Hundreds of languages are spoken in Nigeria. Apart from the most prominent–Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and English languages–521 other languages exist that have significant numbers of speakers. 521 languages in one country about double the size of Texas, amazing. So how does a Urhobo man from Delta state converse with a man who speaks Edo? English is the official language of Nigeria because of British colonial rule. From the time kids start primary school they are learning and speaking English. The numbers are diminishing, but youth still hear their native languages. They learn Tiv or Igala in the classroom, just like they learn math and science, and of course if their parents speak something other than English at home, they will speak that. But wheat you hear students gossiping, it is not in proper British English or deep Yoruba. The language is called Pidgin, or Broken. It is Nigeria’s lingua franca, understood in all 36 states. It is how Nigerians in the most northern cities and those in the Nigeria Delta are able to communicate; yet, you will not find a classroom in the whole country that teaches it.
To condense volumes of academic writing into a short blurb: Nigerian Pidgin is a Creole language from the English Creole family. It follows the same basic grammar structure everywhere in Nigeria but mixes with native languages to differentiate and enrich it slightly. For example, the Broken vocabulary for two Hausas will be somewhat different than two Yorubas but not enough to prevent easy understanding when they meet. It is essentially simplified, slang-ridden English that is incredibly witty and fun to speak.
As my host mom says, Pidgin dey for blood, it na flow. Translated to English: Pidgin is in your blood, it just flows. You cannot sit in a classroom and learn Broken because it is always changing, adapting to the situation and the time. People coin new words every second so it is utterly impossible to write a comprehensive dictionary that encompasses the dynamic language. Some organizations have done really well with compiling words and phrases into a searchable online dictionary, like www.naijalingo.com but because of the ease and fluidity with which words are created or redefined, a dictionary can never be complete. People from the Niger Delta speak the best Pidgin, where it is many people’s first language.
I am by no means fluent in Broken, it will take many many returns to Naija to achieve that, but I understand it much better than when I arrived (when I thought “I don do” meant “I have not done”). If you don’t think too hard about it, it comes pretty intuitively and will just flow. Listening to Naija hip hop music helps a lot too because all the artists like D’Banj, MI, Wande Coal and 2face rap in Broken. Speak Pidgin well and you will be able to survive anywhere in Nigeria or West Africa.
A possible Pidgin scenario between two Yoruba guys in Ibadan
Bros, How far? Dude, how are you?
–I dey. How now? I’m fine. What’s up?
I dey on top. We thank God ooh. I’m doing really well.
–Where you dey go? Where are you going?
I wan go chop for dat new place in Bodija. Titi talk say dey get rice to make sense gan. You sabi am, abi? I want to go eat at the new restaurant in Bodija. Titi said they have delicious rice. You know the place, right?
–Ooooh ya ya, I don chop dere. Na correct place. Se you go climb okada? De place be far ooh. Yeah, I’ve eaten there. It’s a great place. Are you taking an okada (small motorcycle)? It’s far from here.
Se you fit carry me go? Can you take me there?
–Ah omo, I don tire for today. Ah, my friend, I’m tired.
Chairman, abeg. E jo. Please, please.
–Ah, I dey collect ooh. Fine, but I’m charging you.
O ya. No wahala. Alright, no problem.
[…] despite the widespread use of NPE, it is yet to be given any official approval. North of Lagos […]
please what is the meaning of “Jare”
Yes o, true talk na im u talk, 9ja pidgin na all man language for 9ja, even sef go 9japidgin.com make u see for weir tori dey segemenge for we pidgin.
Great sense, I like it.
Wao! Titi, good job, i started following your blog around november of last year, but i never commented. I fell out recently cos i got busy, and i ve been on your page for almost 2hrs now catching up on your experience…I loooove your write ups, i dey gbadun am gan. m a yoruba , am sure they will studying in the US…exact opposite of you. I was hoping i would come home last december and prob meet you and take you to Ife. Its a place you need to visit, it is rich with yoruba culture and just abt 45mins drive from ibadan. Ask your host abt it, am sure they will agree its a place you need to visit. I grew up in Ife, where the then africa’s most beautiful campus is. you shld visit one of these days and take pictures! i would like to connect with you on facebook, so hit me up, you have my email add. All the best, and Ku ise!
Ive read a couple of blogs in which U and ur colleagues have actually wondered why people use English in every daily activity in Nigeria, like in the case of ATM machines operating in English and ive always wanted to write and tell u about the diversity in our cultures and native dialects, but felt U guys would soon found out.
I’m glad you’ve actually acknowledged yourself that the country has numerous tribes and that explains why English Lang and Pigdin English will always be a dominant language if we still want a Unified country. A country where we have multitribe living in one state. Nice block anyway!
Hey Titi,
I would have to post this note to my facebook if that is ok with you. You for explain the thing wey we talk pass me sef. Thanks.
“Titi talk say dey get rice to make sense gan”……LMAO… I love pidgin, my nigerian friend and i speak it all the time in uni when we’re gossiping bcos we speak different languages(hausa/yoruba). Its fun to watch the confusion on peoples faces when they try to figure out wt we’re saying.
If you want to hear what pidgen sounds like, check this link out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONS8yDx4C3I&playnext=1&list=PLB23A9BF5F67FD169&index=7
This white guy grew up in Jos Nigeria and speaks fluent hausa. In this video, he speaks fluent pidgen with a Jos accent!! It always trips me whenever I watch this video. De boy sabi talk correct pidgen, no be joke!!
I dey always gbadun una blog Titi.
Hi,
I love your blog. I plan to also study Yoruba at UI, any advice or suggestion on language study, things to do/ avoid, and traveling within Nigeria /neighboring countries.
Thank you.
“Omo mehn, I gbadun this post. Titi, you do well well ooooo, ah ah. If I no know say na oyinbo get this website, I for think say na one naija write this post. Waa se ‘re!!!!”
Translation:
“Mehn, gurlllllll, I love this post. Titi you did great with this. The author of this post would easily pass for a Nigerian if I didn’t know that you are American. Way to go!!!!:
My pidgin is bit rusty now that I don’t speak it anymore.
“I dey on top” lool, I love it. This sounds like a new slang; definitely not common in 2000 when I left naija for America. Back then I probably would have said “I dey jare”, meaning “I’m doing well, thanks”
Excellent post Titi!!!
Avid reader, first time poster
Reminds me of Cajun French when I lived in Louisiana. Fun trying to figure it out.
Loves,
Me
great post.
You forgot to explain what ‘okada’ means though…haha