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Friday, February 11, 2022

Explanations For Nigerian Pidgin English Words & Sayings In The 2021 South African/Nigerian "Ke Star Remix"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: Feb. 14, 2021 - title change

This is Part V of a five pancocojams series that showcases songs that include the South African phrase "Tsiki Tsiki Yo".

This post presents the lyrics for "Ke Star Remix". 

That post also presents English explanations for Nigerian Pidgin English lyrics in the 2021 South African/Nigerian collaboration "Ke Star" Remix". Almost all of these explanations are from online articles and from comments from various YouTube discussion threads. 

"Ke Star Remix" is a remix of South African hit song 2020 "Ke Star".  "Ke Star" is credited to two South Africans -(composer, rapper) Focalistic and (the beatmaker) Vigro Deep. "Ke Star Remix" is credited to Focalistic and Nigerian superstar Davido.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-origins-meanings-of-south-african.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents a comment and further explanations about the origins and meanings of the South African phrase "Tsiki Tsiki yo". Examples of that phrase that are used as a nickname for South African soccer player Thabo Mooki are also included in this post. 

That post also showcases a YouTube sound file of the 1994 South African record "Tsiki Tsiki Yo" (also given as "Tsiki Tsiki" or "Tsikitsiki") by Kwaito pioneer singer, musician, and composer M'Du Masilela.  Information about M'Du Masilela is included in this post. 

Selected comments from this video's discussion thead are also included in this post. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/south-african-2014-songs-tsiki-tsiki-by.html 
for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post  showcases the 2014 official YouTube video of the South African song "Tsiki Tsiki" by Duncan Skuva and a YouTube video the original videovy Duncan and the remix of that song by Duncan Skuva featuring Mampintsha, Professor & AKA.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/ke-star-with-its-tsiki-tsiki-yo-phrase.html  for Part III of this pancocojams series.That post showcases the 2020 official YouTube video of the song "Ke Star" by South Africans Focalistic and Vigro Deep and the 2021 official YouTube remix of "Ke Star" by (South African) Focalistic and (Nigerian) Davido, and South African (Vigro Deep). The phrase "Tsiki Tsiki Yo" is prominately featured in that song.

That post also includes information about Focalistic, Vigro Deep, and Davido.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, aesthetic, and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Focalistic Maradona, Vigro Deep, and Davido for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
LYRICS: KE STAR REMIX
(Focalistic Maradona & Davido)

[Intro: Focalistic & Davido]

Tju tju tju tju tju tju tju tju
Ase trap tse ke...
Ase trap tse ke pina tsako kasi


E wole, ye kowole (Mi bo mi bo)
Kowole ye kowole (Mi bo mi bo mi bo)
Kowole ye kowole (Elele, mii bo mi bo mi bo)
Kowole ye kowole (Elele lele, mii bo mi bo mi bo)


Tule
(Baddest)
Tule jare (Tule jor)
(Tule)

Chee!
Gege!
Oya na!
Ele!

[Verse: Davido]

Beta rest beta rest beta rest (Beta rest)
You don try e no do, bеta rest (Beta)
Beta rеst beta rest beta rest (Beta rest)
You don try e no do, beta rest (Beta)
Not intentional, nothing personal
Feel the pressure now when you come to my face (Come to my face)
See as I spray the dollar now that's intentional, international unconventional craze (Tule jor)
International craze

It goes down when my G's connect
No disconnect
I dey catch cruise forget
If you talk you collect
It goes down when my G's connect (Connect)
No disconnect
I dey catch cruise forget
If you talk you collect (Shekpe)

[Chorus: Focalistic]
Ene ke star, bare "Qim shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele, bula sekele
Ene ke star, bare "Qim shelele!" (It goes down when my G's connect)
Midnight Mkhalele (No disconnect) tlako sebele
Bula sekele

[Post-Chorus: Focalistic & Davido]

Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho (Tsikitsiki, tsikitsiki!)
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho (Tsikitsiki, tsikitsiki!)
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho (Tsikitsiki, tsikitsiki!)
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho (Tsikitsiki, tsikitsiki!)
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho

[Refrain: Focalistic & Davido]

Ase trap tse ke pina tsa ko kasi
It goes down when my G's connect
No disconnect
I dey catch cruise forget
If you talk you collect

[Chorus: Focalistic]

Ene ke star, bare "Qim shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele
Eh’na re on, on, on, on, on
Maradona o dlala rough, rough, rough, rough, rough
Eh’na re on, on, on, on, on
Vigro o dlala rough, rough, rough, rough, rough

Ase trap tse ke...

Ene ke star, bare "Qim shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele

Ene ke star, bare "Qim shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele

Ene ke star, bare "Qim shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele

[Post-Chorus: Focalistic]

Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho! tsikitsiki, yho!

 [Chorus: Focalistic]

Ene ke star, bare "Qum shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele

Eh’na re on, on, on, on, on
Maradona o dlala rough, rough, rough, rough, rough
Eh’na re on, on, on, on, on
Vigro o dlala rough, rough, rough, rough, rough

[Outro: Focalistic]

Ase trap tse ke...
Ase trap tse ke Pina tsako Kasi

****
EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE NIGERIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH WORDS & SAYINGS IN THIS SONG

These explanations are given in alphabetical order based on the first letter of the word/sayings.

Numbers added for referencing purposes only.

[Additions and corrections are welcome.]

Beta Rest
From https://allafrica.com/stories/202112120227.html "Nigeria: 'Werey Dey Disguise', 'Cut Soap for Me', Other Nigerian Pop Culture Slang That Trended in 2021" by Onu Stephen 12 December 2021

"Beta Rest' is a famous line from 'Ke Star' remix, a hit track by the South African Amapiano virtuoso, Focalistic, featuring Davido.

In local parlance, 'Beta rest' is used to tell a person to 'calm down' or 'cool your nerves'

It's used alongside the phrase ' I dey catch cruise forget If you talk you collect.' "

****
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U1GTGuu1d8&ab_channel=MansaMayne "Focalistic & Davido - Ke Star [Remix] [Feat. Vigro Deep] (Official Music Video) REACTION", published by Mansa Mayne, Mar 8, 2021

1. ToughBlackseed, 2021
"Better rest, better rest, better rest; you don try  e nor do....better rest..... That verse is in Nigerian pigin english, which could be  interpreted to mean ;" take a rest (chill),  your effort didn't go far enough....you need to take a rest."

**
2. 
Chukwuka D Onyema, 2021
"
he is saying "better rest better rest... u don try e no gree" you have tried and it didn't work, u should just rest or chill"

****

I dey catch cruise forget
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQKKCXXRcKE&ab_channel=FOCALISTICMARADONAFOCALISTIC MARADONA

1. Michael Lee, 2022
"What does I dey catch cruise forget mean"

**
Reply
2. Alafia TV, 2022
"Don't sweat, I'm having fun effortlessly"

**
Reply
3. True Thots, 2022
"Hmm to translate pidgin hard ooh😅. In American kind of slang it will be something like " forget it men ! , im just chilling having a good time""
-snip-
"Catch cruise" is a Nigerian Pidgin English phrase that came before "catch cruise forget". Here's a definition and some examples of "catch cruise":  
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=catch%20cruise
Here's one definition for the Nigerian Pidgin English term "catch cruise"
"catch cruise

a slang used mostly in nigeria, that means having fun, sometimes at the expense of other people

i catch cruise when i want, marriage doesn't stop me-some evicted dude"

by skaehfjaesv January 23, 2022

**
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegWIiwn0yI "Focalistic & Davido - Ke Star [Remix] [Feat. Vigro Deep] (Official Music Video) | TFLA"

1. Stanley Nomeh, 2021
"Two mad countries comes together is cruise 🇿🇦🇳🇬lit🔥🔥🔥"

**
2. Stanley Nomeh, 2021
G connect swear just de catch cruise✅💰💶💯

**

If you talk you collect
Pancocojams Editor: I haven't come across an explanation for this line in "Ke Star Remix".
My guess is it means something like "If  we talk to each other (i.e. work together), we'll collect the rewards of our efforts.

**
It goes down when my G's connect, No disconnect
[Pancocojams Editor's Note] I've found comments about the use of the word "Gs" in these lines from Ke Star Remix", but no explanation about the entire two lines. 
Here's what I believe these lines mean.  

"Good things happen when my guys ["buddies", "posse") connect , not disconnect." 

I think "connect" has the larger meaning of "work together" and "disconnect" has the larger meaning "do things that are detrimental to each other." 

While I believe that the word "G's" means your guys (buddies, posse" in this song and in other contemporary songs, the original African American Vernacular English (AAVE) meaning of g's is "gangsta" (as in "O.G"- original gangsta). Referring to someone as an O.G. was and still is a highly complimentary referent for someone who actually was a Hip Hop pioneer and/or someone who conducts themselves (performs) like an O.G,
-snip-
Here are some comments about these particular "Ke Star Remix" lines 
From  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQKKCXXRcKE&ab_channel=FOCALISTICMARADONAFOCALISTIC MARADONA

1. 6God, 2021
"I'm a South African but what Davido did here is too much_"it goes down when my g's connect,no disconnect"🔥🔥🔥😭"

**
Reply
2. Vhuhwavho Mulondo🇿🇦, 2021
" @i jones  What does it mean"

**
Reply
3. Prime Official, 2021
"@Vhuhwavho Mulondo🇿🇦 

Nothing.  Gz  can means your guys or buddies"

**
Reply
4. Jude C ominyi, 2021
"Gz means your friends, your guys , you coliques etc"
-snip-
Here's a comment that has "don't connent" in place of "no connect":
Nnamdi George, 2021;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegWIiwn0yI&ab_channel=ThatFireLA
"It goes down when my gees connect, don't disconnect. I dey catch cruise forget if you talk you collect."

****
See as I spray the dollar
[Pancocojams Editor's Note]: "Spraying dollars" is a Nigerian custom (and custom in other West African nations), when people shower a bride and groom or performers or other prominent people with paper money. This custom honors and shows appreciation for the person being sprayed.

In the context of the Ke Star Remix song, Davido is saying that he is the one spraying people with money (by virtue of his collaboration with the South African rapper/Dj.  
-snip-
Here's a comment about Davido's portion of "KeStar Remix" begins with "See as I spray the dollar":

Nicole Makuyana, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQKKCXXRcKE&ab_channel=FOCALISTICMARADONAFOCALISTIC MARADONA 
"
Davido's voice screams money. Even if he jus coughs in his verse that song will be a hit. I know some musicians who are vocaly talented but not money talented. But Davido everything he touches turns into gold. It's a God given gift, don't argue with me, go argue with your ancestors, Tule😂."
-snip-
Read the entry for the word "Tule" below.

Click for https://www.brides.com/money-dance-tradition-5074509#:~:text=Nigerian%20Money%20Spray,dance%20behind%20the%20wedding%20party. for the Nigerian Money Spray portion of the article.

****
Shekpe

[Pancocojams Editor's Note] In the context of Davido's verse in "Ke Star Remix", I believe that the word "Skekpe" means something like "Let's drink to that."

Here's a definition for "Skepe" from the Nigerian Pidgin English website "Naijalingo"
http://naijalingo.com/words/shekpe#:~:text=Naijalingo%3A%20shekpe-,Shekpe,gin%20that%20can%20be%20consumed.

"Shekpe

Definition:Any hot drink. Or local gin that can be consumed.Example: Ete, abeg buy shekpe mek we high. This shekpe na correct."

****
Tule

From https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/naija-fashion/451650-seven-trending-nigerian-slangs-their-meanings.html "Seven trending Nigerian slangs, their meanings"

"These words, though fleeting, are required in every “hustling” Nigerian’s vocabulary to improve street credibility.

Tule

“Tule” is another of Davido’s many slang. In a video the star artiste made in reaction to the news of his rift with another artiste, Burna Boy, in Ghana, he was seen shouting “Tule Joor, Tule Jare.”

“Tule” is a Yoruba word that means “free me, release me, or leave me.”

The word found its way unto many lips when many Nigerians started shouting “Tule” on social media for a N2m cash that Davido promised to whoever could replicate his original video.

In the street vocabulary, “Tule” is used to tell people to drop a topic or leave you alone and stop bothering you.”

****
Tule jor
1. From https://naijapower.com/tule-joor-meaning-in-english/, 2020 "Tule Joor, Tule Jare Meaning In English, Tule Challenge" [no author or publishing date provided]

"Few days ago, Davido took his social media page posted a new slang/lamba ‘Tule Joor!!’ or ‘Tule Jare!’

 In a recent communique with Davido and the Cubana Chief Priest, the singer revealed that it mean  ‘Tule Joor!!’ or ‘Tule Jare!’ means Open.

The new slang ‘Tule Joor!!’ or ‘Tule Jare!’ has been the new trend on the street is been used by lot of his fans.

Also, Davido has announced the #TuleChallenge with a whooping sum of 2 million naira for whoever wins this challenge.”

****
This conclude Part V of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 


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