Examples Of The Words "Ampa, "Charlie", "Dey", " Paa" & "O" From The Discussion Thread For Kofi Kinaata's Ghanaian Rap Track "Time No Dey"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Kofi Kinaata's November 2017 Rap track & video entitled "Time No Dey" .

Part II showcases the official YouTube video for Kofi Kinaata's November 2017 Rap track & video entitled "Time No Dey"..

This post also quotes some definitions for "ampa", "Charlie", "dey" and "o" and compiles some examples of comments from that video's discussion thread which include at least one of those words.. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/06/ghanaian-rapper-kofi-kinaata-time-no.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I presents information about Kofi Kinaata and showcases the official YouTube video of  "Time No Dey". Part I also includes partial English translation for that song's lyrics.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Kofi Kinaata for his music and thanks to all those who are associated with this music and this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to Kofi Kinaata for sharing his music on YouTube.
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Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/06/examples-of-ghanaian-terms-chale.htm for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of The Ghanaian terms "Chale" ("Charlie") & "Paa" In Discussion Threads Of A. Y. Poyoo YouTube Videos"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Kofi Kinaata - Time No Dey (Official Video)

Kofi Kinaata, November 9, 2017

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DEFINITIONS FOR 'AMPA", "CHARLEY", "PAA" AND A FEW OTHER WORDS THAT ARE FOUND IN THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR KOFI KINAATA'S VIDEO "TIME NO DEY"
(These words are given in alphabetical order.)

Ampa
from http://web.csulb.edu/~jsteven4/CurrProj/ghana_key3.htm
A Twi word meaning: "It is true"

“Kookoo se abusua mu, ampa! is a Twi expression. Translated into English it means "It is true, Cocoa destroys family.”

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From https://www.learnakan.com/akan-twi-adverbs/

"Ampa"- Twi word meaning "truly"
"Probability adverbs tell us the likelihood of something happening or being done. They are used to show how sure we are about a situation or event. Examples include ebia (maybe/perhaps), ampa (truly)."

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Charley

From https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Ghanaians-say-Charlie

posted by Bright M Nontaa, studied at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Answered May 4 (no year given)

" I was born in Ghana and have strictly lived here for well over 25 years.

The word "Charlie" first off has various spelling variants including but not limited to "Charley, chale, challey chally", all meaning the same regardless.

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Read more information about the Ghanaian pidgin English word "Charley" (and other spellings) in http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/06/examples-of-ghanaian-terms-chale.htm .
The word "Charley" isn't directly translated in every Ghanaian Pidgin English sentence it is found in. 

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Dey
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanaian_Pidgin_English#:~:text=Ghanaian%20Pidgin%20English%20(GhaPE)%2C,towns%20and%20the%20capital%2C%20Accra.
"Ghanaian Pidgin English (GhaPE), also known as Kru English (or, in Akan, kroo brofo), is a variety of West African Pidgin English spoken in Ghana, predominantly in the southern towns and the capital, Accra.[3] It is confined to a smaller section of society than other West African creoles, and is more stigmatized,[3] perhaps due to the presence of Twi as the lingua franca of choice.[citation needed].

[…]

It [Ghanaian Pidgin English] is a variety of West African Pidgin English, like Nigerian Pidgin.[6] The use of words from Nigerian pidgin such as "abi", "dey", "ein" and "commot" (the first three words are used often by both Nigerian and Ghanaian speakers)
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This sentence is given in italics to highlight it.

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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Pidgin

…”Use of the word "deh" or "dey" is found in both Caribbean Creole and Nigerian Pidgin English, and is used in place of the English word "is" or "are" ”…

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"Time no dey" is translated as "There is not time" by the translator quoted in Part I of this pancocojams series. A closer standard English translation would be something like "Time isn't promised to you" (i.e. "No one knows how much time they have have to live".

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Paa 
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVi3QrJFi2s  (comments)
 by Zomgirien, 2020 [Regarding the Twi word "paa"] "It’s to add emphasis to whatever your saying. So “ekom di mi” is I’m hungry. “Ekom di mi paa” is Im REALLY hungry. Sometimes you might even see/hear “papaaapa” which is really heavy emphasis. I hope this helps and thank you for watching ❣️"
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This was written in response to my question about the meaning of the word "paa" in comments I had read in that discussion thread and in several other YouTube discussion threads Ghanaian music.

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In addition to those words, some of the comments in the compilation found below include the letter "o" or a series of o's after a word or at the end of sentence. This feature of Ghanaian Pidgin English probably comes from Nigerian Pidgin English. Here's some information from a page about Nigerian Pidgin English about the custom of adding "o" (or a series of o's) at the end of a word or at the end of a sentence:

From  https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/15-nigerian-pidgin-english-phrases-you-need-to-know/
"Nawa oh! (“Wow!”)

This is an expression of surprise. The ‘oh’ at the end is usually added to a lot of words and phrases, a kind of conversational tick to add emphasis."
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SELECTED COMMENTS THAT INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE WORDS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR KOFI KINAATA'S "TIME NO DEY"(These comments are presented in chronological order with the oldest comments given first, except for replies. No English translations are given. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)
2018
1. Fatima Shaibu
"I lvu ur music paaaa"
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2. Fathah Mm mm
"Time on dey  l like the music. Paaa thanks bro"
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3. Mandy Birago
"Cemetry is full of unfulfilled dreams ampa.........your words are deep,keep it up mahn!!"

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4. Solomon Dadzie
"Surely time ⌚ no dey.Nice tune 🎶 to educate boys and girls to use time wisely because time and tide is no one's friend."

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5. Vivian Achiaa
"I really like this song paa, time no dey ampa, and na true talk"
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6.  Mavis Nyavor
"I have to go home and get married because time no dey💃💃💃💃💃💃💃"

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7. Md Arif"Ampa ooo time no dey"

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8. Sir Pilato
"Time no Dey ooo indeed. I love every Fanti song and was proud when calling out CK man, AB Crentsil, Paapa Yankson, Under Fire and the likes. Dope"

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9. Hamza Abbas
"Well done Kofi. Time no dey ampa."
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10. Abena Agyeiwaa Tieku
"Time no dey ampaaa"
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2019
11. Kusi Emmanuel
"my one and only chalay more years."

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12.  Tera Kwame
"4real no time ooo Kofi"

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13. Cindy Morris
"Is true oo...time no dey☝☝in dis life..hmmmm😔😔"

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14. Micky Appiah
"Heeerr...Two sure is better than cocoa farm paaaa...oh time no dey ampa.....Bip up ur self mi bredda"

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15. Hawa Abdulai
"is true wat ever u are doing do it fast time no dey ooo"

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16.  Mabel Otu
"I can't stop playing your songs Charlie i love you"

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17. FRANCIS ACKON
"Tym No Dey for No Body Mpa .... Kofi you de Fante Rap god mpa keep it up"
-snip-
I think that "Mpa" is another way of writing the word "ampa". 

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18. NanayereyaaAdepa Apaw

"Time no dey .So we need to work hard."

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19. Awuradwoa Pokuaa

"Indeed! ...time no dey🤔 Big ups to Team Mooovvveee #1🤷‍♀️🇬🇧"

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2020
20. Ohemaa Abenaa

"Tym no dey ampa..king"

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21. DOROTHY DANSO

"2020!!!   The Vision is Vast. The Mission is Massive. Who is ready to help #Kinaata? Time No Dey!

#Teammove🚶‍♂️🏃‍♂️💃🕺"

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22. to tosh

"Time really no dey ooo... Keep preaching bruh..."

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams post.

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