Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series that showcases the Nigerian song "Saro" by Niniola.
Part III presents examples of comments from the discussion thread for the official YouTube video of Niniola's song "Saro" that include African American Vernacular English.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/nigerian-singer-niniola-saro-official.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I showcases the official YouTube video of this song and presents its Yoruba lyrics with an English translation.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/information-about-nigerian-singer.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases Niniola's song "Saro" and presents information about Niniola. Part II also presents information about Niniola's songs and particular information about the song "Saro".
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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This pancocojams blog showcases the music, dances, language practices, and customs of African Americans and of other people of Black descent throughout the world.
I'm not a linguist, but as an African American and as a self-described community folklorist, I'm particularly interested in documenting the use of African American Vernacular English ("AAVE") in YouTube discussion threads by African Americans and by other people throughout the world. Those AAVE terms/sayings can be used the same way that African Americans and by extension, other people in the United States use them or they can be used differently, mostly (I think) by mistake.*
This compilation showcases some of the examples of comments that include AAVE terms/sayings from the discussion thread of the official video of Niniola's song "Saro". I've highlighted the African American Vernacular terms in those selected comments by using italics*, even if the use of that word isn't the same as the way I believe that African Americans use/d it. No definitions for these highlighted terms are included in this post and no information is included as to whether or not these AAVE terms are still being used by African Americans or have been retired for newer terms with the same or similar meanings.
Except for the phrase "where you at", this compilation also doesn't include examples of comments that use African American Vernacular English grammar such as the word "be" (For example, I didn't include comments such as this one from Olubunmi Oz, 2018 which refers to Ninola and her music producer Sarz "They be like bread and butter."
Given that these comments are from a YouTube video of a Nigerian singer, it's reasonable to assume that most of these comments are from Nigerians or other Africans and some of the commenters self-identify as Africans. However, some of these comments could be from African Americans, or from other people living in the United States, or from other people who aren't Africans.
It should be noted that there are comments from that same video's discussion thread which aren't included in this post that include Nigerian Pidgin English terms such as "abeg", or Jamaican vernacular terms such as "big up", or South African vernacular terms such as "eish".
-snip-
*An example of an incorrect use of an African American Vernacular English term is how some Africans use "killing me" when they mean killing it", i.e. "doing something very well". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-killing-it-means-how-it-got-those.html for a pancocojams post entitled "African American Vernacular English: What "Killing It" Means & How It Got Those Slang Meanings". That post also includes my comments about the words "hot", "fire", "the bomb", and "the beast" and also includes my comments about the use of "fire" and flame emojis.
**I didn't highlight the use of the word "banger" as I'm not whether the term "banger" meaning "a very good dance song" came from African American Vernacular English or from British or Australian Vernacular English. Click and https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/419446/origin-history-and-precise-meaning-of-banger-in-the-us-music-industry and https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-21/where-does-the-term-banger-come-from-music-parks-and-rec/9275652 for articles about where the slang use of "banger" related to music came from.
To re-emphasize, these are only some of the examples of African American Vernacular English that I found in that discussion thread. There are many more examples using the same words or emojis than those comments that are included in this compilation. I read that entire discussion thread (as of Feb. 20, 2020), but probably missed some comments that include additional terms/sayings from AAVE than the terms/sayings/emojis that are showcased in this post.
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EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS THAT INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH (FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD OF THE OFFICIAL YOUTUBE VIDEO OF NINIOLA'S 2018 SONG "SARO")
(These comment are numbered for referencing purposes only.)
The African American Vernacular English (AAVE) term is given in italics the first time it is used in each comment. Emojis that have their source in AAVE are also given in italics the first time they are used in each comment. Additions and corrections are welcome.
1. blazinghot99, 2018
"Has a Fela vibe to it. She even shouts out Kalakuta. Love the native attire and makeup! Fela would be proud. Shout out to Niniola and Sarz!! Another banger! I love 'yall. #naijaornothing.
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2. Kome M-Obi, 2018
fireeeee 💥💥💣💣
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REPLY
3. Alfie Maurice, 2018
"Afro house is the sh&t* yo!!!"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
This comment includes two examples of African American Vernacular English: "the sh&t" and "yo".
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4. TypicalStorie, 2018
"This is dope"
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5. Tino Man, 2018
"Nice one girl I think you should work with Davido it will be cool"
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6. Dorcas Awanyah, 2018
"Wooowwwwwwww always on point"
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7. Jimoh Rofiat, 2018
"This song is dah bomb!!! my little nephew even know how to sing it....#replaybutton#"
-snip-
I think "dah bomb" is an inauthentic use of the AAVE phrase "the bomb". I don't think that "dah" (instead of "the" is or was used that much by African Americans.
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8. chinkyeyez215, 2018
"Gets me so hype! BANGER🇵🇷❤💃🏻
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9. Jesudara Hinmikaiye, 2018
"I'm in love with her music mehn❤️❤️she keeps killin it👌🏾
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10. Karyn Mayo, 2018
"She was South African in her past life this one because wow serve us that house sis yasss come all the way thru sis! You ain't here to play 🔥🔥🔥"
-snip-
This comment includes the AAVE terms "sis" as well as the AAVE terms "yass", "come through, and the AAVE saying "not here to play".
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11. GEORGE RONKU, 2018
"best ever!!! africa is sleeping on this lady..."
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12. Eric Odogwu, 2018
"Your big fan from Nigeria
I love bae 😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥
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13. JULIAN MICHAEL, 2019
"To be honest,i love her music,the video production,on another level,big up Clarence @capitaldreams MAD LOVE FROM KE."
-snip-
"Clarence" is Clarence Peters, this video's producer and the producer of many other high quality Nigerian music videos such as Yemi Alade's "Johnny".
"KE" here probably means "Kenya".
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14. yetunde sabiu, 2018
"Fire🔥🔥🔥🔥👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 bring it on girl!!
-snip-
This comment includes the African American Vernacular English term "fire" (with ts emoji) and the African American Vernacular English term "bring it".
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15. Sonia Ndukwe, 2018
"I don’t understand a damn thing thang she said, but baby Ms. Nini is snatching edges with this banger
-snip-
Although I wrote that this post doesn't include definitions, here are some comments about "snatching edges" and the word "edges" as it's used in that term:
"Snatching edges is another way of saying "snatching wigs". Here's an excerpt from https://www.shondaland.com/live/beauty/a20079041/snatched-edges-natural-hair-hollywood/
"Edges, a term born in the black community, are the baby-hairs that grow on the perimeter of one’s forehead. Slayed edges are like a soft-kiss from God, and styling them is truly an art form".
-snip-
African Americans also refer to styling baby hair (edges) as "slicking down" baby hair (edges) with hair gel (often by using an old toothbrush).
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16. KEOAGILE MOGOROSI, 2018
"Nini brings the heat.... I love her music ..."
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17. Thobekile Moyo, 2018
"🇿🇼🇿🇼 WHERE Y'ALL AT!! 👌👌👌"
-snip-
“ZW" is the two-letter country code (abbreviation) for Zimbabwe.”
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18. Akanyang Matshoba, 2018
"this womans beats are always hot!who produces for her?
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19. LifeofChrisEgwede, 2019
"Littt🔥🔥🔥 sister yemi alade should shift already, see mama Africa here
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20. morris EKAETEH, 2019
"yasssss! ur music rocs"
-snip-
I highlighted the word "rocs" although I'm not sure that it is an African Americans custom to spell (or spelled) "rocks" that way.
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21. Shenicia Arthur, 2018
"Go girl i always love your music ;p
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22. Anderson Itema, 2018
"#Dope 🔥😍
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23. Zoe Gumede, 2019
"Killer track right there"
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24. Marvi John, 2019
"love this jam to bits"
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25. sentinel revolutionist, 2019
"select a. The women is gorgeous. Thick thick like snicker bar. I love it . Embrace what you got."
-snip-
Here's another exception to my statement that I wouldn't include definitions in this post, "thick" is usually a compliment for females among African Americans. "Thick" doesn't mean "fat" but is the opposite of "skinny". It means "well proportioned", "curvy", and "shapely". The no longer used term "brick house" is another term for "thick". "Thick like a snicker bar" is a saying that is relatively common in the United States which means that the person's body build is as attractive as a snicker bar (candy) is delicious.
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26. Neal Phoré, 2019
"That bass is killer, this woman is bomb, that beat is sick, that melody propa. Much love and respect from Namibia"
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27. Gift kido, 2019
"Her producer is Sarz. That guy is a beast"
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28. Em power, 2019
"OMG this woman is sick! I'm so glad I found this video! NINIOLA IS EVERYTHING! 😍😍
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29. Addy T. Bohl, 2019
"Nenicakes Right? Insane! Both thr chicks and the dudes. Absolute 🔥🔥🔥"
-snip-
If I recall correctly, Addy T. Bohl was responding to a comment from Nenicakes about how much Nenicakes admired the dancing in this video.
The word "right" is given in italics to highlight the way that African Americans say "right" followed by a question mark when agreeing with a point that was just made.
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30. ALCHEMIST Yohan THE RESTORER & SCIENTIST, 2019
"☀I think a song🌠with she and shakira will🌞Boss🌌 Trust Me Director'$ guidance Know'$🗺
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31. Arcklloyd Kasongo, 2019
"Much love from Zambia 🇿🇲,,you rocking my Friday 🤯
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32. lucky attack, 2019
"TOO..... HOT 2 HANDLE THIS GIRL SHE JUST DONT KNOW WHEN TO STOP .....I LOVE THIS TRACK"
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33. Inong Chin, 2019
"Greetings from Borneo ! Heard your song from oneman rinse fm DJ set in June 2018 ..what a banger !!"
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34. Brianic, 2019
"Can’t believe I slept on this girl!!... 🙆🏽♂... amazing vocals and priceless production from the beat producer!!!"
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35. Smith funase san, 2020
"You're so fine and thanks for giving us good music home brewed 🌍🎶🎵🎧"
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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams post.
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