Tiwa Savage. August 14, 2020
Statistics as of June 1, 2021 at 9:15 AM ET
total # of views - 10,822,172
total # of likes - 125K
total # of dislikes - 2.3K
total # of comments - 3,759
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams post about Nigerian Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage.
This post showcases the official January 2020 YouTube music video of Tiwa Savage's song "Koroba" and provides information about that Nigerian singer/songwriter. This post also provides information about the meaning of Tiwa Savage's "Koroba" and selected comments from this video's discussion thread. Some of those comments document that the word "koroba" means "bucket" in the Niger-Congo language of Yoruba and "koroba" means "mop the floor" in a number of Bantu languages.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/06/cpmments-comparing-nigerian-afrobeats.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II provides some examples from the discussion thread of that video about comments comparing Tiwa Savage and African American singer Beyoncé and Nigeian Afrobeats singer Yemi Alade. Some information about Beyoncé is also included in this post along with some information about Yemi Alade.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to singer/songwriter Tiwa Savage for her musical legacydancer Tyla and her producer Kooldrink for composing this song. Thanks to all those who are associated with this embedded video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
INFORMATION ABOUT TIWA SAVAGE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiwa_Savage
"Tiwatope Savage (born 5 February 1980), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige. After participating in the UK edition of The X Factor and graduating from Berklee College of Music, Savage signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009.[2] Inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, Savage moved back to Nigeria and signed with Mavin Records in 2012. She made an appearance on the label's 2012 compilation album Solar Plexus.[3]
[...]
In November 2018, Savage won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category. In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records.[5] Savage sings in English and Yoruba; her music is a blend of Afrobeats, R&B, pop and hip-hop.[6]"...
EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE SONG "KOROBA" BY TIWA SAVAGE
From https://empiresnux.wordpress.com/2020/08/20/tiwa-savage-ugly-relationship-between-politicians-ladies-koroba-review/
Tiwa Savage “Ugly Relationship Between Politicians &
Ladies” – Koroba Review, August 20, 2020
"
" “Koroba” in Yoruba means “Bucket” so Tiwa is literally
saying, “Carry your bucket,”. It’s is also a popular slang which is used
by hawkers in an open market. On the Afrobeat tune which was produced by
London, Tiwa made sure to deliver her best vocals and a groovy vibe. It starts
with a whistle that gives vibes similar to the sound used in the 1966 movie “The
Good The Bad & The Ugly”. The near 3-minute track also has catchy
lyrics that are easy to remember.
Although it might seem like another groovy track we can vibe to again but taking a deep look at the lyrics, it is evident that the singer is addressing the unsavory relationship between Nigerian politicians and younger women in the society. The many experiences of women labelled as escorts girls (Runs girls)
Lyrics Explained
In this first verse, Tiwa lays it out plain and simple-
she’s not in this life to suffer, who doesn’t like enjoyment? Tiwa says if she
tries to date a politician, the media will pick the story and her naysayers
will label the act as prostitution. She claims that what she will be doing as a
politician’s woman is to get her own share of the national budget.
I no come this life to suffer, If I follow politician, You go hear am for paper, Them go call am, prostitution, Who no like enjoyment?, If money dey for pocket, Shebi na National budget e o?, We go blow am like trumpet
Tiwa puts herself in the shoes of a woman dating a politician. After a night of having fun under the sheets, the politicians says he has his eyes all over her because she has the tendency to steal from him as most professional escorts do. She retorts telling him he is also a thief that has stolen millions he never worked for from the masses.
He say Darling i’m watching you, Small thing you turn mugu, You come dey shout ole, The money you no work for,Bad commando,You carry overload,Yawa dey, Igboro, Sho wole ko wole
I no mean to bother you, at all, Monkey dey work bamboo dey chop, Kilamity tell me, say you talk and do oga, Tell me wetin you fi do (do, do), I no mean to bother you, at all, Monkey dey work bamboo dey chop, Kilamity tell me say you talk and do oga, Tell me wetin you fi do
Tiwa has addressed this topic in her first single of 2019 “49-99” where she paid homage to Fela Kuti and also highlighted Nigeria’s hardships. The track inspired by Fela’s 1978 album, “Shuffering and Shmiling,” sings about the rich get richer and the poor get poorer in Nigeria. In its striking visuals, Tiwa threw heavy shots at Nigerian politicians that like to prey on younger women instead of working to make the country better.
Another Angle
There is so much symbolism in its video directed by renowned
director, Clarence Peters. It begins with Tiwa Savage playing the role of a
newscaster giving the news that she (Tiwa Savage) is in the news again. Tiwa
Savage is at the “Amebo Salon”- headquarters for carrying home a basket of
gists and gossip. The news of her romance with a politician pops up and tongues
start to wag.
Upon seeing the commotion, Tiwa throws out wads of dollars to the hairdressers and once she leaves, there’s commotion everywhere. This is simply saying that she knows her love life is what everyone put their nosey noses in. Knowing that she is a big celebrity, Tiwa knows her name is always going to be in the news for the wrong and right reasons but she doesn’t care.”…
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. EfemzyEkun, 2020
" "Koroba" in Yoruba means Bucket. She's saying,
"Carry your bucket," literally. Nice music from the Queen of
Afrobeats herself.🇳🇬✌💪"
**
Reply
2.
"In Shona “Korobha” means mop. I love the correlation 😅🇿🇼"
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Zimbabwe
"Shona is a Bantu language spoken by roughly 70% of Zimbabweans and is one of
Zimbabwe's official languages.[2][3][4] It is the traditional language of
Zimbabwe's Shona people, who live in Zimbabwe's central and eastern province"
**
Reply
"In Zimbabwe koroba means to mop the floor"
**
Reply
4. Vanessa Monyaka, 2020
"king maddockthe3rd in setswana koroba means mop the floor😂"
**
Reply
5. Bob Cee, 2020
"Koroba here in my country Liberia 🇱🇷
is, you're not a trusted guy🙌🏾🙌🏾"
**
Reply
6. Bongo updatesTV, 2020
"In Tanzania 🇹🇿 KIROBA means a sack of things which can be
carried out."
**
Reply
7. Rane, 2020
"@Palesa
Maluka In kinyarawanda koropa mean the
same to mop the floor"
**
Reply
8. The Tweet Ug, 2020
"In Uganda koroba means to be hang.. 😂"
**
Reply
9. OKKY.J VENTURES, 2020
"It an hair style not bucket"
**
Reply
10. Truthmatter by Ola dada, 2020
"@OKKY.J VENTURES the hairstyle koroba means bucket hairstyle
in yoruba."
**
Reply
11. Ijeme Imolorhe, 2020
"I thought it meant basket. The lady that's doing her
nails has the koroba hairstyle"
-snip-
I believe that this commenter is referring to a very brief clip around .42
where a woman is shown wearing long beige beaded earrings and a reddish tie-die
shirt with blue collar and blue short sleeves.
Here are two YouTube links about koroba hairstyle:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N2hxAY-sr0&ab_channel=BB_HAIRBB_HAIR
Here's the summary to that video: "Koroba is a style that was popular in the olden days and is
still use now to help grow edges of children hair".]
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2w6uHwIwEU&ab_channel=ZoranskieMarayah
This vlogger indicates that this Nigerian hairstyle for females is also known as Calabash Lemonade (Koraba).
**
Reply
12. Three Ace, 2020
"'Carry your bucket' is a metaphor for Mind Your Own
Business. It derives from when people go to fetch water from a communal
tap/well but instead of doing so they hang around the tap/well to gossip or
spread rumours. So Nigerians would tell the 'Amebo' to carry your bucket."
**
Reply
13. Life With Phiwe, 2020
"Xhosa language in South Africa it means mop the floor."
**
Reply
14. Nike Folayan, 2020
"My understanding is that garawa is bucket in Yoruba. Koroba
is really a basin or a big bowl so a bucket without a handle. So I understand
when someone said they didnt know it was a bucket"
**
Reply
15. Regina Takyi, 2020
"Its similar to koraba in twi Ghanaian language.. only that
its the type of plastic bucket one piss or poo in ..."
**
Reply
16. anne Anne, 2020
" "Kolopa " bemba tribe in zambia mop.guess our
languages are somehow connected 😄"
**
Reply
17. Chris Oghenetega Maloney, 2020
"EfemzyEkun in urhobo, bucket equals .... ikoroba..."
**
Reply
18. Aris Rug, 2020
"@Brittany B Someone from the Southern part of Africa said
that the word 'koroba' means 'to mop' in their language. In South, Central and
eastern Africa there is a group of languages called Bantu languages, which all
originate from one source. Just like the Latin, Slavic or Semitic languages. So
not surprisingly, this word has the same meaning in many languages from those
parts of Africa. With small differences in pronunciation. But it has nothing to
do with the language in this song (Yoruba) lol"
**
Reply
19. kafula kasonde, 2020
"In Bemba (Zambian language), kolopa means to mop the floor"
**
20. Meg Bewa, 2020
"That TLC inspired part 😭😭😭💯💯💯💯"
-snip-
TLC is the name of an African American R&B women's group that was very popular in the 1990s.
Reply
21. A. V., 2020
"
**
Reply
22. Meg Bewa, 2020
" @A. V. 2:06 ! Inspired by the "Creep"
music video !
23.
"Dope video for sweet gbedu. 💥💥💥"
-snip-
Here's information about "Gbedu" fom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gbedu
"Gbedu literally means "big drum" and is a
percussion instrument traditionally used in ceremonial Yoruba music in Nigeria
and Benin.[1] More recently, the word has come to be used to describe forms of
Nigerian Afrobeat and Hip Hop music.[2]
Tradition
The Gbedu drum is traditionally used on state occasions or
during ceremonies of Ogboni, the ancient Yoruba secret society.[1] The
Ogido/Gbedu is one of the four major families of Yoruba drums; the other
families are the Dundun/Gangan or talking drum, the Batá drum and the Sakara
drum. Each family includes drums of different sizes, with the mother drum (iya
ilu) playing the lead role and other drums playing in support.[3] The Gbedu
backing drums are each played by a drummer using both his open palm and a stick.[4]
[…]
Modern usage
In modern Nigeria, the Gbedu and its relatives continue to
be used, but the word has taken new meanings. Fela Kuti included the
traditional Gbedu drum in his ensemble, with a percussionist pounding out a
thunderous rhythm from an eight-foot drum lying on its side.[14] Afrobeat
ensembles often include the Akuba, a set of three small Yoruba congas played
with sticks that are related to the Gbedu.[15] ... The word Gbedu has more recently been
used to describe Nigerian Hip Hop music.[2] For many young people, the word now
simply means "party".[18]”…
24.
"Who here after coming to America 2? I
was so happy when I heard this song!"
-snip-
"Coming to America2" is the 2021 movie starring Eddie Murphy.
**
25. Bright Chike, 2021
"Amebo salon at 0:20 makes me laugh all the time. Nigerians
know what's up..."
**
26. Jan Jan, 2021
"Amebo Salon.
Haha....That's where the ladies hear all the latest gossips and gists."
-snip-
Here's information about the meaning of the Nigerian word "amebo"
From https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/11-untranslatable-nigerian-slang-words-we-need-in-english/
"Amebo
This slang word is used to refer to a person who likes to
gossip or likes to spread gossip. For example, ‘you too like amebo’ means ‘you
love gossip’, whereas ‘she’s an amebo’ means ‘she’s a gossip’."
****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
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