think of was “How far with what?†I still am not sure of the appropriate response.
How you dey? This one I got first time around even though I wasn’t quite sure what the ‘dey’ bit meant, the ‘How you’ does indicate that it is some sort of enquiry into how one is doing. What I didn’t grasp until fairly recently was that while saying ‘I’m fine’ is ok; there is a proper Pidgin English response; two in fact. These being either ‘I dey’ or ‘I dey kampe’; the latter used when one is doing really well.
Attached to these greetings are a string of questions that a greeter usually attaches such as How was your night?, How work? and How your people? I am sure there are many more but now I am better prepared. Throw any greeting at me and I will respond confidently with the “catch all†response; I thank God o! (The ‘O’ at the end of the sentence is optional, but I like it)
* The title of this post has its origins in a conversation I had with one of my regular taxi guys. Two days had elapsed since I had ridden in his taxi so I was surprised to see him flashing my phone. (To flash in the context of mobile phones is to ring someone’s phone and hang up before they respond as means of getting that person to call you back) Thinking I had forgotten something in his car, I broke my ‘ignore all flashers’ rule and called him back. Upon picking up his phone he happily informed me “Auntie O! I just de greet you!” Still couldn’t work out whether it was just a sweet gesture or a smart business move or a bit of both; but it made me happy.
I’m always interested to hear the local greetings/phrases you experience whenever you go to other places but I’m equally keen to impart those from my part of the world (Yorkshire) on others.
If you like, when I’m there I’ll see if I can give them a few ‘Northern’ greetings to give you a reminder of home. Just imagine the security guy turning round one morning and greating you with ‘Ay-up luv?’
This post took me waaaaay back to when I was dating a Naija guy!! Nice post!! I think it is always great to immerse oneself in the culture that one is exposed to at a given time, especially the language.
It\’s quite interesting listening to Nigerians especially. At one place I worked in Kenya, we got speaking that way after some 2 collegues visited Nigeria for just 2 weeks. So we\’d go like, \’my sister O, how are you doing O… well after a while it got quite irritating 🙂
Country people, fest of all make I sey grease 2 yo elbows! 🙂
So what do these ppl say for “atereeere….”? Or “ehhh”? Or “…ati?”? And u should provide us with a video, kwasababu I think it’s not just what they say but how they do it. Otherwise I tend to think of those beach operators with their rastas approaching me wheneva i am at thaa coast, you know ma sista, those jamaas u smoke tafeé with. So, pls, provide us with some vlogging 🙂 Thx!
ROTFL. Nice post. I usually never catch much of that lingo when i am watching Naija productions. Now this post has demystified a lot of what they say o (LOL)….Well done…that is a shocker…i always thought they said…welcome!?
I de thank you o…for some reason I’ve always been intrigued at pidgin english and you’ve put clarity…ta!
i love the english esp the gestures that accompany the “God forbid” and the lips nosiy thingy they do… Now i have new words… Well done sisto
What a delight? I am really impressed by your interest in the Nigerian culture. Thanks for giving your perspective as a non-Nigerian living in Nigeria. Anyway my sista, may I tell u, u do well. You be real dota of your papa. U jus make my belle full with joy and make my life cool like thermocool. Well done o jare. Good bye for now, I go keep in touch.
The one that really got me while i was in Ghana was the “why” they put at the end of every sentence. For the longest I kept wondering why everyone wanted to know why.
X: “I’m going to town, why?”
Me: Why? What? Why are you asking me why YOU are going to town?????!!!!
Finally someone explained that the “why” isn’t actually “why”. Its a Twi word, don’t know how its rendered in writing but it means ok.
Why? I don’t know!!
It’s totally brilliant to learn the language and culture of a new culture. I’m also really keen on the food that other people eat, but my trips to Ghana earned me some extra 10 kgs that have refused to budge even two years later so I’ll keep that curiosity in check for now!
Glad you’re enjoying Nigeria after all the horror stories I’ve heard. Just goes to show, it’s important to have an open mind when you visit new places and not live by stereotypes.
Well done ma!
Sissie O, how you body dey? (am I conjugating ot properly? LOL I hope you’re fluent in pidgin by your next visit to Kenya.
ROFLMAO @ MsK! That must have been most disorieting! Why? Whay what?! 😀
Hello,
I’m writing from Femmes Africa Solidarité, sorry this might seem awkward, but this NGO is in the middle of establishing a sponsorship programme for Peace Gender and Development in the honor of Dr Kihoro Wanjiru.
We have been trying to contact people from Abantu, because we need an official authorization but we haven’t gotten any reply to our request.
Could you please tell us who we should contact, please get back to me I will forward you any information about the organization, the sponsorship pragramme…
Best regards,
Yvonne Sesonga
“E be like say you dey enjoying 9ja Mama J”?
It’s refreshing to read a prose on Nigeria that is free of negative connotations. You just made my day! Thanks.
Buenas Tardes de Puerto Rico!
I am linguistics student studying West African Pidgin this semester and was wondering if you knew of any websites written in pidgin that I could surf. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
I de thank you o…for some reason I’ve always been intrigued at pidgin english and you’ve put clarity…ta!