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Saturday, January 27, 2024

The Igbo Language & African American Vernacular English In Comments About The 2022 Nigerian Rap Song "Ogene" by Zoro featuring Flavour



Official Zoro Music, April 23, 2016

-snip-
Here are two explanations in English for the phrase "Igbo Kwenu" as it is used in this comment and in a number of other comments in the discussion thread for this Igbo rap: 
(given in no particular order)
1. from 
https://www.arcnjournals.org/images/NIRA-IJSSH-5-2-7.pdf "Igbo kwenu: A Consensus Philosophy in African Communalism" by Joannes Asikaogu ph.D & Rev. Fr. Franklin Amaechi Eze Ph.D

....[Igbo Kwenu] "is a universal Igbo greeting that cuts across all Igbo nations and “Igbo kwenu” is a sacred call that connotes agreement, endorsement and unity to achieve a common purpose. In good and in bad times, this has been a major component speech of the Igbo nation whether at home or abroad. In any public gathering you will hear the cheering up when it is called upon “Igbo kwenu” Yaa!"...

2. From https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-igbo-kwenu-by-smockizzy/ 

The Meaning Behind The Song: Igbo Kwenu by Smockizzy", published October 29, 2023 by Cecil Bailey

..."The term “Igbo Kwenu” is a call to acknowledge and honor the Igbo culture. It is an exclamation that signifies a sense of belonging, identity, and respect for the Igbo community."...

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3. 
@mbotasofficial4172, 2016
"Much love from the South West of Cameroon, I love my Region's culture, especially our swagg, but I respect Igbos for 1 thing, they know how to resonate their culture! They got the "Wuna must see am and hear am oooo!" attitude with the culture..."

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4. @berryvonnetambe7293, 2016
"preach bro!!"

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5. 
@kateejiugwo4313, 2016
"igbo guys are changing music all over the world. igbo kwenu! kwenu!! Kwezueonu!!! my love to you all. Pls keep promoting igbo language through music or muziki, flevour you always be flevour  in any song your in. ibu ezigbo nwa afo igbo ya diri na egwu gi na mma. love from Texas US."
-snip-
Google translate from Igbo to English: ibu ezigbo nwa afo igbo ya diri na egwu gi na mma" ="You are a good young man, and you have to live with your fear and kindness"

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6. 
@prevailermba6082, 2016
"ok so i just became a zoro fan...this song is so dope!!!....love you guys...reppin the Igbo Nation Nwanne"
-snip-
From https://www.igbotique.com/dict/ig/nwa%CC%81n%CC%81ne%CC%84
"Want to know what "nwanne" means in Igbo?
sibling 
noun
a person's brother or sister"

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7. 
@zweeterion, 2016
"This is beyond excellent to put it humbly.

The perfect blend of the beat, the rhythm and video is 100% portrayal of the fusion of local African Ogene instrument and the American hip hop genre."

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8.@emjayzee797, 2016
"By the way those masquerades are known as Udo from where I come..I miss my villa..Welcome to the home of indigenous music,Zoro..Just keep doing what Yu love and everything will fall into  place, innamsaying?"

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9. 
@liapartel9142, 2016
"I don't understand a lick of igbo....but jeez this tune is too wavy!. I could see my bae phyno....#igbokwenu #Nigeriansbekillingit"


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10. @JoStylin, 2016
"Igbo here, am feeling the fire but don't know how to dance to this...U naaa meaaan???"
-snip-
“U naaa meaaan” is a Nigerian form of the widely used (among certain populations) African American saying “Ya know what I mean” or "Ya know what I'm sayin". Zoro says this idiom throughout some parts of his 2022 rap entitled "Ogene". 

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11. @belect7243, 2016
"do the ogene dance then.. :)"

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12. @malineg4073, 2016
"u naaa mean????"

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13. @belect7243, 2016
"Lol.... :)"

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14. @JoStylin, 2016
"B elect I tried doing the Ogene dance but everytime he said 'U Naaa Mean' I automatically switched to dancing hip hop."

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15. @johnebi3918, 2017
"Feeling the vibe bro"

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16. @Hoggy, 2016
"you know flavour cannot dab but he is trying so hard to.. LLS!! Catchy beat and nice song... Phyno on this joint would have been the icing on the cake"

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17. @dunmininuoduwole6339, 2016
"I don't understand a word but i can tell this dude spits fire"

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18. @zumazuma2041, 2016
"True African spirit.

First time hearing this song I ran to iTunes straight. The sound is something else. We need more tunes like this Africa, forget the style & tune  of the westerners, this right here is priceless."

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19.@saggisok, 2016
"As an old school, original and authentic  "Nwa 042", I approve of this video. Big up to Zoro, Flavour and Phyno. We appreciate you all."
-snip-
"Nwa" = the English translation for the Igbo word "child".

042-from https://www.facebook.com/eketownnewskingaugustinendubuisinguw/photos/a.440124299428401/3302852639822205/?type=3 Eke Town News, May 27,2020

 042 is more than a code.
Do you know why Enugu state is known as 042, find out
Enugu, state, south-central Nigeria. It was created in 1991 from the eastern two-thirds of Anambra state. Enugu is bounded by the states of Kogi and Benue to the north, Ebonyi to the east, Abia to the south, and Anambra to the west....

042 is the NITEL Telephone Area Code for Enugu State. The code quickly became adopted as a fond moniker for the State with the young and youthful population of the city taking a cue from Pop Culture and Hip Hop communities in the U.S where the area codes became a nick name for the city."...

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20.@funshofakolujo3046, 2016
"Absolutely LOVE this song!!! Wish other Nigerian artistes tapped into their Nigerian roots like this. I'm def a Zoro fan now."

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21. @zweeterion, 2016
"+Funsho Fakolujo

Exactly Bro.

Even though he was rapping, he did it in his culture and spoke about things everyone knew about. not some American bling bling. Moreover, he used an authentic ogene beat, even got the native ogene dancers to feature in the video.

I am so impressed with the guy's innovation"

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22. @Lezayla_luxuryhair_uk, 2016
"omg this music is the bomb am already dancing ๐Ÿ˜™๐Ÿ˜™๐Ÿ˜™๐Ÿ˜™๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ™†๐Ÿ™†"

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23. 
@michellenwude3909, 2016
"listening to this in the library,

u know wha a meeeean, I almost forgot where I was, see me standing up to dance Ogene."

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24. @ozonzechibudike4293, 2019
"Hahahahaq"

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25. 
@warmspiritz,2016, 2016
"That beat is fire!"

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26. @gladysiheanacho2628,2016
"Superbly done... all the way from London...am feeling this gosh!! God bless your hustle nwanne!!!"

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27. @ikedave60, 2016
"Here is Houston, feeling like I am in 042. Proud Igbo man" 

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28. @sylvestermo100, 2016
"My people them!  Super video Nwanne ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ”ฅ"

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29.
@ndubuisieze7374, 2016
"dope one My best Keep it up brother You and Phyno and Bosalin remains the best nigerian rappers"

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30. @sylvestercollinshillbillie9672, 2016
"Waited for this video like job waited for God and God finally answered him... Zoro you finally delivered and I am so pleased with the video. Everything about this song is dope... Different from the rest."

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31. @udehmartinsazubuike5754, 2016
"All d way from 042  (coal city! !!!)"

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32. @belladaniel7800,2016
"๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ dope"

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33. @bobbyem95, 2016
"Dope Tune. Will jam to this any time of the day! You know i meannnnnnn!"

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34.@acaholdings4493, 2016
"The blast of d year๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ, u see 042 fully represented(phyno, Flavour, slowdog e.t.c) I think this music was shot @ Gariki Awkunanaw not Ogbete."
-snip-
Based on other comments in this discussion thread Gariki Awkunanaw and Ogbete are names of market places in Enugu state, Nigeria

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35. .@TheSleekking, 2016
"Dope rap.. I av been skipping dis. Never knew wws dis dop..!!"
-snip-
"Dop" in this comment is probably a typo for "drop".

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36. @legendairy3560, 2016
"ohhh my people you guys are on point"

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37.@IkesLionsDen, 2016
"This song goes in!!!!!"
-snip-
In African American Vernacular English, "to go in" (also given as "to go all in", which is a shortened form of "to go all in to ___". The past tense of that idiom is "went in"). In the context of this comment, "goes in" means to perform something exceptionally well, using your whole mind, body, and spirit.

The idiom "goes in" also may be used in African American Vernacular English to refer to being ;sp ,person sings or performs a musical instrument, or does a theatrical performance fully involved in some activity"; "to become completely a part of some experience". For example, people can say that a people in church "went in"  when they completely feel the Holy Spirit and do a Holy dance, and/or speaks in tongues, and/or otherwise function outside of their control. 

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38. @ctrecid,2016
"Aight this dude has skilz... thumbs up my dude!!!"
-snip-
"Aight" = alright

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39. @Chi9ja, 2016
"igbo boyz bring the sickest beatzzzzzzzzz"

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40. @brahimeibnfadel3235, 2016
"I'm Senegalese, i don't understand igbo but this song is just ... D.O.P.E ."

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41. @julievec, 2016
"I miss 042, ..love from Wales"

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42. @princechuks2179, 2016
"This is Dope, Nwanne ride on"

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43. @kiliwipat4384, 2016
"this guy just too much. 042 blood strong."

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44. 
@bobbyem95, 2016
"Dope Tune. Will jam to this any time of the day! You know i meannnnnnn!"

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45. @ifeomamarshalomc3101, 2016
"I love my 042 people ๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜"

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47.@darlingtonokechukwu1013, 2016
"Doing it our way, the 042 way,ogene at its best..thumbs up Zoro."

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48. @chidosky23judybaby9, 2016
"9ce one #Zoro.... u killed it here wit d dialect. #Real Igbo guy๐Ÿ‘"

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49. @pearlotti7517,2016
"Mehn make me so proud to be igbo.display the cuture in such a nice way. Im short of words.Your good bro .please make more music and continue with the sick beats"
-snip-
"Mehn" is one way that the colloquial word "man" is spelled in contemporary African American Vernacular English.

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50.@NathsCrazyWorld, 2016
"The song + video LIT ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿฝ"

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51.@jayhawt7206, 2016
"I just cant stop dancing to this song menhh! and d video is on point ,this song is making waves right now both home and abroad ,if u no be NWA AFO , u wont enjoy the music ..U naa mean? ZORO ride on NWANNE!"
-snip-
https://www.nairaland.com/247934/official-translation-thread/4 "Official Translation Thread Culture:Nairaland Forum

AndreUweh(m): On Aug 12, 2009
"nwa afo (nwafor) born on afo market day.
"Amongst the Ngwa, Ndoki and Etche peoples, nwafo or nwafo nnem means son of the soil"
-snip-
Also, read https://igbo.english-dictionary.help/english-to-igbo-meaning-native 
"English to Igbo Meaning of native - nwa afแป
Native :nwa afแป"
-snip-
Based on how the word "nwaafo" is used in 
@jayhawt7206's comment and in other comments in this YouTube discussion, I believe that word has the "native" meaning, i.e. a "real" Igbo. 

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52.  @nutty306, 2017
"zorow I am so proude of u.i still remember when we use to role together in imt enugu. ..much love from nutty jay.much love 042."

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53. @naija_cutiee,2017
"042 BABE

FINALLY THIS VIDEO IS OUT

REPEAT BUTTON IS ON FIRE OOOOH"

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54. @jayhawt7206, 2017
"I just cant stop dancing to this song menhh! and d video is on point ,this song is making waves right now both home and abroad ,if u no be NWA AFO , u wont enjoy the music ..U naa mean? ZORO ride on NWANNE!"

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55
 @blaisetenkeu8101, 2017
"Who ever said you MUST do it like "them" to be worthy??? This is African Music, not a copy of anything else! U naaa meaaan???"

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56. 
@QueenOnyeije, 2017
"Lord help me America checking in I need and want the dance moves please and perhaps a Nigerian man to dance with yasssssss"

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57.@selinafewry6425, 2018
"Am a sierra leonean i luv nija songs....u naah mean♥"

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58. 
@jayoriona5505, 2021
"ZORO KILLED THIS RAP STRAIGHT"

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59. @naturalqueen5007, 2022
"
This is such a vibe๐Ÿ’œ"

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60. 
@6480Mike, 2022
"Igbooooo kwenuuuuuu !"

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

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