Edited by Azizi Powell
I.
From https://genius.com/Chief-obi-carry-go-lyrics
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"Omalicha" is a Igbo (Nigeria) word meaning "beautiful".
**
"Porshe Cayenne" is a brand of luxury car and "Gucci Prada" are a brand of expensive shoes.
II.
"I go carry this music go"
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8. Sunny Olu, 2017
"Omo oba Olamide I see you........Ko si ori won ni be.........Carry go!!! Shout out Chief Obi.....Wicked Jamz
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III. Mr Dutch - Carry Go [discussion thread]
This pancocojams post provides some definitions and examples of the Nigerian Pidgin English phrase "carry go" that I found online.
The content of this post is provided for cultural and linguistic 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
[Added June 25, 2021]
"Carry Go" is a Nigerian Pidgin English phrase that has more than one meaning, and/or whose meaning/s has changed over time. The definitions below and/or the definitions that have been included by commenters in the comment section below, may not be accurate now. Please share what you think the Nigerian Pidgin English phrase "carry go" means. Thanks!
The content of this post is provided for cultural and linguistic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
[Added June 25, 2021]
"Carry Go" is a Nigerian Pidgin English phrase that has more than one meaning, and/or whose meaning/s has changed over time. The definitions below and/or the definitions that have been included by commenters in the comment section below, may not be accurate now. Please share what you think the Nigerian Pidgin English phrase "carry go" means. Thanks!
-end of June 25, 2021 addition-
*I emphasized "in Nigeria" because as a result of my online search for definitions and examples of the Nigerian phrase "carry go", I learned of the very similar Jamaican phrase "carry go bring come". . The Jamaican definition for "carry go" means to gossip". This is an entirely different meaning than the Nigerian definition. I don't know if the Jamaican phrase influenced the Nigerian phrase or vice versa. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/06/justin-hinds-and-dominoes-carry-go.html for a June 2020 pancocojams post about that phrase.
**
I've divided this post into two sections which I've labeled Older Definitions of "Carry Go" and Newer Examples of "Carry Go".
****
OLDER DEFINITIONS OF THE NIGERIAN PHRASE "CARRY GO"
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Some explanations are given for non-English words. I've also added my guesses about what the phrase "carry go" means in a few these comments.
I.
From http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/carry-go#:~:text=carry%20go,Nigeria%20on%20Feb%2026%202002.
"carry go
**
2.
From http://bwari.tripod.com/FGGCABUJA/id18.html Federal Government Girl's College Bwari Abuja Pidgin Dictionary
"Carry go: Used playfully to mean - Get away or Get out of here.
**
3.
NEWER EXAMPLES OF THE NIGERIAN PHRASE "CARRY GO"
These are some of the comments from the linked sources that include the phrase "carry go".
These excerpts are given in no particular order. Most of these comments are given without any quoted explanations or any attempted definitions by me.
I've added numbers for referencing purposes only.
I first noticed the Nigerian use of the phrase "carry go" in a comment exchange in the YouTube discussion thread for the Afrobeats singer Simi's 2019 song "Jericho". Here is a portion of that exchange:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v5DU1brzVw
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v5DU1brzVw
nura bako, 2019
"Who else thinks simi deserves more credit and recognition not only in Nigeria but in Africa and the whole world. Tap like if you are proud of simi."
**
"Who else thinks simi deserves more credit and recognition not only in Nigeria but in Africa and the whole world. Tap like if you are proud of simi."
**
Edeh chichi angel, May 2020
"she deserves the best Simi carry go joor"
-snip-
I'm interested in learning about vernacular language words and phrases that are used by people of Black descent throughout the world. Since I had never read or heard the phrase "carry go" or the word "joor" before, I decided to look those terms up on Google. Finding the meanings of "joor" was easier than finding the Nigerian meanings of "carry go". Here are definitions for "joor" that were published online in 2010:
http://naijawords.blogspot.com/2010/08/definition-joor.html#:~:text=Word%3A%20Joor&text=Noun%3A%20an%20exclamation%20used%20to,commonly%20to%20be%20left%20alone.
August 4, 2010
Word - "Joor"
Word origin- Yoruba word of similar meaning, most commonly to be left alone
2. Used for emphasis at the end of a sentence.
Usage:
1. Leave me along joor!
2. That movie was a waste of time and money joor!
3. Joor oh!
-snip-
Comments for that blog post identified "jo" as the Yoruba word that is the source of the Nigerian Pidgin English word "joor" which is also spelled "jor". According to Sugabelly, October 24, 2010,
"Jo" is a Yoruba word and grammatically correct Yoruba words do not end in "r", irrespective of how various people spell those words."
**
As of the date of this pancocojams post, I've found three definitions for the Nigerian phrase* "carry go". Only one of those definitions is dated (#1 given below which was published in 2002). . I'm assuming that the other two definitions that I've found for that phrase (and particularly definitions #3) were published after that 2002 date, but I don't know when those definitions were added online.
It appears to me that most of the online examples of the phrase "carry go" don't fit the definitions of that phrase that I've read in Chief Obi featuring Olamide's AfroBeats song "Carry Go".
Also, most of the comments that I've read in the YouTube discussion thread for that music video, in Nigerian singer Simi's 2019 Afrobeats song "Jericho" (as quoted above), as well as comments for Nigerian Mr. Dutch's December 2017 song "Carry Go" and Nigerian singer Mr. Dutch's 2017 song "Carry Go" don't appear to me to fit the meanings of the Nigerian definitions that I found for "carry go"- unless the tone of the definition "go ahead" is changed to be more congratulatory, encouraging, or otherwise positive. I wonder if that means that older definitions and/or tone for this phrase in Nigeria* were completely replaced by newer definitions, or the older definitions of that phrase are seldom used anymore.
For instance, as found below in #3, an older meaning of "carry go" is "go ahead". "Go ahead" can be given as a positive exhortation for a person to "Carry on" (meaning You are doing well so keep [on] doing what your are doing"). This comment that was published in 2017 in the discussion thread for the YouTube music video "Carry Go" by Chief Obi featuring Olamide seems to support that guess:
"What a nice music
It also seems to me that in the YouTube music video thread for Chief Obi's March 2017" Afrobeats song "Carry Go" and some other YouTube comments, the phrase "carry go" has the abbreviated meaning of "You want it, you got it" (so carry it and take it with you).
-snip-
I'm interested in learning about vernacular language words and phrases that are used by people of Black descent throughout the world. Since I had never read or heard the phrase "carry go" or the word "joor" before, I decided to look those terms up on Google. Finding the meanings of "joor" was easier than finding the Nigerian meanings of "carry go". Here are definitions for "joor" that were published online in 2010:
http://naijawords.blogspot.com/2010/08/definition-joor.html#:~:text=Word%3A%20Joor&text=Noun%3A%20an%20exclamation%20used%20to,commonly%20to%20be%20left%20alone.
August 4, 2010
Word - "Joor"
Word origin- Yoruba word of similar meaning, most commonly to be left alone
2. Used for emphasis at the end of a sentence.
Usage:
1. Leave me along joor!
2. That movie was a waste of time and money joor!
3. Joor oh!
-snip-
Comments for that blog post identified "jo" as the Yoruba word that is the source of the Nigerian Pidgin English word "joor" which is also spelled "jor". According to Sugabelly, October 24, 2010,
"Jo" is a Yoruba word and grammatically correct Yoruba words do not end in "r", irrespective of how various people spell those words."
**
As of the date of this pancocojams post, I've found three definitions for the Nigerian phrase* "carry go". Only one of those definitions is dated (#1 given below which was published in 2002). . I'm assuming that the other two definitions that I've found for that phrase (and particularly definitions #3) were published after that 2002 date, but I don't know when those definitions were added online.
It appears to me that most of the online examples of the phrase "carry go" don't fit the definitions of that phrase that I've read in Chief Obi featuring Olamide's AfroBeats song "Carry Go".
Also, most of the comments that I've read in the YouTube discussion thread for that music video, in Nigerian singer Simi's 2019 Afrobeats song "Jericho" (as quoted above), as well as comments for Nigerian Mr. Dutch's December 2017 song "Carry Go" and Nigerian singer Mr. Dutch's 2017 song "Carry Go" don't appear to me to fit the meanings of the Nigerian definitions that I found for "carry go"- unless the tone of the definition "go ahead" is changed to be more congratulatory, encouraging, or otherwise positive. I wonder if that means that older definitions and/or tone for this phrase in Nigeria* were completely replaced by newer definitions, or the older definitions of that phrase are seldom used anymore.
For instance, as found below in #3, an older meaning of "carry go" is "go ahead". "Go ahead" can be given as a positive exhortation for a person to "Carry on" (meaning You are doing well so keep [on] doing what your are doing"). This comment that was published in 2017 in the discussion thread for the YouTube music video "Carry Go" by Chief Obi featuring Olamide seems to support that guess:
"What a nice music
Keep it up
Carry on"
I think the somewhat dated (1990s or so) African American Vernacular English exhortation "Go on with ya bad self" could serve as a translation for that definition of "carry go".It also seems to me that in the YouTube music video thread for Chief Obi's March 2017" Afrobeats song "Carry Go" and some other YouTube comments, the phrase "carry go" has the abbreviated meaning of "You want it, you got it" (so carry it and take it with you).
*I emphasized "in Nigeria" because as a result of my online search for definitions and examples of the Nigerian phrase "carry go", I learned of the very similar Jamaican phrase "carry go bring come". . The Jamaican definition for "carry go" means to gossip". This is an entirely different meaning than the Nigerian definition. I don't know if the Jamaican phrase influenced the Nigerian phrase or vice versa. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/06/justin-hinds-and-dominoes-carry-go.html for a June 2020 pancocojams post about that phrase.
**
I've divided this post into two sections which I've labeled Older Definitions of "Carry Go" and Newer Examples of "Carry Go".
****
OLDER DEFINITIONS OF THE NIGERIAN PHRASE "CARRY GO"
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Some explanations are given for non-English words. I've also added my guesses about what the phrase "carry go" means in a few these comments.
I.
From http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/carry-go#:~:text=carry%20go,Nigeria%20on%20Feb%2026%202002.
"carry go
used to tell someone to stop messing with people.
Carry go man.
Last edited on Feb 26 2002. Submitted by Pepe
from Nigeria on Feb 26 2002."**
2.
From http://bwari.tripod.com/FGGCABUJA/id18.html Federal Government Girl's College Bwari Abuja Pidgin Dictionary
"Carry go: Used playfully to mean - Get away or Get out of here.
**
3.
"Carry go
Definition:
1.Go ahead.
1.Go ahead.
2. Help your self.Example:Oh boy if you like that shoe make
you carry go, I no need am again. Means, you can have that shoe if you like it,
I don't wear it anymore."
****NEWER EXAMPLES OF THE NIGERIAN PHRASE "CARRY GO"
These are some of the comments from the linked sources that include the phrase "carry go".
These excerpts are given in no particular order. Most of these comments are given without any quoted explanations or any attempted definitions by me.
I've added numbers for referencing purposes only.
I.
From https://genius.com/Chief-obi-carry-go-lyrics
[...]
Chorus:
I wanna give you all carry go
I wanna take your jerry coil
For your love I go catch cold
Omalicha please come be my shelter
Porsche Cayenne carry go
Love me tender carry go
Light my fire carry go
Gucci Prada carry go
[...]
-snip-
I wonder if "jerry coil" is the African American originated hair style "Jheri curls" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jheri_curl
[...]
-snip-
I wonder if "jerry coil" is the African American originated hair style "Jheri curls" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jheri_curl
**
"Omalicha" is a Igbo (Nigeria) word meaning "beautiful".
**
"Porshe Cayenne" is a brand of luxury car and "Gucci Prada" are a brand of expensive shoes.
II.
Chief Obi - Carry Go ft. Olamide (Official Video)
ChiefObiVlogs, Jul 21, 2017 [discussion thread]
1. Ayuba Hassan, 2017
"Obi level🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
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4. Chinedu Ngwudike, 2017
"Who else has this video on repeat since it dropped? Chief Obi, carry go💍! Olamide baddest! 💪🏽 Uche, i di ka nwanyi si adi 💃🏻"-snip-
Google translate of "i di ka nwanyi si adi" from Igbo to English - "you look like a woman".
"Obi level🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Vid so lit🔥🔥, I really
waited 2 see d Vid to one of my 2017 fav song. Obi - carry go🙋🙋"
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2.
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2.
"who else is loving Uche Mba? A nurse, fitness queen now a
video vixen😍😍"
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REPLY
3. Francis, 2017
"oh is that the lady's name??
"oh is that the lady's name??
she is effing fit, that her back na carry go!
-snip-
In this comment the word “back” refers to "backside" ("butt", "behind"," ass" etc.)
-snip-
In this comment the word “back” refers to "backside" ("butt", "behind"," ass" etc.)
**
4. Chinedu Ngwudike, 2017
"Who else has this video on repeat since it dropped? Chief Obi, carry go💍! Olamide baddest! 💪🏽 Uche, i di ka nwanyi si adi 💃🏻"-snip-
Google translate of "i di ka nwanyi si adi" from Igbo to English - "you look like a woman".
**
5. Yoba Ging, 2017
My guess is that "I beg" CARRY GO" means "Please leave and take the nonsense you wrote with you."
**
6. Saint Michael, 2017
" Chief Obi ! Chief Obi ! Chief Obi how many times i call u! You sabi carryooo ok carry go!"
-snip-
"Sabi" is Nigerian Pidgin English for "know"/"to know how to" - Wkipedia Nigerian Pidgin English
I believe that one translation of this comment into African American Vernacular English is "'You know how to do your thing. Keep on keeping on!
**
5. Yoba Ging, 2017
"So we just gonna act like olamide wasn't in the video? You
Igbo ppl get issues.
I beg CARRY GO"
-snip-
I believe that "I beg" has the same meaning in that comment as the Nigerian Pidgin English word "abeg"
From https://neologisms.rice.edu/index.php?a=term&d=1&t=2840
..."In Nigerian English "abeg" is used very informally and frequently just as "please" in used in Englisn."...
-snip-
I believe that "I beg" has the same meaning in that comment as the Nigerian Pidgin English word "abeg"
From https://neologisms.rice.edu/index.php?a=term&d=1&t=2840
..."In Nigerian English "abeg" is used very informally and frequently just as "please" in used in Englisn."...
My guess is that "I beg" CARRY GO" means "Please leave and take the nonsense you wrote with you."
This comment was probably directed to many of the Igbo commenters in that video's discussion thread who were praising Chief Obi who is Igbo (and the Igbo woman Uchemba who was featured in that video), but weren't mentioning the Yoruba singer Olamide who also performed in that song and video.
**
6. Saint Michael, 2017
" Chief Obi ! Chief Obi ! Chief Obi how many times i call u! You sabi carryooo ok carry go!"
-snip-
"Sabi" is Nigerian Pidgin English for "know"/"to know how to" - Wkipedia Nigerian Pidgin English
I believe that one translation of this comment into African American Vernacular English is "'You know how to do your thing. Keep on keeping on!
**
"I go carry this music go"
**
8. Sunny Olu, 2017
"Omo oba Olamide I see you........Ko si ori won ni be.........Carry go!!! Shout out Chief Obi.....Wicked Jamz
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III. Mr Dutch - Carry Go [discussion thread]
Mr. Dutch, Dec 8, 2017
-snip-
According to https://www.afro.video/en/artist/mr-dutch/
Mr. Dutch is a Nigerian singer/songwriter/record producer who recorded his first song "Carry Go" in South Africa.
1. R & R INDENT, 2018
"Carry goooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
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1. R & R INDENT, 2018
"Carry goooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
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2. AUGUST, 2018
"Carry go go o o o o o o o"
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Visitor comments are welcome.
"Carry go go o o o o o o o"
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
I just happened upon this comment in another video's discussion thread:
ReplyDeletePatience Dzimiro, 2017
"I like the part which is sang by jidenna"" carry carry carry go " he sang it in nigerian style though he grew up in USA but originally from Nigeria"
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtEHrcA8dKc Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa - Particula (ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna)(Music Video), Major Lazer, October 12, 2020
-snip-
Wow! Who would have thought I would come across that comment after I just published a post about Nigeria's "carry and go" phrase and just randomly happening upon that video while YouTube surfing".
There are no accidents...
“Carry go “ most importantly it implies a very positive import . When you tell a Nigerian to “carry go “ you’re essentially saying ; rake up all the chips , or the glory or adulation , and it’s usually followed by the phrase “nothing do you “ ; You’re worthy “ .
ReplyDeleteJide1000, Thanks for sharing that information about the Higerian phrase "carry go". Also, thanks for including the information about the phrases or sentences that follow the use of "carry go".
DeleteI appreciate you taking the time to share this information!