Faking Nationality Jokes In Some YouTube South African Contemporary Music/Dance Comment Threads

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: August 7, 2018

As a result of reading a number of YouTube discussion threads for videos of contemporary African music and dances, I've come across a few comments that appear to be part of a new (2017?) internet meme. For want of a better title, I call this group of comments "faking nationalities jokes".

All of these comments that I've found to date have been in discussion threads for contemporary South African music and dance videos.

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DESCRIPTION OF FAKE NATIONALITY JOKES
South Africans commenting under their real names assume fake non-African nationality/ethnicity while commenting in standard English on a YouTube discussion thread for contemporary non-religious South African music/dance videos.

After identifying themselves as being from a non-African nation or being a non-African nationality/ethnicity, the commenter sometimes expresses appreciation for that video or express appreciation for contemporary South African dance/music in general.

The commenter sometimes (also) indicates that he or she doesn’t speak language used in that video. However, the commenter proves that statement is false by ending his or her comment with words from a South African language such as Zulu.

Based on the responses that I've seen from commenters who named that language, the traditional South African language that is used at or near the end of these "faking nationality" comments is isiZulu or isiXhosa. However, it's possible that there are other traditional African (or traditional South African) languages used in these comments-since I don't speak or read any of these languages.

As of this date, I’ve only found these types of comments in a few YouTube discussion threads for non-religious contemporary South African music in which the commenter begins in English and ends in isiZulu or isiXhosa and possibly some other traditional African language. For example, I’ve not found any comments that begin in French, or Spanish and then end with a traditional South African language (or, I think, any other traditional African language.)

As a result of that comment, some other commenters in that discussion thread may respond seriously to that comment, but other commenters indicate that they "get" the joke by posting internet lingo such as “lmao” and “lol” and/or other "in the know" responses.

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NATIONS NAMED IN "FAKE NATIONALITY" JOKES
In the "faking nationality" comments that I've found, commenters have identified themselves as being from Australia, of from a specific European nation, or from a specific Asian nation, or from Australia. Other "faking nationality"comments that I've come across, at least one e commenter identified himself or herself as being from Brazil and at least one commenter identified himself or herself as being from a city of state in the United States. I've not come across any "faking nationality" comments where a commenter identified himself or herself as being from another African nation or an African ethnicity. Nor have I come across any "faking nationality" comment in which the commenter identified himself or herself as being from the Caribbean or the Pacific Islands.

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POSSIBLE PURPOSE/S
I believe that the purpose of these jokes is to imitate how non-South Africans comment on South African YouTube discussion threads. These faking nationality jokes may be posted just for fun or may be at least somewhat insulting.

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UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS
It seems to me that these underlying assumptions exist in order for these faking nationality jokes to work:
1. that it is odd for people with South African names to be from the countries that are declared by the commenters.
2. That people with these declared ethnicities aren’t from the nations that are declared/
3. The traditional South African languages that are written at the end of these comments are unknown to people who aren’t from South African; i.e. few people who aren’t South African know those languages.

"Faking nationality" jokes rests on the oddity of a person who isn’t South African (with a traditional South African name) writing in standard English and ending their comment with traditional South African words. However, I believe that there's a rising number of people from South African who have emigrated to nations throughout the world either temporarily or permanently. Also, I believe that there are an increased number of people of South African descent who are born in or live outside of South Africa-in Europe, Asia, Australia and elsewhere. And, I also believe that more people throughout the world are becoming familiar with traditional South African languages, via travel and via the internet. Given these points, it seems to me that it's only a matter of time before these above mentioned underlying assumptions will be found to be invalid.

That said, I wonder if "faking nationality" jokes are really a YouTube [if not an internet] meme, and if so, I wonder if that meme has spread or will spread to YouTube discussion threads other African nations. I hope not.

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EXAMPLES OF "FAKING NATIONALITY JOKES" FROM VARIOUS YOUTUBE NON-RELIGIOUS SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC/DANCE VIDEOS
These are all of the videos to date where I happened upon this sub-set of comments.

The videos from which these examples are retrieved are given in no particular order. These videos are numbered for referencing purposes only.

These selected examples and their selected comment responses are also numbered for referencing purposes only.

I haven't included any translations for the portion of these comments that are given in what I assume is a traditional South African language (given that all of these comments were found on YouTube discussion threads for South African music/dance videos). I'm curious what these statements mean, or if they are just random words in a traditional South African language.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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Example #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1wVpFCHeyM
"DJ Maphorisa - Midnight Starring ft. DJ Tira, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly"
1. Siyabonga Ngqondo, 2017
"I'm from Spain I dont Understand IsiZulu & IsiXhosa but hhay shem iyasho leTrack ake ngithi nje iyaphabaza!! #Starring"

**
REPLY
2.CRAZY ppl, 2017
"ur from Spain but how did u write that"

**
REPLY
3. clifton neumann, 2017
"Spanish guy named Siyabonga😂... U got jokes bruh"

**
REPLY
4. Irene Thomas, 2017
"Siyabonga Ngqondo haaaaaibo???? Lol 😂😂😂"

**
REPLY
5. Siphesihle Mkangeli, 2017
"we all know this boring joke, texting for London and know Zulu Xhosa and Sotho because I never forget or neglect my roots"

**
REPLY
6. Bonakele Mlambo, 2018
"if you are from Spain then why you write in isizulu ??"

**
REPLY
7. Emkay Tloubatla, 2018
"Hahaha SAVAGE!!!"

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Example #2:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WYehMAThA "Watch Lit Bhenga dance moves 2017"
1. Watie nhlangz, 2017
"I don't understand the language in most of your comments guys but all the way from Chicago I just wanna say... you are the best especially ngegqom' nokujiva. umona phantsi... All the love from U.S.A 😂✌"

**
REPLY
2. Mega videos, 2017
"Watie nhlangz lol Zulu in Chicago"

**
REPLY
3. Just Finger
"😂 😹😹"

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Example #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og_kaTxfE3U&t=13s
"UKZN ; Dance Vosho walk yephara destruction boys"
1. Sphamandla Hlela, 2018
"M from Australia and aycha niyaadansa emzansi. Impressed"

**
REPLY
2. Thabo John Temane, 2018
"Sphamandla Hlela hey"

**
REPLY
3. Blxck Stiffler, 2018
"you're not from australia but you're just "in" australia😂😂😂"

**
REPLY
4. Tandi Kobe, 2018
"Blxck Stiffler 😁 just imagine mna ndisithi m from UK 🇬🇧 yhuuu"

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Example #4:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g "Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)"
1. Ayanda Romanis Zungu, 2017
"I'm Irish. But this track yenza ama wololo mos!! 📻🎧🎶"

**
REPLY
2. Mbeko Kame, 2017
"Lmao!!!!!"

**
3. Nelson 619, 2017
"loli am south africa"

**
REPLY
4. D. G., 2017
"Ayanda Zungu Irish?"

**
5. Zabu Ramafikeng, 2017
"I am From Spain do not understand isizulu..... BUt le namba i enza amasimba bafowethu"

**
6. Sydney Sekgala, 2017
"hmm this song...anyone with translation for this song plz..i'm from Thailand but i think i can dance for this song ka language yaka ge nka e understanda"

**
Ntando, 2017
7. "I'm from Poland and don't understand Zulu but Hai neh le namba iyasho strong"

**
REPLY
8. Zihnne Riley Demor, 2017
"Crc?😂😆😆😆😂😂😀😂😆😆😆😂😂😀 😂😂😂 😂😆😆😆😂😂😀 sorry maybe u will someday practice makes perfect"

**
REPLY
9. the famousdjx, 2017
"Nangomunye namanga nje ephume soweto"

**
REPLY
10. Cebzah Mbhele, 2017
"Bakzin Namanje lol I'm also in Poland 🇵🇱 Warsaw..where about in Poland are you"

**
REPLY
11. Hlengiwe Mngadi, 2017
"Bakzin Namanje 😂😂😉"

**
REPLY
12. Ntando, 2017
"Lol someone did get it"

**
REPLY
13. Jabu Mazibuko, 2018
"😂😂😂😂😂awe Poland!"

**
13. TJ Rush, 2018
"Wow! I'm from Brazil and I'm loving this, it's a pity that I don't understand some comments as they are in South African Languages but oksalayo niyayishaya ito yenu bantu baseMzansi."

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Example #4 [Added August 3, 2018]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0
Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)

1. Bring Back Our Gqom, 2017
"I'm frm North Korea I don't understand a word but this tune is a Nuclear Bomb. Massive Respect to DJ Mphyd (Song Producer) his beat is on fire man. Eish Pilot Films has let us down a couple of times, I think it time Tira and his team look elsewhere (Ofentse Mwase Films or RB Films) Otherwise makufiwe macala onkeee!! this festive"

**
REPLY
2. Romario Giovanni Slinger, 2017
"This I'm from what-what and I don't understand the language getting old now like seriously 😣😣😧😧😧"

**
3. kamir mahabeer, 2017
"Hahhaa
Fact😂"

**
REPLY
4. Bring Back Our Gqom, 2017
"#RomarioSlinger Really? I didnt know, I only saw it last week on youtube comments section. Thanks for heads up"

**
REPLY
5. kgahliso Napo, 2017
"lol y dd u have to say ur from north korea, u don't even know where that is😂😂"

**
REPLY
6. Bring Back Our Gqom, 2018
"#KgahlisoNapo if i don't knw where North Korea is. I wudnt have mentioned the "Nuclear Bomb" in scenario"

**
REPLY
7. Luthando Dumisani Zaba, 2018
"Bruh they dont even have YouTube in North Korea"

**
REPLY
8. theo jb, 2018
"Wait you frm NK but still you write zulu words ... im confused"

**
REPLY
9. Tony, 2018
"prove it. nk has no internet to my best knowing...."

**
REPLY
10. linford phele mthobeli, 2017
"I'm from Russia don't understand what they saying kodwa lengoma ne flakka same whatsapp group, iyanyisa"

**
REPLY
11. Iskey, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom im pretty sure people in Korea don't say "Eish""

**
REPLY
12. DJ HOTFIRE, 2018
"Omg im dead nuclear bomb 😂😂"

**
REPLY
13. Abraham Miller, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom I don't know who you are, but I love your sense of humor"

**
REPLY
14. jordan dk, 2018
"Who in North korea says eish"

**
REPLY
15. Elvis Lungo, 2018
"something tells me you are from South Africa. seriously you kno too much wena.. lol"

**
REPLY
16. Bryan BC Carrasquillo, 2018
"wait, you're in NoKo and you're not in jail yet for being on Youtube?"

**
REPLY
17. B 1, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom 😂😂😂😂"

**
REPLY
18. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom when I saw Eish I knew this either south African or Kenyan"

**
REPLY
19. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2018
"Jonathan Holtshausen Kenyans say Eiish too"

**
REPLY
20. MelanatedNYC Empress, 2018
"Luthando Dumisani Zaba
He/she could of been one of the people who got out of N.Korea, people move you know"

**
REPLY
21. Princess882, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom North Koreans don’t say “eish”"

**
REPLY
22. lindokuhle andile
"korean who can speak zulu haaaaaaa im lovin it"

**
REPLY
23. Michael Makamba, 2018
"the dude is from North Korea and says "Eish" how original"

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Example #5:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lZUI3u6HI "Babes - "Umngan'wami ft Mampintsha & Danger (Official Music Video)"
1. Teekay Mxoexic, 2017
"Am in Germany I dont understand the language but the beat lenza kakhulu Shem, tholukuthi yeyy ! 😇"

**
2. nkanyiso sithole, 2017
"I am from Australia and i don't understand this language but ay no iDubane iyalishaya iqgomu"

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Example #6
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFao_oNYjBE Babes Wodumo - Ganda Ganda ft Mampintsha and Madanon (Official Music Video)

Sibusiso Sibiya
5 months ago
I'm from China, I don't understand Zulu but iyasho lenumber bafe2"

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Added on August 6, 2018
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ca1YUhkJY Nelisiwe Sibiya - Mama Ka Bafana (BRICS SUMMIT)
1. Nondumiso Mhlongo, 2018
"I'm from Australia and I don't understand Sotho but yey lengoma ingenza ngizisole ngokubulala uBafana ongekho 😐"

**
REPLY
2. Angelicious Ngwenya, 2018
"Nondumiso Mhlongo its Zulu babes"

**
REPLY
3.christinah Ditse, 2018
"Humour😂😂"

**
REPLY
4. Mosima bopape, 2018
"Nondumiso Mhlongo 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂"

**
REPLY
5. Mosima bopape, 2018
"Angelicious Ngwenya am sure lmao 😂😂"

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Example #7
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlEkRSq0-Qg "sister bettina"
1. King Charlie, 2017
"I'm from Ireland I don't understand the lyrics but iyatsho le nto!"

**
2.
Mongezi Skosana, 2018
"I'm in Canada and i dont understand a word that is being said in this song mara yenza amasimba"
-snip-
Note: This is my last update featuring examples of this meme unless I find examples in discussion threads for non-South African music or examples that pre-date 2017.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Words For "Yes" And "No" In Various African Languages (with brief information about those languages)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about various African languages and information about the words for "yes" and "no" in those languages.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, cultural, and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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DISCLAIMER:
This compilation is not intended to be a complete listing of words for "yes" and "no" in all of the African traditional languages.

This compilation also isn't meant to be a resource for how these words are pronounced.

This compilation doesn't include French, Portuguese, English, Spanish, or any Pidgin/Creole languages which are also spoken in certain African nations. Some traditional African languages aren't included in this compilation because I couldn't find the words for "yes" and "no" in those languages.

Additions and corrections are very welcome.

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INFORMATION ABOUT VARIOUS AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND THE WORDS FOR "YES" AND "NO" IN THOSE LANGUAGES
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
With the exception of the Amazigh language, these languages are given in alphabetical order based on the name that is commonly used for that language in the United States (for example, "Swahili" is listed and not "KiSwahili" and "Zulu" is listed and not "IsiZulu").

I've identified a link for the brief excerpt about each language, but usually haven't included the online link or links for the information that I retrieved from online sources about the words "yes" and "no" in those languages. That retrieved information is given after the brief quote as indicated by "snip".

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AKAN
Read the entries for Fante and Twi that are found below.

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AMAZIGH (BERBER)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berber_languages
"The Berber languages, also known as Berber or the Amazigh languages[2] (Berber name: Tamaziɣt, Tamazight; Neo-Tifinagh: ..., Tuareg Tifinagh ...), are a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. They comprise a group of closely related dialects spoken by the Berbers, who are indigenous to North Africa.[3] The languages were traditionally written with the ancient Libyco-Berber script, which now exists in the form of Tifinagh.[4]

Berber is spoken by large populations of Morocco, Algeria and Libya, by smaller populations of Tunisia, northern Mali, western and northern Niger, northern Burkina Faso and Mauritania and in the Siwa Oasis of Egypt. Large Berber-speaking migrant communities, today numbering about 4 million, have been living in Western Europe, spanning over three generations, since the 1950s. The number of Berber people is much higher than the number of Berber speakers. The bulk of the populations of the Maghreb countries are considered to have Berber ancestors.[5]”...
-snip-
Berber [Yes] "Ih"; [No] "Uhu"

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AMHARIC
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amharic
"Amharic... is one of the Ethiopian Semitic languages, which are a subgrouping within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. It is spoken as a first language by the Amharas and as a lingua franca by other populations residing in major cities and towns of Ethiopia. The language serves as the official working language of Ethiopia, and is also the official or working language of several of the states within the federal system.[9] With 21,811,600 total speakers as of 2007, including around 4,000,000 L2 speakers, Amharic is the second-most commonly spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic.[10]"...
-snip-
Amharic: [Yes] "Awo"; "Aye"; [No] "Aydelem"

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ARABIC
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic
"Arabic... is a Central Semitic language that first emerged in Iron Age northwestern Arabia and is now the lingua franca of the Arab world.[

[...]

Native to Countries of the Arab League, minorities in neighboring countries and some parts of Asia, Africa, Europe
-snip
Arabic: [Yes] "Na’am"; [No] "La"
-snip-
From https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-say-%E2%80%9Cyes%E2%80%9D-in-Arabic
"Zora O'Neill, Author of "All Strangers Are Kin: Adventures in Arabic and the Arab World"
Answered Mar 24, 2017
Arabic has a written form that is standard across the Arab world. In the written language, na’am (نعم) is the word for ‘yes.’

But across the Arab world, there are dozens of spoken Arabic dialects, and most people will say ‘yes’ in a different way, depending on what dialect of Arabic they speak.

For example, Egyptians commonly say aywa (أيوا), often just shortened to ah. In Lebanon, people usually say eh or ay."

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BAMBARA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambara_language
"The Bambara (Bamana) language, Bamanankan, is a lingua franca and national language of Mali spoken by perhaps 15 million people, natively by 5 million Bambara people and about 10 million second-language users. It is estimated that about 80 percent of the population of Mali speak Bambara as a first or second language.”...
-snip-
[Yes] "Awɔ"; [No] "Ayi"

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BEMBA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bemba_language
"The Bemba language, ChiBemba (also Cibemba, Ichibemba, Icibemba and Chiwemba), is a major Bantu language spoken primarily in north-eastern Zambia by the Bemba people and as a lingua franca by about 18 related ethnic groups, including the Bisa people of Mpika and Lake Bangweulu, and to a lesser extent in Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Botswana. Including all its dialects, Bemba is the most spoken indigenous language in Zambia.[4] The Lamba language is closely related and some people consider it a dialect of Bemba."...
-snip-
Bemba: [Yes] "Ee"; [No] "Awe" , "Iyoo"

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C, D
CHEWA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewa_language
"Chewa....also known as Nyanja ... is a language of the Bantu language family. The noun class prefix chi- is used for languages,[4] so the language is usually called Chichewa and Chinyanja (spelled Cinyanja in Zambia, and Cinianja in Mozambique). In Malawi, the name was officially changed from Chinyanja to Chichewa in 1968 at the insistence of President Hastings Kamuzu Banda (himself of the Chewa tribe), and this is still the name most commonly used in Malawi today.[5] In Zambia, Chewa is spoken by other people like the Ngoni and the Kunda, so a more neutral name, Chinyanja '(language) of the lake' (referring to Lake Malawi), is used instead of Chichewa."...
-snip-
Chewa: [Yes] "Ee", "Eya", "Inde"; [No] "Ayi", "Iyayi"

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E, F
EWE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewe_language
"Ewe... is a Niger–Congo language spoken in southeastern Ghana by approximately 6–7 million people as either the first or second language.[6] Ewe is part of a cluster of related languages commonly called Gbe; the other major Gbe language is Fon of Benin. Like many African languages, Ewe is tonal."...
-snip
[Yes] "Eeh"; "E. (ay)" ; [No] "Awo"; "Ao"

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FANTE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fante_dialect
"Fantse (Mfantse, Fante, Fanti) is one of the three formal literary dialects of the Akan language. It is the major local dialect in the Central Region of Ghana as well as in settlements in other regions from mid to southern Ghana."...
-snip-
Fante: [Yes] "Oho"; [No] "Nyew"
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_language
"Akan... is a Central Tano language that is the principal native language of the Akan people of Ghana, spoken over much of the southern half of that country, by about 58% of the population, and among 30% of the population of Ivory Coast.

Three dialects have been developed as literary standards with distinct orthographies: Asante, Akuapem (together called Twi), and Fante, which, despite being mutually intelligible, were inaccessible in written form to speakers of the other standards."
-snip-
Read the entry for Twi below.

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FULA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_language
"Fula..., also known as Fulani… or Fulah…(Fula: Fulfulde, Pulaar, Pular; French: Peul), is a language spoken as a set of various dialects in a continuum that stretches across some 20 countries in West and Central Africa. Along with other related languages such as Serer and Wolof, it belongs to the Senegambian branch within the Niger–Congo languages, which does not have tones, unlike most other Niger–Congo languages. More broadly, it belongs to the Atlantic geographic grouping within Niger–Congo. It is spoken as a first language by the Fula people ("Fulani", Fula: Fulɓe) from the Senegambia region and Guinea to Cameroon and Sudan and by related groups such as the Toucouleur people in the Senegal River Valley. It is also spoken as a second language by various peoples in the region, such as the Kirdi of northern Cameroon and northeastern Nigeria."
-snip-
Fula: [Yes] "Ohoo"; "Eh"; [No] "Kay", "Na non"

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G, H
GA (Gã)
From https://www.omniglot.com/writing/ga.htm
"Ga is a member of the Kwa branch of Niger-Congo languages. It is spoken in Ghana by about 600,000 people, particular in the southeast of the country around the capital, Accra."...
-snip-
Ga: [Yes] "hεε,εhεε"; [No] "daabi"

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HAUSA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hausa_language
"Hausa... is the Chadic language (a branch of the Afroasiatic language family) with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by some 27 million people, and as a second language by another 20 million. The total numer [sic] of Hausa speakers as of 2018, totals about 150 million people.[4] The ancestral language of the Hausa people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Central Africa, Hausa is commonly spoken throughout southern Niger and northern Nigeria. It has developed into a lingua franca across much of Western Africa for purposes of trade.

[...]

Native to Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Togo and Sudan."...
-snip-
Hausa: [Yes] "Eh"; [No] "A'a"

****
I, J,
IGBO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_language
"Igbo ... is the principal native language of the Igbo people, an ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. The language has approximately 24 million speakers, who live mostly in Nigeria and are primarily of Igbo descent...

[...]

Native to Nigeria
Region southeastern Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea"...
-snip-
Igbo [Yes] "Éey, Ëhh". (pronunciation: ey, AEH) ; [No] "Ḿbà" (pronunciation: IM-bah)

****
K, L
KIKUYU
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikuyu_language
"Kikuyu or Gikuyu (Gikuyu: Gĩkũyũ [ɣēkōjó]) is a language of the Bantu family spoken primarily by the Kikuyu people (Agĩkũyũ) of Kenya. Numbering about 7 million (22% of Kenya's population),[4] they are the largest ethnic group in Kenya.

[...]

Native to Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda"
-snip-
[Yes] "Niguo"; [No] "Asha"

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KIMBUNDU
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimbundu
"Kimbundu, or North Mbundu, one of two Bantu languages called Mbundu (see Umbundu), is the second-most-widely spoken Bantu language in Angola. It is concentrated in the north-west of the country"...
-snip-
Kimbundu: [Yes] "Kyene"; [No] "Kaná"

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KINYARWANDA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinyarwanda
"Kinyarwanda....; known as Igifumbira in Uganda) is an official language of Rwanda and a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language spoken by 12 million people in Rwanda, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjacent parts of southern Uganda (Kirundi dialect is the official language of neighbouring Burundi).[4]

Kinyarwanda is one of the four official languages of Rwanda (along with English, French and Kiswahili) and is spoken by almost all of the native population. That contrasts with most modern African states, whose borders were drawn by colonial powers and do not correspond to ethnic boundaries or precolonial kingdoms.[5]"...
-snip-
Kinyarwanda= [Yes] "Yego"; [No] "Oya"

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LINGALA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingala
"Lingala (Ngala) is a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a large part of the Republic of the Congo, as well as to some degree in Angola and the Central African Republic. It has over 10 million speakers."...
-snip-
Lingala- [Yes] "Ee; [No] "Te"

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LUBA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luba-Kasai_language
"Luba-Kasai, also known as Western Luba, Bena-Lulua, Ciluba/Tshiluba,[5] Luba-Lulua[6] or Luva, is a Bantu language (Zone L) of Central Africa and an official language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside Lingala, Swahili, and Kikongo.

An eastern dialect is spoken by the Luba people of the East Kasai Region and a western dialect by the Lulua people of the West Kasai Region."...
-snip-
[Yes] "Eyowa"; [No]; "Tòo"

****
LUGANDA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luganda
"Luganda, or Ganda[1]... Oluganda [oluɡâːndá][5]), is one of the major languages in Uganda and is spoken by more than five million Baganda and other people principally in central Uganda, including the capital Kampala of Uganda. It belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger–Congo language family. ....

With about four million first-language-speakers in the Buganda region and a million others fluent elsewhere, it is the most widely-spoken Ugandan language. As a second language, it follows English and precedes Swahili.

Luganda is used in some primary schools in Buganda as pupils begin to learn English, the primary official language of Uganda. Until the 1960s, Luganda was also the official language of instruction in primary schools in Eastern Uganda."...
-snip-
Luganda: [yes] "Yee", "Mm", Weewawo; [No] Nedda

****
LUO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luo_dialect
"The Luo dialect, Dholuo (pronounced [d̪ólúô][3]) or Nilotic Kavirondo (pejorative colonial term), is the eponymous dialect of the Luo group of Nilotic languages, spoken by about 6 million Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania,[4] who occupy parts of the eastern shore of Lake Victoria and areas to the south.

[...]

Native to Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan"...
-snip-
From http://economics.ozier.com/language/dholuo.html [with brackets added]
"[Yes], ee or duoko (Note that ee is also used in Luhya.)
{No], dawe (Note that dawe or tawe is also used in some Luhya dialects.)"

****
M, N
MALAGASY
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malagasy_language
"Malagasy ... is an Austronesian language and the national language of Madagascar. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere."...
-snip-
Malagasy: [Yes]"Eny"; [No] "Tsia"

****
MANDINKA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_language
"The Mandinka language (Mandi'nka kango), or Mandingo, is a Mandé language spoken by the Mandinka people of the Casamance region of Senegal, the Gambia, and northern Guinea-Bissau. It is one of principal languages of the Gambia.

Mandinka belongs to the Manding branch of Mandé, and is thus similar to Bambara and Maninka/Malinké. In a majority of areas, it is a tonal language with two tones: low and high, although the particular variety spoken in the Gambia and Senegal borders on a pitch accent due to its proximity with non-tonal neighboring languages like Wolof."...
-snip-
Mandinka: [Yes] "Ha"; [No] "Hani"

****
NDEBELE [Northern Ndebele]
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ndebele_language
"Northern Ndebele (English: /ɛndəˈbiːliː/), also called Sindebele, Zimbabwean Ndebele[1] or North Ndebele,[4][5] and formerly known as Matabele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, spoken by the Northern Ndebele people, or Matabele, of Zimbabwe.

Northern Ndebele is related to the Zulu language, spoken in South Africa. This is because the Northern Ndebele people of Zimbabwe descend from followers of the Zulu leader Mzilikazi (one of Zulu king Shaka's generals), who left the Zulu Kingdom in the early 19th century, during the Mfecane, arriving in present-day Zimbabwe in 1839.

Although there are some differences in grammar, lexicon and intonation between Zulu and Northern Ndebele, the two languages share more than 85% of their lexicon. To prominent Nguni linguists like Anthony Cope and Cyril Nyembezi, Northern Ndebele is a dialect of Zulu. To others like Langa Khumalo, it is a language. Distinguishing between a language and a dialect for language varieties that are very similar is difficult, with the decision often being based not on linguistic but political criteria.[6][7][8][9]

Northern Ndebele and Southern Ndebele (or Transvaal Ndebele), which is spoken in South Africa, are separate but related languages with some degree of mutual intelligibility, although the former is more closely related to Zulu. Southern Ndebele, while maintaining its Nguni roots, has been influenced by the Sotho languages.[10]"...
-snip-
Northern Ndebele: [Yes] "Yebo", "Ye"; {No] "Hayikhona", "hayi", "hayibo"

****
O, P
OROMO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oromo_language
"Oromo .... is an Afroasiatic language spoken in the Horn of Africa. It is the most widely spoken language in the family's Cushitic branch. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 24.6 million Oromo people and neighbouring peoples in Ethiopia and by an additional half million in parts of northern and eastern Kenya.[6] It is also spoken by smaller numbers of emigrants in other African countries such as South Africa, Libya, Egypt and Sudan. Oromo is a dialect continuum; not all varieties are mutually intelligible.

The native name for the Oromo language is Afaan Oromoo, which translates to "mouth (language) of Oromo". It was formerly known as Galla, a term now considered pejorative but still found in older literature."...
-snip-
Oromo: [Yes] "Ee, eeyyee"; [No] "Lakki"

****
Q, R

****
S, T
SHONA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shona_language
"Shona...(chiShona) is the most widely spoken Bantu language as a first language and is native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Central Shona varieties: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika and Korekore. Based on Clement Doke's 1931 report, Union Shona or Standard Shona was developed from the Central Shona varieties. Because of the presence of the capital city in the Zezuru region, that variety has come to dominate in Standard Shona.

The larger group of historically related languages (called Shona languages by linguists) also includes Ndau (Eastern Shona) and Kalanga (Western Shona), but speakers of those languages prefer their distinct identities and usually reject any connection to the term Shona.

[...]

Native to Zimbabwe, Mozambique"...
-snip-
Shona: [Yes] "Hongu"; [No] "Kwete"

****
SOMALI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language
"Somali ... is an Afroasiatic language belonging to the Cushitic branch. It is spoken as a mother tongue by Somalis in Greater Somalia and the Somali diaspora. Somali is an official language of Somalia, Somaliland,[7] a national language in Djibouti, and a working language in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. ... The Somali language is written officially with the Latin alphabet."...
-snip-
Somali: [Yes] "Haa"; [No] "Maya"

****
SOTHO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesotho_language
"Sesotho (or Sotho…); also known as Southern Sotho or Southern Sesotho[5]) is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho-Tswana (S.30) group, spoken primarily in South Africa, where it is one of the 11 official languages, and in Lesotho, where it is the national language."...
-snip-
Sesotho: [Yes] "Eea"; [No] "Che"

****
SWAHILI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language
"Swahili, also known as Kiswahili (translation: language of the Swahili people), is a Bantu language and the first language of the Swahili people. It is a lingua franca of the African Great Lakes region and other parts of eastern and south-eastern Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[7] Comorian, spoken in the Comoros Islands is sometimes considered to be a dialect of Swahili, though other authorities consider it a distinct language.”...
-snip-
From https://www.duolingo.com/comment/25743255/Swahili-yes-and-no
answered by ReaganEarl , 2018
[Yes] "Ndio"; [No] "La"

**
answered by Airport1, 2018
"[Yes] = "Ndiyo" ("Naam")
[No] = "Hapana" ("La")

the form for yes is spoken I guess just "dio" (correct me otherwise), while "hapana" for "no" is spoken like "habana", and "la" is the shorter arabic from, which is also used."

****
SWAZI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swazi_language
"The Swazi, Swati or siSwati language (Swazi: siSwati [siswatʼi]) is a Bantu language of the Nguni group spoken in Swaziland and South Africa by the Swazi people. The number of speakers is estimated to be in the region of 3 million. The language is taught in Swaziland and some South African schools in Mpumalanga, particularly former KaNgwane areas. Swazi is an official language of Swaziland (along with English), and is also one of the eleven official languages of South Africa.

Although the preferred term is "Swati" among native speakers, in English it is generally referred to as Swazi. Swazi is most closely related to the other "Tekela" Nguni languages, like Phuthi and Northern Transvaal (Sumayela) Ndebele, but is also very close to the "Zunda" Nguni languages: Zulu, Southern Ndebele, Northern Ndebele, and Xhosa."...
-snip-
Swazi: {Yes] "Yebo"; [No] "Cha"

****
TSWANA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_language
"The Tswana or Setswana language is spoken in Southern Africa by about five million people.[1] It is a Bantu language belonging to the Niger–Congo language family...

Tswana is an official language and lingua franca of Botswana. The majority of Tswana-speakers are found in the north of South Africa, where four million people speak the language and an urbanised variety which is part slang and not the formal Setswana, known as Pretoria Tswana, is the principal language of that city.

[...]
Native to Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia"...
-snip-
Tswana: [Yes] "Ee"; [No] "Nnyaa"

****
TWI
From Twi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twi
"Twi ... also known as Akan Kasa) is a dialect of the Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana by about 6–9 million Ashanti people as a first and second language.[7][3] Twi is a common name for two former literary dialects of the Akan language; Asante (Ashanti) and Akuapem, which are mutually intelligible. There are about 9 million Twi speakers, mainly originating from the Ashanti Region[1][3] and about a total of 17–18 million Ghanaians as either first or second languages. Akuapem Twi was the first Akan dialect to be used for Bible translation, and became the prestige dialect as a result.[8] It is also spoken by the Southeastern people of Cote D'Ivoire.
-snip-
Twi: [Yes] "Aane" (ah-nay). [No] "Dabi" (dah-bee); "Daabi"

****
TIGRINYA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigrinya_language
"Tigrinya (often written as Tigrigna;... is an Afroasiatic language of the Semitic branch. It is mainly spoken by the Tigrayans in the highlands of Eritrea and in the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa. Tigrinya has around around 6,915,000 total speakers. Tigrinya speakers in Ethiopia (known as Tigrawot; feminine Tigrāweyti, male Tigraway, plural Tegaru) number around 4,320,000 individuals, and are centered in the northern Tigray Region. The Tigrinya speakers in Eritrea total roughly 2,540,000, and are concentrated in the southern and central highland areas. Tigrinya is also spoken by emigrants from these regions, including some Beta Israel.[5]

Tigrinya should not be confused with the related Tigre language. The latter language is spoken by the Tigre, who inhabit the lowland regions of Eritrea."...
-snip-
Tigrinya: [Yes] "U'weh"; [No] "Aykonen"

****
U, V

****
W, X
WOLOF
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolof_language
"Wolof ... is a language of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the Niger–Congo language family. Unlike most other languages of the Niger-Congo family, Wolof is not a tonal language...

It is the most widely spoken language in Senegal, spoken natively by the Wolof people (40% of the population) but also by most other Senegalese as a second language.[5]

Wolof dialects vary geographically and between rural and urban areas. "Dakar-Wolof", for instance, is an urban mixture of Wolof, French, and Arabic.

"Wolof" is the standard spelling and may refer to the Wolof people or to Wolof culture. Variants include the older French Ouolof and the principally Gambian Wollof, Jolof, jollof, etc., which now typically refers either to the Jolof Empire or to jollof rice, a common West African rice dish"....
-snip-
Wolof: [Yes] "Waaw", [No] "Déedéet", (Dedet)

****
XHOSA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xhosa_language
"Xhosa … or isiXhosa … is a Nguni Bantu language with click consonants ("Xhosa" begins with a click) and one of the official languages of South Africa.[9] Although not widely spoken there, it is also an official language of Zimbabwe.[10] "Xhosa is spoken as a first language by 8.2 million people and by 11 million as a second language in South Africa, mostly in Eastern Cape Province.

[....]

Native to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho"...
-snip-
Xhosa: [Yes] "Ewe"; [No] "Hayi"

****
Y, Z
YORUBA
From https://www.omniglot.com/writing/yoruba.htm
"Yoruba (Èdè Yorùbá)

Yoruba is a member of the Volta-Niger branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. It is spoken by about 28 million people in southwest Nigeria, Benin, Togo, the UK, Brazil and the USA. It is one of the four official languages of Nigeria, along with English, Hausa and Igbo."...
-snip-
Yoruba: [Yes] "Bẹẹ ni" ("bẹẹni"); [No] "Bẹẹ kọ" ("bẹkọ"); "Ó ti"; "Ra ra"

****
ZULU
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_language
"Zulu or isiZulu (Zulu: isiZulu) is the language of the Zulu people, with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority (over 95%) of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa (24% of the population), and it is understood by over 50% of its population.[5] It became one of South Africa's 11 official languages in 1994.

According to Ethnologue,… it is the second most widely spoken of the Bantu languages, after Shona. Like many other Bantu languages, it is written with the Latin alphabet."...
-snip-
Zulu: {Yes] "Yebo"; [No] "Cha"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Two Videos Of The Song "Kitoko Makasi" By The Angolan Gospel Group Filhos Do Ngana

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about the Angolan Gospel group Filhos Do Ngana and showcases two YouTube examples of the group's song "Kitoko Makasi".

Information about Lingala is included in this post along with Lingala to English translations of the in that song's title.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Filhos Do Ngana for their music. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these video on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT FILHOS DE NAGANA (Sons of Ngana*)
From https://www.facebook.com/FilhosdoNgana/
"Biografia
FILHOS DO NGANA·WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018
Filhos do Ngana; Um som, uma voz, uma missão.
É um grupo jovens de denominações diferentes que decidiram unirem se com um propósito único, louvor e adoração ao eterno Deus.
É constituído por 5 elementos entre ele: Emanuel Cangundo, Abel Zola, Gregório Quipipa, Silvio Lameira e Samuel Macuato.
O grupo foi criado à 3 anos e durante essa trajectória de exaltação ao soberano Deus por intermédio do louvor tiram varias e actividades aonde apresentavam as suas canções, tiveram também concertos; "Ele vive" Camama tropical e "Ao som da graça" Cine São Paulo, neste momento o grupo conta com uma obra discográfica intitulada "Filho do Ngana" ao vivo esse CD foi gravada totalmente ao vivo actualmente tenciona realizar espectáculo de grande vulto no Cine Atlântico no presente ano propriamente no mês de Setembro, sendo assim contamos com apoio da igreja de Cristo espalhado num a fora.
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English
"Biography
NGANA CHILDREN · WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018
Children of Ngana; A sound, a voice, a mission.
It is a young group of different denominations that have decided to unite with a unique purpose, praise and adoration to the eternal God.
It is made up of 5 elements: Emanuel Cangundo, Abel Zola, Gregorio Quipipa, Silvio Lameira and Samuel Macuato.
The group was created at 3 years and during this path of exaltation to the sovereign God by means of the praise they take several and activities where they presented their songs, they also had concerts; "He lives" Tropical Camama and "To the sound of grace" Cine São Paulo, at this moment the group has a recording work titled "Son of Ngana" live this CD was recorded totally live currently intends to perform show of great magnitude in the Cinema Atlantic in the current year in September, so we have the support of the church of Christ spread outwards.
-snip-
* The English translation of "Filhos do Ngana" appears to be either "Sons Of Ngana" or "Children of Ngana". (The words "filhos" and "do" are Portuguese and (I think that) the word "Ngana" is Lingala.

My guess is that Ngana means God. Is that right?

****
INFORMATION ABOUT LINGALA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingala
"Lingala (Ngala) is a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a large part of the Republic of the Congo, as well as to some degree in Angola and the Central African Republic. It has over 10 million speakers.

History
In the 19th century, before the creation of the Congo Free State, the Bangala (literally: 'river people') were a group of similar Bantu peoples living and trading along the bend of the Congo River that reached from Irebu at the mouth of the Ubangi River to the Mongala River. They spoke similar languages, such as Losengo, but their trade language was Bangi, which was the most prestigious language between Stanley Pool (Kinshasa) and Irebu. As a result, people upstream of the Bangala mistook Bangi for the language of the Bangala and called it Lingala (language of the Bangala), and European missionaries followed suit.”...

****
LINGALA TO ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE LINGALA WORDS "KITOKO" (also given as "KITICO") AND "MAKASI" (also given as "MAKASSI")
Two definitions for "kitoko"
from https://dic.lingala.be/en/kitoko
"kitóko, pl. bakitoko (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
beautiful, pretty
good, nice (e.g. the taste of food)
beauty"

**
From https://glosbe.com/ln/en/kitoko
"kitoko" = beauty {noun}
-snip-
That page also provided these English translations of the Lingala word "kitoko" in sample sentences:
"wonderful", "breathtaking", "glorious", "ideal", "luxurious", "sweet", "beautiful", "idyllic", and "rich".

**
A definition for "makasi": https://dic.lingala.be/en/makasi
"makasi
plural of "bokási"
bokási, pl. makasi (class 14/6 : bo- / ma-)
power, power, vigor, strength, vitality, energy, resistance

makási
tough, hard, strong, solid, resistant, strength"
-snip-
In the context of this Gospel song, does "kitoko makasi" mean "very beautiful" (or "very good")?

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Kitoco Makassi _ Filhos do Ngana 2017 #HD720



ZION TV, Published on Mar 3, 2018

**
Example #2: Filhos do Ngana - Kitoko Makasi



Joel José Oficial, Published on Apr 6, 2018

Um Som
Uma Voz
Uma Missão
-snip-
Google translation from Portuguese to English translation:
A sound
One voice
A Mission

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

English Translations For Some Nigerian Pidgin English Words In Fela Kuti's Song "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of a live performance of Fela Kuti singing his 1980s composition "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense". The lyrics to this song are also included in this post along with translations of some of the Nigerian Pidgin English words in that song.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Fela Kuti for his musical legacy and thanks also to his entourage of performing artists.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of these YouTube examples.

****
DISCLAIMER:
This is my attempt to better understand the lyrics to this now classic Fela Kuti song.

I don't know Nigerian Pidgin English. Consequently, all of these definitions are from online sources. Additions and corrections are very welcome.

I would have much prefer it if someone who knows Nigerian Pidgin English would have published a translation of those words and phrases in this song.

Hopefully, this attempt will prompt people who speak Nigerian Pidgin English (and other types of Pidgin English) to publish translations of those words and phrases that are found in lyrics of popular songs.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Fela Kuti Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense Live at Glastonbury Festival 1984



Starfthegreat, Published on Mar 29, 2016

Afrobeat legend performing his hit Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense live! [34.29 minutes]

****
LYRICS
From https://genius.com/Fela-kuti-teacher-dont-teach-me-nonsense-lyrics

TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME
TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME
MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O

ME AND YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-U CATEGORY
NA THE SAME CATEGORY-O

Let's get down, to the underground spiritual game
We all sing together, play music together in happiness
All you have to do is sing what I play on my horn
Now Let's go...

A kujuba, A kujuba
YE-EHHHH!
Yehhhhhh-Ey!

Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-ke, Ke-re-Ji-Ke-Ke
YAA!
Ke-re-ke Ji Ke-ke
YAA!
Ke-re-ke Ji Ke-ke
YAA!
Ke-re-ke-Ke Ji Ke-ke
YAA!

All the wahala, all the problems
All the things, all the things they go do
For this world go start
When the teacher, schoolboy and schoolgirl jam together
Who be teacher?
I go let you know

When we be pikin
FATHA/ MAMA BE TEACHER
When we dey for school
TEACHER BE TEACHER
Now dey University
LECTURER BE TEACHER
When we start to work
GOVERNMENT BE TEACHER

CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION (*after each line)
Who be government teacher?
Who be government teacher?
Cu-ulture and tradition
Cu-ulture and tradition

Now the problem side, of a teaching student-ee
I go sing about
I don pass pikin, I don pass school, university, se-fa pass
As I don start to work, na government I must se-fa pass
Da go for France

YES SIR/YES MAAM (*after each line)
Engi-land
Italy
Germany
Na dem culture
For der
Be teacher
For dem
Go China
Russia
Korea
Viet Nam
Na dem culture
For der
Be teacher
For dem
Go Syria
Jordan
Iran
Iraq
Na dem culture
For der
Be teacher
For dem

Let us face ourselves for Afrika
Na de matter of Afrika
This part-ee of my song
Na all the problems of this world
In we dey carry, for Afrika
Wey no go ask-ee me

WHICH ONE? (*after each line)
Problems of inflation
Problems of corruption
Of mismanagement
Stealing by government
Nothing we dey carry
All over Afrika
Na de latest one
Na him dey make me laugh

AUSTERITY (*after each line)
Austeri-
Austeri-
Na him dey latest one
Na him dey make me laugh
Why I dey laugh?
Man no fit cry?

Who be our teacher? na Oyinbo
Who be our teacher? na Oyinbo
All of us in the first election
And the second election held in Nigeria
Na the second election na 'yin worse pass

Babanla nonsense (*after each line)
Babanla nonsense
Babanla nonsense
He pass redeem
He pass corruption
Which kind election be dis?
People na go vote
Dem come get big big numbers
Thousands to thousands
Millions to billions
Which kind election be dis?
Boba la nonsense

Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal
Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal
Who don teach us ee dem-o-cr-azy?
(Bo-ptch!) Oyinbo teach-ee us
(Yuh-ngh!) Oyinbo for Europe-oh
Oyinbo teach us many many things-ee
Many of dem things I don sing about-ee
Me I no gin copy Oyinbo style
Let us think say, Oyinbo no pass me
When Shagari finish him elections
Wey dem no tell am, say him make mistake-ee
Say this yo, no be democracy
Oyinbo dem no tell army self
Na for England-ee, I me no fit take over
I come think about this demo-crazy

Democrazy
DEMO-CRAZY (*after each line)
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration
If it no be craze
Why for Afrika?
As time dey go
Things just dey bad
They bad more and more
Poor man dey cry
Rich man dey mess
Demo-crazy
Democrazy
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration

If good-u teacher teach-ee something
And student make mistake
Teacher must talk-ee so
But Oyinbo no talk-ee so
I suffer dem, Dey suffer dem
Dem dey say da teaching get meaning
Different different meaning
Different different kinds of meaning
That is why I say
That is the reason of my song

That is the conclude
The conclud-ee of my song

I say, I sing, I beg everyone to join my song (3x)
-snip-
This page also included this note by P-Dii, 2016
"This is a song about democracy in Nigeria and the colonial powers that after forcing a foreign system (democracy...) on “Nigerians” turn a blind eye when that same system is misused by the corrupt governments of Nigeria (mainly General Olusegun Obasanjo and his supposed puppet that was voted in, Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari)"

****
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF NIGERIAN PIDGIN WORDS IN THIS SONG
Pancocojams Editor's Notes:
These words are given in alphabetical order.

When there are multiple meanings for a word, I've given my guess for the correct meaning in italics. I've also sometimes added my guess regarding a meaning in brackets.

An example of this word from this song's lyrics is given below the definition.

Additions and corrections welcome.


dem
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidgind.htm
"Dem: 1. Them. 2. They."
-snip-
Lyrics: "I suffer dem, Dey suffer dem"

**
dey
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidgind.htm
"Dey: 1. Is e.g. wetin dey happun 2. Location e.g. where you dey 3. Stance in the matter e.g. which one you dey sef. 4. In existence 5. Spectacular e.g. dat car dey well-well"
-snip-
Lyrics: "As time dey go
Things just dey bad"

**
dis
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidgind.htm
"Dis: This."
-snip-
Lyrics: "Which kind election be dis?"

**
don pass
my guess: ["don pass" means "gone beyond; finished"]
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidgind.htm
"Don: 1. Has e.g. e don come. 2. Has it? E.g. e don come? 3. Have e.g. I don tell am (present tense) 4. Have e.g. I don been tell am (Past tense)."

**
pass
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidginp.htm
Pass: 1. More than or bigger than e.g. E big pass am. 2. Beyond me e.g. Dat one pass me o! 3. Obsolete e.g. Dat style don reign pass. 4. Relating to a bygone era e.g. Dat time don pass.
-snip-
Lyrics: "I don pass pikin, I don pass school, university, se-fa pass"
-snip-
What does "se-fa pass" mean?

**
fit
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidginf.htm "Fit: Possess ability to carry out task."
-snip-
Lyrics: “Man no fit cry?”

***
O
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidgino.htm "O!: Placed at the end of sentences for emphasis and effect E.g. I go broke bottle for yua head O!"
-snip-
“O” is also sometimes placed after a word for the same purpose/s.
Also, "o" is sometimes written "oh", but doesn't have the same meaning as "oh" in English (i.e. an exclamation of surprise etc.)
-snip-
Lyrics: "TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME"
MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O

**
Oyinbo
definition from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=oyinbo
"Oyinbos
The word Nigerians use to say ‘white people’.
The Ghanain version is Obronis
uno them ones over there, chaiiii, Oyinbos"
by Roadgyal July 09, 2018
-snip-
Lyrics: "Oyinbo teach us many many things-ee"

**
na
definition from https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/15-nigerian-pidgin-english-phrases-you-need-to-know/
“Na and dey are the verb ‘to be’”....

**
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidginn.htm
"Na: It is."
-snip-
Additional meanings for na + another word or words are found on that page.
-snip-
Lyrics: "Na him dey latest one"

**
pikin
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidginp.htm "Picken=child"
-snip-
Lyrics: "When we be pikin
FATHA/ MAMA BE TEACHER"

**
wahala
definition from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahala_(Yoruba)
"Wahala pronounced (wa-ha-la) is the meaning of (Trouble) or (problem) used by the Yoruba tribe and commonly used throughout Nigeria."

**
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidginw.htm "wahala= trouble"
-snip-
Lyrics: "All the wahala, all the problems"

**
wey
definition from http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidginw.htm "Wey- where
Wey: Who e.g The Obioma wey sew mai trousa dey pass."
-snip-
Lyrics: "Wey no go ask-ee me"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Excerpt Of 2012 Article by David Katz About Nigerian Afrobeats Superstar Fela Kuti (With Three Fela Kuti YouTube Videos)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides an excerpt of the 2012 redbullmusicacademy.com article by David Katz entitled "I Go Shout Plenty: A Guide To The Work Of Fela Kuti".

In addition to that article, three YouTube videos of Fela Kuti and his entourage are embedded in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, educational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Fela Kuti for his musical legacy and thanks also to his entourage of performing artists. Thanks to David Katz for researching and writing this article and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube examples.

****
ARTICLE EXCERPT OF "I GO SHOUT PLENTY: A GUIDE TO THE WORK OF FELA KUTI"
by David Katz, December 17, 2012
From http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2012/12/a-guide-to-the-albums-of-fela-kuti
"One of the most important musical and political figures to emerge in post-independence Nigeria, Fela Kuti was the legendary rebel and agent provocateur that pioneered afrobeat, an invigorating hybrid of dirty funk and traditional African rhythms. A complex man that was equal parts shaman, showman and trickster, whose perpetual criticism of Nigeria’s governmental and religious figures made him a constant target, Fela was one of a handful of exceptional individuals that forever changed our musical landscape. What follows is a guide to his voluminous recorded output, related as chronologically as possible.

[...]

The ’69 Los Angeles Sessions stem from Fela’s sojourn in the City of Angels, and kicks off with the shape of things to come in the near wordless “My Lady Frustration”, a gritty, funky number that anticipates afrobeat, but the spectre of James Brown still hangs a little heavy here. “Obe!” (“Soup!”) and “Ako” (“Braggart”) are more in the mode of the standard afrobeat that would follow, and both accordingly deal with social issues, while “Viva Nigeria” is a surprisingly patriotic proto-rap inspired by the Biafran civil war. In this transitional phase, you can hear that Fela is still finding his way. Six songs recorded between 1964-68 are included as CD bonus tracks, mastered from a far better source than on Lagos Baby.

Fela’s London Scene was cut in London at Abbey Road, when Fela and his re-named Africa 70 band were on their way back to Nigeria from the USA. Again, songs like “Who’re You” and “Buy Africa” are edging closer to afrobeat, but are still rooted in big-band jazz and less overtly political than future work.

By the time we reach the three-song Open And Close, we’re getting closer to full-blown afrobeat. The keyboard-led title track gives instruction for a provocative dance step, “Swegbe And Pako” is a slow groove that decries incompetence in broken English, while “Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo” adapts a folk song that recounts a war of liberation waged against the British. Fela’s keyboard playing is distinctive here, but the afrobeat groove is not yet razor-sharp.

The four-song concert album With Ginger Baker-Live! features the equally volatile Cream drummer, who lived in Nigeria from 1970-76. Baker gets right into the groove, while Fela pokes at the keyboards. “Black Man’s Cry” is James Brown-styled funk rock, with Fela crooning, “I am black and proud” in Yoruba....

The real authentic sound of afrobeat as we know it truly begins with Shakara, a groundbreaking two-song LP that first surfaced circa 1972. On “Lady”, Fela explains that African females see the term ‘woman’ as a potential insult; rejecting the Western notions of feminism, the song is a typical Fela reversal. Its flipside, “Shakara”, is also a total killer: its bright horn blasts frame Fela’s exploration of the false bluffing that hallmarks Lagos’s domestic squabbles.

[...]

Some say Afrodisiac was recorded during the London Scene sessions, though it sounds like it was cut considerably later. “Alu Jon Jonki Jon” is a driving number in which Fela hoarsely relates a traditional Yoruba folk tale about a famine and a crafty dog. “Chop’n Quench” (aka “Jeun Ko Ku”), a spirited instrumental, was Fela’s first big hit, reportedly selling 200,000 copies. “Eko Ile” is another huskily shouted number, singing the praises of Lagos in its original Yoruba name, while “Je’Nwi Temi” (“Don’t Gag Me”) was one of the earliest songs aimed directly at the authorities: against a disjointed guitar and trumpet motif, Fela informs his governmental adversaries that he is not going to shut his mouth, even if they jail him.

1973’s Gentleman is one of Fela’s first statements decrying his countrymen’s colonial mindset. Following eight minutes of distracted horn solos, Fela says in Pidgin that he is “Africa Man Original”, rather than a ‘gentleman’ that seeks to ape the British – powerful stuff. Less inspired, but still holding attention, “Fefe Maa Efe” uses an Ashanti proverb about women’s beauty as the launching pad for a tight number in which Fela symbolically relates various topics in different languages….

[...]

Zombie is one of the most outstanding works of the period. It starts off strong with a rousing horn fanfare that holds portents of the important message he will deliver: the zombie of the title, who does whatever he is told unthinkingly, is revealed to be a soldier of the Nigerian Army. The song became a huge hit, but cost Fela dearly, as it led to a thousand soldiers unleashing a brutal attack on Kalakuta in February 1977, in which Fela was nearly killed, his wives raped and his mother thrown out of a window. The record is simply superb – Fela firing on all cylinders and the band at their prime. Original flipside “Mr Follow Follow” is also thoroughly excellent: a powerful creeper in which Fela warns listeners not to follow blindly – if one needs to follow at all, it is best to follow with eyes and ears open! Some CD reissues also include outtake “Observation Is No Crime”, another slow and surprisingly playful track in which Fela proclaims in Pidgin that he will not accept censure. There is also a live Berlin Jazz Festival bonus track, “Mistake”, in which Fela differentiates between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ mistakes, calling on African leaders to acknowledge their errors.

[...]

1985’s Army Arrangement is another complex creation that looks at Nigeria’s neo-colonial situation. After searing horns and distracted choruses, Fela starts his complex Pidgin sermon on injustice, which is incongruously disrupted by ribald commentary. There follows thoughts on the way that Nigeria’s military governments always end up giving the reins back to the same politicians that were in power before their coups – a highly contradictory situation – and reminds that dissenting political parties such as Fela’s MOP are always obliterated; all of which is dismissed as an “army arrangement,” a corrupt and repressive double-dealing that results in death and destruction. Some CD reissues also included the previously unreleased “Government Chicken Boy”, revealed as those petty civil servants and media fools that support Nigeria’s corrupt political system. The peculiar track, which rides a pseudo-Latin rhythm, has a terribly muddy, cluttered mix – perhaps it was unfinished.

Wally Badarou produced 1986’s Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense, a high point of this sparse period, making full use of the audio spectrum though a superb arrangement that emphasises the brass through expert spatial placement. This time, Fela’s message concerns the role of teachers, but he fears that after schooling, the corrupt governments of post-colonial Africa become our teacher; instead of democracy, Nigeria has “dem-all-crazy.” Therefore, he surmises, if the former colonisers of Europe and the neo-colonial US are meant to be Africa’s teachers, then please, don’t teach me no nonsense! B-side (of overseas editions) “Look And Laugh” resembles a melancholy highlife: in it, Fela attempts to explain why he had become so reclusive, due largely to the brutal attacks by soldiers.

[...]

1989’s Beasts Of No Nation has many targets, being another great Fela diatribe, despite some vocal weakness. This quietly meditative number starts with fine musical interplay and some Yoruba choruses, before Fela appears as “basket mouth” to deliver his message: he speaks of time spent in prison on trumped-up charges, and references a campaign unleashed by the military government led by General Buhari, known as the ‘war against indiscipline’, in which the Nigerian public were deemed “stupid.” Fela then speaks of the “animals in human skin,” such as Thatcher, Reagan, Botha and Mobutu – the “Beasts Of No Nation” of the title. Overseas issues also had the track “Just Like That” (issued in Nigeria as a separate album with “MOPP”), a witty, funky ditty in which Fela says that change can come swiftly in Africa – both positive and negative.

On 1989’s Overtake Don Overtake Overtake, a clavé-type cowbell leads the insistent rhythm. Fela references past classics like “Kalakuta Show” and “Zombie”, moving on to attack the military governments of Africa, which fail to liberate the people. Musically, the second bass that appears late in the song adds another layer of texture. Some US issues include the track Confusion Break Bone (a separate LP in Nigeria), a slowly creeping update of “Confusion”. After sax solos and a trippy conga break, Fela speaks of police, military and governmental wrongdoings. Then, a weary Fela ultimately says that the situation that turned Lagos into a corpse on “Confusion” has now seen the corpse run over by traffic; hence the idea that “confusion break bone.”

The final Fela studio album was 1992’s Underground System, a messy disc that evidences a chaotic frame of mind. “Underground System” starts with a ghostly bass, adds throbbing percussion and stabbing piano, then shrieking female choruses and horn fanfares. Fela begins to chant in Yoruba, then speaks in garbled Pidgin about trying to stop soldiers from ruining Africa. He praises Nkrumah and curses “great African thieves,” like Obasanjo and Abiola. He says the “underground system” that operates in Africa will always see a leader like Nkrumah, Lumumba, Sekou Toure, Thomas Sankara or Idi Amin killed off, while scoundrels will always force their way into office at the expense of the people – evidence of the underground system at work. B-side “Pansa Passa” is also chaotic: drums clash with wobbly piano, then bass and guitars are met by a woodblock, and sax solos start, but Fela says little, other than recalling the earlier defiant masterworks he cut, such as “Alagbon Close” and “Monkey Banana”. The overall feeling here is of weariness, rather than originality, which is perhaps unsurprising, considering all he had gone through, his wariness of harassment by the repressive regime of Sani Abacha, and the AIDS that was already wreaking havoc with his immune system. In just a few short years, Fela would make his final transition, leaving our physical plane on August 2, 1997, aged 58.

Of the posthumous releases, there are two must-have DVDs: Music Is The Weapon (included in the Fela Kuti Anthology), a revealing documentary made largely in Nigeria by Stephane Tchal-Gadjieff and Jean Jacques Flori in 1983, and Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense, a BBC documentary from 1984 which has a sober interview, interspersed with concert footage and bolstered by contextual scenes exploring Nigeria’s recent history. Fela is also part of Konkombe: The Nigerian Pop Music Scene, from Jeremey Marre’s excellent Beats Of The Heart documentary series. Concert DVDs include Live at Glastonbury from 1984 and Live In Paris from 1981.”...

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES

[These examples are given in chronological order based on their publishing date on YouTube, with the earliest date given first.]

Example #!: Fela Kuti & Africa 70 - Pansa Pansa 1/2 (Berlin 1978)



Henri de Saussure, Published on Nov 20, 2010

One of the few pro-shot concerts of legendary musician Fela Kuti with his band Africa 70, playing for the jazz festival in Berlin, 1978. Fela was a social activist and leader who fought for freedom and justice in Nigeria. He died in 1997.

DVD taken from "Fela Kuti Anthology 2"

****
Example #2: Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 [Arsenal TV3 Catalonian TV 1987-08-04]



midnightraverblog1, Published on Oct 9, 2013

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80
Arsenal TV3 Catalonian TV 08.4 1987
Rebroadcast 08.10.2008 Turmix Classic

Interview with Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in which he spoke about the role of women in African culture, marriage, the politics of his country, his stays in prison and on africa and the message of Africa. The interview is intertwined with images of a concert with his band Egypt 80.

Running time: 36mins. approx.

****
Example #3: Fela Kuti - Zombie [sound file]



Fela Kuti, Published on Nov 9, 2015

Zombie (1976) Fela Kuti

From the LP Zombie (CD release 2001)
-snip-
This sound file includes historical captions about Fela Kuti's song "Zombie" and gives an account of the violence that was inflicted upon Fela Kuti and his family as a direct result of that song.

****
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Visiting comments are welcome.

YouTube Discussion Thread Comments About DNA Testing To Identify A Person's Specific African Genetic Makeup

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides selected comments about DNA testing to identify a person's specific African genetic makeup. Examples of this sub-set of comments are from a 2015 YouTube vlog (video log) that teaches words from the Twi language of Ghana, West Africa.

The content of this post is presented for sociological and educational purposes.

As a reminder, as editor of this pancocojams cultural blog I believe that some comments from YouTube discussion threads should be archived and shared as cultural artifacts in and of themselves because of their perspectives, and/or information, and/or the way that the comments are written.

These compilations aren't meant to imply that these are the only comments in those video discussion threads that are worthy of documentation and dissemination.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to goldcoastdebuty for the vlog which is embedded in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This compilation quotes selected comments from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuwTdFM8JeQ&t=158s, a vlog that teaches some basic words from Ghana's Twi language.

The comments about people in the African Diaspora taking DNA test to identify their African genetic makeup probably were prompted by comments that the vlogger, goldcoastdebuty, made near the beginning of this video. The vlogger shared a story about an African American woman who wo participated in the discussion in a YouTube Ghanaian tag video series. Nationality tag videos are informal series of vlogs in which people from one nation or region (for instance the Caribbean) share what customs, food, sayings, holidays etc are distinctly characteristic of that particular nation or region. According to goldcoastdebuty, the African American woman indicated that she felt that she could be a part of a Ghanaian video tag discussion because the results of a DNA test that she had taken indicated that a large percentage of her genetic makeup is from Ghana. The vlogger indicated that she was sorry for that African American woman, and said that people should “just be proud of where u come from and own it“.

A number of commenters interpreted this as a put down of that African American and of other people from the African Diaspora who claim specific African ancestry because of the results of DNA tests. However, given her subsequent comments in that discussion thread, I think it's likely that the vlogger meant that people who know their genetic background (because their biological parents know theirs) are very fortunate and they should therefore honor that background by, among other things, knowing how to speak (and read) their native language/s.

It may be significant that in response to two different commenters, goldcoastdebuty shared that she lives in Scotland. Perhaps she started this vlog because she met people of Ghanaian Twi descent in Europe who didn't know how to speak Twi. A relatively large sub-set of commenters in that discussion were people who live outside of Ghana and don't know Twi even though they have one or both parents from the Twi speaking region of Ghana. It's possible that goldcoastdebuty's vlog about learning basic Twi words was mainly directed to that population.

Another large sub-set of comments in this discussion thread noted the similarities between Jamaican Patois and Twi as a result of the large number of Twi speaking people who were involuntarily transported to Jamaica prior to the end of chattel slavery in that nation.

I also believe that it's important to note that a large number of other comments in that discussion thread highly complimented the vlogger for the video's content and for her teaching methods. Those commentators and others also praised the vlogger for her lively personality and her beautiful physical appearance.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Learning Twi (Language) Lesson 101 | #Ghana #IndependenceDay



goldcoastdebuty, Published on Mar 6, 2015

******OPEN FOR MORE JOLLOF RICE*******

My People!!
Welcome to Goldcoastdebuty!!

Twi (Language) Lesson 101 : What will be Covered.....

Welcome---------Akwaaba
Hi------------------(No specific word of it)
How are you?----------Wo ho te sen?
How are you doing? ------Etesen
I am fine-------Me ho ye
I'm fine------------Eye
What about you? ------Wo su eh?
I am also fine------Me su, me ho ye
Good Morning --------Maakye
Good Afternoon--------Maaha
Good Evening -------Maajo

This--------Wei
They-----------Omo
He/She that person------Ono
We -------------Yen
Yes ------ Aane
No---------Daabi
Thank you ----Medase
Okay -----Yoo
A lot/ very -------------------Paa
Sorry ---- Kose/ Kafra"...
-snip-
The actual lesson begins at 2:36 in this video.

As per the vlogger's comment in the discussion thread, the song that is heard in the beginning of this video is a Ghanaian hiplife/afrobeats record entitled "Lobi" by R2bees. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR2rzf6sIU0 for a YouTube video of that song.


**
SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT DNA TESTING FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. jesse Hines, 2015
"Awesome video! I am interested in learning a West African language and debating Fon or Tswi. Lol. The woman you mentioned, was she an American? I'm skeptical about that whole genetic swab deal to begin with. Our ancestors were systematically mingled and mixed so that we would have no real access to our origin but we are essentially African. I don't think it's about knowing genetics. I think its more important to know identities and names. Thanks again for your lesson."

**
REPLY
2. goldcoastdebuty, 2015
"Yes she was African American. I definitely agree I can't say how accurate these tests are. but I feel for a lot of people it just gives them some comfort in knowing they belong. Thanks for watching! really appreciate it 😊😊"

**
3. louis farew, 2016
"The women you speak of at 1:54 Who commented on the Ghana tag was seeking to learn more of her African roots her DNA revealed she had some heritage in Ghana you just brushed it off, as if to say I feel so sorry for her If she was from the states it would be very hard her to know where in Africa she had origins in since the berlin conference created artificial boundaries which still exist today some Africans claim that blacks in other parts of the world do not know there culture why did you not give her some usefull information on that subject"

**
REPLY
4. goldcoastdebuty, 2016
"You completely missed the whole reason I brought that sorry up. Please watch the beginning again."

**
REPLY
5. louis farew, 2016
"I have watched it more than once what I got from it was. the lady responding to the Ghana tag wanted to be included here DNA traced more than one country in Africa. what was your meaning."

**
REPLY
6. goldcoastdebuty, 2016
"The point was that ( irrespective of those artificial boundaries you stated), I know that I know, that I know I am from Ghana. Someone else knows they are from Tanzania or that they are Scottish. The privilege in knowing should mean that we should take the time to learn our various languages and culture, because others ( like the lady who is 25% this and 45% that) Don't. Simply put. If you know where u are from be proud and learn about your heritage."

**
REPLY
7. louis farew, 2016
"Someone else knows they are from Ghana also?"

**
8. ellooellooo, 2016
"It's funny you mentioned the girl who took the DNA genealogy test because I'm tracing my family tree and actually did, too! I found out that that the biggest portion of my African ancestors were taken from Ghana, too. How interesting - it's great to know.

Thank you so much for this helpful video!"

**
REPLY
9. Wander Lust, 2016
"Me too! I just took my ancestry test and found out my DNA matches the most with Ivory Coast/Ghana at 24% so I'm hearing Twi for the first time. Also just heard Wolof today on YouTube because I'm 20% Senegalese and 15% Nigerian! It's feels overwhelming because I'm trying to learn a little bit about each group all at once! It's day three since I learned and I am grateful but exhausted:/"

**
10. shonda white, 2016
"I am one of those persons who don't know where my original ancestry began, but I embrace other cultures and envy that fact sometimes. I wanted to learn different dialects of African. I started with Shona ( Zimbabwe ) "Mhoro!" LOL and am still learning and I have a dear friend from Ghana and I wanted to learn Twi. I want to also learn a lil Wolof which is kinda of hard it seems so I will stick with Shona and Twi for now... and one day I want to visit Ghana. Thanks for this video! It is a refesher of some of the phrases and words I have learned."

**
11. T B, 2016
"I want to learn two..it sounds beautiful to my my ears.

Plus I'm African American and yes I understand some African ppl don't see us as African. That's alright though. It is difficult for us because we're so mixed up with several tribes. I want to do the DNA test and whatever my results are....which ever percentage is higher I'll say that's what I am. Why make it so confusing? Lol. "

**
REPLY
12. T B, 2016
"I meant twi not two lol autocorrect made it two"

**
REPLY
13. goldcoastdebuty, 2016
"Hey sis! Thanks Ooo. I hope these lessons help you to learn 😊😊😍..... I personally still regard African Americans are Africans. I guess it's just difficult on your part to find out exactly where you are from, but I do realise these DNA tests help to at least give you an idea of which part of Africa you are from."
-snip-
Note: One or more "o"s at the end of a sentence indicates emphasis (reinforces what was said).

**
14. HarvardHall2, 2016
"I am North American of African descent (Black). It is indescribably painful not to know where my ancestors are from. It hurts my heart to hear that the woman form the U.S. should not claim her percentage of Ghanaian culture, but I get it to some degree. Many of us have not lived in or even stepped foot upon any country on the continent. We just feel lost. I say that we U. S. Blacks should love African people on the continent and throughout the diaspora as one in unity, absolutely; but, despite the alleged Right of Adobe Program to "return home," supposedly extended to us from Ghana as an apology for its role in slavery, we need to pass on that and improve and recreate our own in the U.S.(as sick and twisted as it may be). We are tired of not being wanted here (Can't speak for the U.K.) or there (African countries), while everyone in the United States- citizen or immigrant of all races- benefits from the labor that my North American African ancestors put in. We have suffered. It's our blood on the ground underneath the universities and businesses. I won't wear African apparel from any country nor pick up your customs, not because I don't appreciate it, but because it's foreign to me, and I feel unwelcome. I wish I had never known White anything in my life. Ever. It has all but killed us, and not an ounce of compassion do you offer."

**
REPLY
15. Chelsey Danielle, 2016
"+HarvardHall2 You summed that up well. As soon as she turned up her nose at a Black woman (not african american!) trying to "piece together" things......I was done with this video and done with my interest in learning about Twi. White people think they are better than us, and so do Africans. Whatever. Hope everyone else enjoys the video."

**
REPLY
16. Karibean Finkley, 2016
"I am also African American or Black American and I love your station! My heritage is not Ghanaian but my daughter is half. Black Americans are a lost people that had to build a culture in a place where they tried to destroy are history and pride, but I:m still happy to be one. I just wanted to say that. Nice tutorial on Twi, I'm want to teach my daughter the language one day and of course visit the country!!! Thanks"

**
REPLY
17. GadinelliT, 2016
"Karibean Finkley i feel where you are coming from. I am American Guyanese. To be honest, I feel bad for the girl who wanted to do an accent tag... I wouldnt have left her with saying "just be proud of where u come from and own it" that was kind of rude.. Instead steer her in a direction where she could possibly try living in ghana since its apart of her dna.. So maybe one day she can do an accent tag... This is no offense to your video Im just being a bit sensative toward the African American people only because im living it. So I understand both points of views. However, I do see where u r coming from too as to why you would say that. But know that it came from a good place."

**
18. San Yates, 2016
"I was born in the States but I have family from Ghana. I definitely appreciate this wisdom...there is an awakening in the States where more of us are trying connect with Africa (not just the Kemetian aspect of it) and this definitely helps. much appreciated ma'am 🙏🙏🙏 peace unto you and yours"

**
REPLY
19. Nichol R Spearman, 2017
"Grand rising and Grand Awakening Brother. Yes we are awakening. I learned that Ghana has dual citizenship for Americans born citizens. Its time to learn the language of our people. We Black Americans have been cheated out of our own languages from the Mother Continent. We must learn so that we can begin to take back our culture."

**
REPLY
20. Cadence Opera, 2017
"speak!!"
-snip-
"Speak!!" here means "I very much agree with what you said." Comment #23 below has the same meaning.

**
REPLY
21. Mia Creswell, 2018
"I didn't take it as her turning her nose up at African Americans. I hope that wasn't the case. If so, shame on her. I honestly just took it as her feeling bad/empathy for those of us who aren't so privileged to have a direct link to our ancestors. Instead we have to pay to find out, because the heritage was not passed down from generations."

**
22. Rosalyn B, 2016
"don't rag on us African Americans lol...... we born here in this United States are perpetually researching from whence we hail. Our true origin and that of people in color in general is constantly skewed. They would have us to believe that our only story began in slavery, and everything european is the knowledge and creative essence. So we dig and search for the truth. Not just for our own individual existence, but that for all people of color. I love Ghana, I felt so at peace there. The problem is as black Americans, we do have to learn how to accept our place of birth, while simultaneously appreciating the birth place of all civilization. I know every time I go to Ghana , I never want to get on the plane to come home . I love the different languages. Your page was recommended to learn Twi. I would like to learn Ewe as well. When I came each time, I was the only one who needed a translator. Mostly everyone else was Ewe. Thanks for teaching and sharing your culture. I love your videos"

**
REPLY
23. Adisa Chazoba, 2017
"Rosalyn B preach sister"

**
REPLY
24. Jusbnme1, 2017
"Very well said! I just found out that I'm 23% Ghanian, 14% Nigerian and there were several other regions as well to represent my 84% African, which is the majority of my DNA. With Ghanian being my largest percentage, I thought I would start with learning as much as I can about the culture, language, etc. Anything good and positive should be encouraged, I think. Unity and not division is the key! Also, I've watched DNA videos where even native Africans are not all from the country the think they're native to, but different parts of Africa as well 🤔…again, I love diversity! The more the better. Just shows we're more alike than we think we are. 😉👍🏾"

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25, Ariyal sirrah, 2016
"African America/African pride! I'm 25% Ghanian and proud of my mixed African jumbled crazy heritage ;) (Ghanian/Nigerian/Congolese/Mali/and God knows what else!!! Wouldn't do the tag though. It's kinda meant for people who actually share the culture and not just the DNA."

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26. MissBabyloved, 2017
"Ariyal sirrah 😄 it's for everyone that shares the DNA Ghana 🇬🇭"

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27. MostEnigmatic, 2018
"MissBabyloved I'm 30 percent Ghanaian but I feel diasporans (descendants of enslaved Africans) have a unique experience that continental Africans cannot relate to, even if they were raised in America away from Africa. They still have their names and native languages, their full history, so I don't think they can fully understand where diasporans are coming from."

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28 .MostEnigmatic, 2017
"I was 30 percent Ghanaian/Ivorian. 33 percent Cameroonian/Congolese, 6 percent Nigerian, 5 percent Senegal, 23 percent Benin/Togolese, which gives us 97 percent African. The other 3 is Europe."

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29. Keilah Al, 2017
"I felt the video was great but don't make fun of people trying to piece together who they are they already have a hard time here in the United States trying to find their identity."

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30. goldcoastdebuty, 2017
"+Keilah Al No fun was made. I said I felt sorry for them."

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31. trinigirlchrissy, 2017
"I just found your channel and what u said about it being sad not knowing where ur from is sooooo true, I'm Trinidadian, loveeee my culture, but I just find it very sad that I know nothing of where my ancestors came from, which part of west Africa, what the culture was like, it's like generations upon generations of African defendants not knowing squat about where their hereditary lies and the rich culture behind, a big loss in my option, so thanks for doing this video, if my some of my ancestors were from the Akan Tribe, then atleast I know a bit of the twi language, u are very blessed to be so engrossed in your culture"

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32. Asante Akan, 2017
"trinigirlchrissy do a DNA test"

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33. A Ro, 2017
"Don't talk sh&t* about African-Americans when in a hundred years or so your language Twi is going to be on the verge of Extinction. African Americans had their languages stripped away from them through slavery. While Ghana and many other African nations on the other hand are capable of speaking their native languages but they choose to ignore them and give them second-class status in favor of European languages. Everyone in Ghana speaks English as their first language English is the official language of Ghana that's very sad when Ghana has a language like Twi but it's being ignored Ghana doesn't even teach their grade school kids the Twi language all of the textbooks in Ghana are in English."
-snip-
* This word is fully spelled out in that comment.

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34. goldcoastdebuty, 2017
"Great points here. Thanks for sharing"

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35. blok229, 2017
"I am what they call African American but found out I am from the Ashanti. What is Ashanti Twi?"

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36. goldcoastdebuty, 2018
"+blok229 Ashanti twi is pretty much Wat I'm teaching. It differs from other forms of twi..very slightly."

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37. Cujo okekee, 2018
"Big big up akan"

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38. goldcoastdebuty, 2018
"+Cujo okekee Yaay! Thanks for watching 😊"

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39. Cujo okekee, 2018
"goldcoastdebuty you're welcome sis yeah I was born in Jamaica but I was very happy to know that my ancestors came from Ghana fought Independence and so I'm proud to say have Ghanaian in My DNA from astane tribe the akan speaking people so I want to learn more very happy about that... and I'm trying to make friends and more ghanaian people so I can learn more about the hairitage The Roots... and Learning Twi of course it's getting kind of good since I've been watching your video so I'm going to keep practicing to keep learning and we actually speak twi in Jamaica called it kromarti as like the ancestor spoke it"

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40. JayK, 2018
"That is so true what you just said about how people don't really know their culture if they are somewhere else such as myself in Atlanta Georgia but I want to know so bad where I came from who I came from it's sad. You are so right. But that's why I'm here I want to learn the language"

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41. goldcoastdebuty, 2018
"Thank you sis. I'm glad you understand what I meant. And I really hope these lessons help. Ghana is often the first stop for those looking to connect with their roots. Thanks for watching 😊"

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42. imaginationman, 2018
"Good introduction to the language. I didn't understand the comment about the black American who had diverse African lineage. What was there to be 'sad' about? Sounds like she's exploring her roots, as she should. Africans in America reproduced with each other in ways those who remained on the continent did not because we were stolen from different parts of Africa and all mixed together in the Caribbean and the Americas during slavery. And many of us rightfully claim our lineage in several regions of the continent. I think it's great that we have connections to more than just one country in Africa. We know where we are from. We are just from many places."

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43. goldcoastdebuty, 2018
"...what was 'sad' was that I felt glad that I knew my exact roots and background was in Ghana, I felt empathy for her as she was on this road of discovery...which should never have been the case to begin with. And was encouraging those who know where they are from to be happy and proud that they don't have to go through these means in order to know their heritage.

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44. Beautiful Diamond, 2018
"Well Africans living in Africa, are from different tribes without knowing it. I'm Grobo(Kru) if I got a DNA test, I could be part of another tribe.😊"

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