Examples of Nigerian Tweets The Include The Words "Coconut Head" Or "Coconut Head Generation"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update: June 12, 2021

This pancocojams post provides a standard Nigerian definition for the colloquial term "coconut head". That definition is already found online.

This pancocojams post also provides a new (contemporary) Nigerian definition for the colloquial term "coconut head" and its corresponding term "coconut head generation". Although tweets and other Nigerian examples of these definitions can be found, I believe that this pancocojams post is the first time that anyone has tried to present definitions for this new Nigerian meaning of "coconut head" and "coconut head generation."

The "standard" Nigerian definition of "coconut head" is given below in italics. The "new" Nigerian definition of "coconut head" and its corresponding definition of "coconut head generation" are given below n bold font. 

This pancocjams post presents some examples of Nigerian tweets that include the Nigerian term "coconut head and the closely related term "coconut head generation". Most of these examples were posted in Twitter accounts about the "indefinite" Nigerian suspension of twitter that was announced (on Twitter) the evening of June 4, 2021 starting June 5, 2021.

The Addendum to this post quotes a June 12, 2021 tweet that includes the old "standard" Nigerian definition of "coconut head". Some of the replies to that tweet are also included in this post. I think that tweet and its replies documents that the old definition of "coconut head" is still used by Nigerians, including Nigerian young people (youths).
  
The content of this post is presented for linguistics and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted online. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/06/an-alphabetized-list-of-some-people-and.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "An Alphabetized List Of Some People, Products, And Events Mentioned In Tweets About The Nigerian Twitter Ban (June 2021)".

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/06/examples-of-tweets-about-nigerias.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of Tweets About Nigeria's Federal Government's Ban On Twitter (June 2021)".

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Pancocojams' Editor's Statement:

I stand in solidarity with those who are peacefully protesting the ban on the twitter app in Nigeria, West Africa because that suspension is a violation of the human right of freedom of speech.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR COMMENTS
I searched online for definitions of the colloquial terms "coconut head" and "coconut head generation" after reading a number of tweets with those terms that were posted in several Twitter accounts about the "indefinite" Nigerian ban on twitter which was announced the evening of June 4, 2021 (on Twitter).

I found some Nigerian examples of the term "coconut head" and the term "coconut head  generation" prior to that June 4, 2021 Nigerian twitter ban. However, I didn't find any non-Nigerian examples of the colloquial term "coconut head generation".

Because I'm not Nigerian and don't understand any language (but English) from that nation, I don't know what the meaning of "coconut head" is in some of the pre-June 4, 2020 Nigerian examples that I found (such as examples from several Nollywood movies with that include "coconut head" in their titles. However, some of the tweet that were posted before the Nigerian twitter ban seem to fit what I refer to as the "new" definition of "coconut head" or the definition of "coconut head generations". I've included those examples below.

I found a several non-Nigerian definitions for "coconut head" that aren't relevent to the use of that term in the tweets about the Nigerian suspension of Twitter. The examples in this post are from https://twitter.com/search?q=%23KeepitOn

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A NIGERIAN DEFINITION OF "COCONUT HEAD"
From http://naijalingo.com/words/coconut-head#:~:text=Naijalingo%3A%20coconut%20head-,Coconut%20head,a%20fool%2C%20an%20academic%20failure

Coconut head

Definition:empty head, of low intelligence, a fool, an academic failure

Example:Sam na coconut head ein don write JAMB seven times e no fit pass.

Synonyms: mumu, fool
-snip-
I believe this is an "old" definition of "coconut head" (compared to the "new" definition given below).
-snip-
Here's a same or similar definition of "coconut head" that was first articulated in 1992 by George Ayittey, a United States based Ghanaian economist:
From https://medium.com/@gretnane/coconut-head-corruption-60fba2884afe
https://medium.com/@gretnane/coconut-head-corruption-60fba2884afe  “Coconut Head” Corruption"
by Grimot Nane, Nov 9, 2018
..."Coconut Head Corruption (CHC) is a term derived from the vocabulary of George Ayittey, a distinguished U.S. based Ghanaian economist, and is used to describe the observed hollow-headedness and thoughtlessness exhibited by corrupt African leaders and their clients who have engaged in corruption since the beginning of the post-colonial era. Ayittey consistently and emphatically in his works and on social media uses words like “Coconut Leader”, “Coconut combat” or “Coconut solutions” to address misgovernance and bad leadership in African. Coconut-prefixed words as Ayittey uses them is just one aspect of the sincere, blunt and uncompromising vehemence with which he is opposed to corruption and deliberate under-development in Africa.

[...]

“Coconut Head” is precisely synonymous with the words “unwitting”, “idiot” and “senseless” and their adjectival forms. Symbolically, the coconut is largely hollow, the very antithesis of a living human head packed ingeniously with complex networked brain cells. Many African intellectuals who he affirms are complicit in the de-civilisation of Africa are offended by Ayittey’s vocabulary; he remains undeterred (Ayittey 1992, 2012). Ayittey makes clear distinctions between “African leaders” and “African peoples”; the former predatory Coconut Heads and the latter a victimised and traumatised people who deserve far much better. How can the powerless be guilty of the crimes of the powerful in governance? (see Nane 2015) The symbolism of the coconut head is quite powerful in demonstrating thoughtlessness or irrationality in persons. “Coconut Head Corruption” is therefore that of the idiotic or unwitting kind (see 1992, 2006, 2006b)."...

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SOME NIGERIAN MOVIE TITLES  THAT INCLUDE THE WORDS "COCONUT HEAD" 

This section also includes a comment about one of these movies.

Note: Because I don't understand any language used in Nigeria except for English, I don't know whether "coconut head" in these movie titles mean "crazy or foolish person" or has another meaning. Please share that information in the comment section of this post. Thanks!

1. 

Facebook.com/FilmWorld-Cinemas-105217158135481/videos/i-be-coconut-head-mama-i-no-dey-hear-word-we-need-someone-to-talk-to-lefty-funke/211230257152679/

 FilmWorld Cinemas is in Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria.

December 18, 2020 ·

I be coconut head 🤣🤣🤣...mama i no dey hear word🔥🔥🔥

We need someone to talk to lefty @funkeakindele So she can hear What We have to say o 😄😄😄

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2. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-v9_RtkvRk&ab_channel=NollyqueensTV

The Coconut Head Prince {Complete Movie} 2021 Latest Nigerian Movie.

NollyqueensTV, Jan 23, 2021

3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLKvWZT22wo&ab_channel=OfficialNollywoodMovies-2021NigerianMovies

COCONUT HEAD LOVE (MOFE DUNCAN, DARLENE ODOGBILI) - Nigerian Movies 2021 African Movies

Official Nollywood Movies - 2021 Nigerian Movies, Premiered Jan 29, 2021

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4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4I3msYHuXo&ab_channel=LatestNigerianNollywoodMoviesHub

COCONUT HEAD 1 {YUL EDOCHIE}_African American Movies 2020|Nigerian Movies 2021 Latest Full Movies

Latest Nigerian Nollywood Movies Hub, Premiered Feb 20, 2021

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5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2uHmU8vODI&t=102s

Mazi Coconut Head - (New Hit Movie) 2021 Latest African Nollywood Movie. [Parental Advisory]

NollyqueensTV , Apr 30, 2021

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A PROPOSED "NEW" NIGERIAN DEFINITION FOR "COCONUT HEAD" AND A PROPOSED "NEW" DEFINITION FOR "COCONUT HEAD GENERATION"
Based on the tweets that were posted in accounts about Nigeria's federal govenment's ban on  Twitter, here's a definition that I wrote that I believe fits the use of the term "coconut head": 

Coconut head - a person who is courageous and determined risk taker who supports amd defends just causes and just principles even when doing so is likely to jeopardise their personal safety and their personal aggrandizement.  

People might think that a person who takes such risks is "crazy", but that person believes the cause/principle is more important than his or her personal safety or his or her personal aggrandizement.

This new definition of "coconut heads" flips the script (reverses) the old, negative definition of "coconut head" (a person who is crazy/foolish), re-interpreting such attitudes and actions (for those reasons) as something positive.
 
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Based on the tweets that were posted in accounts about Nigeria's federal govenment's ban on  Twitter, here's a definition that I wrote that I believe fits the use of the term "coconut head generation" 

 a generation that is characterized by many people who meet the definition of "coconut heads i.e. a generation of people who are known for being courageous, determined risk takers who support and defend just causes and just principles even when doing so is likely to jeopardise their personal safety and otherwise cause them harm  

An example of such fearless, support of just causes/principles, risk taking actions by Nigeria's "coconut generation" are "EndSars" protests, including the Lekki Massacre.

An example of such fearless, support of just causes/principles, risk taking actions by the same "coconut generation" in South Africa is the "Fees Must Fall" movement.

An example of such fearless, support of just causes/principles, risk taking actions by the same "coconut generation" in the United States is the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
 
Based on those examples, although many of the supporters of these movements are young people (under forty years old), people of any age can be (can have) "coconut heads". 

-snip-
Additions and corrections to these definitions are welcome.

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EXAMPLES OF "COCONUT HEAD" AND "COCONUT HEAD GENERATION THAT I BELIEVE FIT THE "NEW" DEFINITION GIVEN ABOVE

These examples were posted prior to the June 4, 2021 Nigerian federal government's ban of Twitter
1.

https://endsars.shop/ols/products/coconut-head-generation

THE NIGERIAN YOUTH ARE TAKING THE POWER BACK!
-snip-
This is a product (clothing etc.) shopping website

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2. 

https://twitter.com/generalken01?lang=en

Coconut Head Generation 🗣

@GENERALKEN01

·Feb 6 [2021]

If you want a Better Nigeria, protest should be a way of life.

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EXAMPLES OF THE "NEW" DEFINITION OF "COCONUT HEAD" AND "COCONUT HEAD GENERATION (tweets about the Nigerian government's ban on Twitter" ) 

These tweets are numbered for referencing purposes only.

 
From https://twitter.com/search?q=%23KeepitOn

1.

Chika Cynthia Ibeh

@queenofsoutheas

[June 5, 2021]

We wey carry coconut head ,we refused to be oppressed [emoji of Frowning face, emoji of Raised fist..].#Twitterban #KeepitOn

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2.

PORT HARCOURT GAINERS

@PHGainAccount

[June 5, 2021]

Coconut head generation. Retweet if you are still up.

#KeepitOn

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3.

$Nonso Stanlee Cule

@nauzystan

[June 5, 2021]

Jack has coconut head. A typical Igbo man from Enugu State to be precised. Jack Dolseychukwu #KeepitOn
-snip-
"Jack" refers to Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of  Twiter. This tweet refers to Twitter's deletion of Nigerian President Buhari's tweet that Twitter determined violated its policy against threatening violence.  This tweet also refers to the tweet that Twitter posted in response to Buhari's government banning twitter in Nigeria.

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4.

Grace #BelieveandwaitforIt

@JohnTheFinest

[June 5, 2021]

I love this generation coconut head we die here I get businesses, and family in Nigeria also those that look up to me I  will continue to support the fight to restore peace and human right. #KeepitOn

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5.

Égbón [drawing of a Disguised face]

@JOHNSON07903043

[June 5, 2021]

Sincerely speaking this A.P.C.Government don't know the Generation they are f—king* with multiple emojis of Face with tears of joy, multiple emojis of Rolling on the floor laughing]

#coconutheadgeneration  we pin Pushpin there [multiple emojis of lexed biceps]
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this tweet.

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6.

The_New_York_Dude [picture of the Flag of United States]

@Gentlefaze

[June 5, 2021]

Am the headboy of coconut head association.

#KeepitOn

#KeepitOn

#KeepitOn

We will be Many.

AM tweeting from

FCT Abuja.

Come and catch me.
-snip-
Attached is a photo of a large coconut head. The top of the photo has the words

“Proudly certified member of the…”

This drawing is attached to a number of other tweets in this hashtag. 

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7.

Tbh E CHOKE

@Kehinde2Shodiya

[June 5, 2021]

Me I get coconut head #KeepitOn
-snip-
A drawing of a large coconut head with eyes and mouth is attached to this tweet. The top of that drawing has the words "Proud certified member of the …"

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8.

IRUNNIA ™

@Irunnia_

[June 5, 2021]

Retweet before you sleep. We are the coconut head generation. We will not settle for less  #KeepitOn

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9.

john reuben [drawing of the Flag of Canada, drawing of Flag of Netherlands] IJN

@iamjohnreuben

[June 6, 2021]

My mom called today that someone told her i still tweet even after the ban by Buhari and she pleaded with me to stop.

I know its the effect of the Nigerian civil war that instilled fear in her generation.

But mummy your son get coconut head.

#KeepitOn #TwitterBan
-snip-
A drawing of a coconut with open eyes and a mouth is attached to this tweet. This drawing is different than the one that is attached to tweets given above as #- and #_

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10.

chief_ofstaffU.A.R

@Iamyungtizzy

[June 6, 2021]

I bin the think say I stubborn but you see @AishaYesufu

that woman stubborn Gan her coconut head na double layer 

#KeepitOn
-snip-
AishaYesufu is a Nigerian who regularly tweets on this hashtags.

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11.

The Solicitor

@_thesolicitor

[June 6, 2021]

We are a new generation from the ones who have come before us, we are called unto freedom. We don't cower, we don't fear because we are standing for justice #KeepitOn #June12Protest

They are dealing with coconut head generation we are not giving up #KeepitOn

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12.

Noob Saibot [emoji of Fire, emoji of Flexed biceps]

@chidpiero1

[June 6, 2021]

Replying to

@JohnTheFinest

We are absolutely not giving up

Older folks might call it crazy, but that generation calls it acting fearless 

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13. 

ERomZ #FreeEromz #EndSARS

@simplyEromz

[June 7, 2021]

It's almost as if no one left twitter. Coconut head generation, I am proud of us! [two emojis of Face with tears of joy] #Keepiton

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ADDENDUM
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: The replies to this tweet focus on the fact that one of the protestors shown in the photograph holding protest signs (without sticks) is wearing yellow slippers or sandals while the other men are wearing tennis shoes (referred to here as "canvas").    

From https://twitter.com/YemieFASH/status/1403721817605427204

Olúyẹmí Fásípè

@YemieFASH

10:32 AM June 12, 2021

I joined the #June12thProtest in Akure, and it was peaceful. Kudos to all the youths that came out. Nigeria will not end us Folded hands #KeepItOn

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Alpha Queen🇳🇬💡✂️👗

@Mizlawrich

10:32 AM June 12, 2021

Replying to

@YemieFASH

See my coconut head brother (in white)💪💪💪

@EngrAdeyemi7

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 Olúyẹmí Fásípè

@YemieFASH

10:39 AM·

[emoji for Rolling on the floor laughing]

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#EndSARS

@Mhodupeoluwaa

10:42 AM 

Replying to

@YemieFASH

 and

@Thickerbody_08

[multiple emoji of Raising hands]

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Twitta🥇

@Olawalemi1

11:00 AM

Replying to

@YemieFASH

In this situation, the wise ones would wear canvas.🏃🏃

#June12thProtest #KeepitOn

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