Why The Jamaican Dancehall Song "Murder She Wrote" Is Called "Mama Shiroo" & Similar Sounding Names In Kenya, East Africa

culturaroots, Nov 2, 2007
-snip-
Total statistics as of Feb.12, 2024 at 9:14 PM
Totl # of views - 67,657,504

Total # of comments - 14,181

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update- Feb. 13, 2024

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Chaka Demus & Pliers' 1992 Jamaican Dancehall song "Murder She Wrote". 

This post showcases the same YouTube video of Chaka Demus & Pleirs' 1992 Jamaican Dancehall song "Murder She Wrote".that was showcased in Part I of this series.

This post also provides a definition of the linguistic term "folk processing" as an explanation for why some Kenyans and some other Africans refer to the Jamaican Dancehall song "Murder She Wrote" as "Mama Shiro" or other similar titles.

This post also presents some information about the Kenyan song entitled "Mama Ciru".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/chaka-demus-pliers-jamaican-dancehall.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents showcases a YouTube video of Chaka Demus & Pliers' 1992 Jamaican Dancehall song "Murder She Wrote". This post also presents a brief excerpt from this song's Wikipedia page.

That pancocojams post also provides a compilation of some comments from that video's discussion thread in which the commenters mention the name of their country or are replies to those comments. These comments were published in 2016-2024 (as of the date of the publication of this pancocojams post)*.
 
*After uploading numerous pages of comments from this video's discussion thread, my computer wouldn't upload any additional pages. It's likely that numerous comments that fit this sub-set of comments are featured in those pages that I wasn't able to upload. 

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

These comments document that many people throughout the world have been aware of and have had an appreciation for Chaka Demus & Pliers' Dancehall song "Murder She Wrote" since that record's was first released.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Chaka Demus & Pleirs for their musical legacy. Thanks to Sly & Robbie for creating the bam bam riddem (beat) of this song that was/is also used for some other Dancehall songs. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

****
PARTIAL LYRICS FOR "MURDER SHE WROTE" (Original Mix)
(as sung by Chaka Demus & Pleirs"

I know this little girl
Her name is maxine
Her beauty is
Like a bunch of rose
If I ever tell you 'bout maxine
You would a say
I don't know what I know
(But)

Murder she wrote
(Fi real fi real)
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote

Watch ya now, it name
A pretty face and bad character
Dem the kinda livin
Can't hold Chaka (Follow me)
A pretty face
And bad character
Dem the kinda livin'
Can't hold Chaka
Seh gal yuh pretty
Yuh face it pretty
But yuh character dirty
Gal yuh just act too flirty flirty
Yuh run to Tom, Dick
An' also Harry
An when yuh find yuh mistake
Yuh talk bout yuh sorry
Sorry, sorry (Come now)"...
-snip-
Click https://genius.com/Chaka-demus-and-pliers-murder-she-wrote-original-mix-lyrics for the complete lyrics for this song.

Pancocojams Editor's note: "Tom", "Dick", and "Harry" used to be very common nicknames for males in the English language. The phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry" mean "any man" or "a number of men chosen at random."   

****
A BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE FOLK PROCESS IN SONGS AND RHYMES
The definition of "folk processing" that I'm using in this post is "the unintentional changing of a word or words to a song because of mishearing or misremembering." Folk processing also occurs when an unfamiliar word or words is mistaken for or unintentionally replaced by a familiar word or words that sound the same or sound similarly. This replacement of unfamiliar words/words with familar words/words is done so that the song/rhyme makes sense (or makes more sense) to the  person singing, chanting, or reading it.  
-snip-
Based on my online reading, It appears that when people in some African nations, but particularly in Kenya, East Africa, sang the Jamaican Dancehall song "Murder She Wrote" it was quite common to sing the words "Mama Shiro" or similarly sounding words for the unfamiliar English words " murder she wrote". 

As noted above, folk processing may occur when people mishear a word or words and replace those words or unfamiliar word or words in a song or a rhyme with a word, words, or a sound that they are familiar with.

In the last comment that I quoted from the discussion thread of the embedded "Murder She Wrote" video (found immediately below), a commenter wrote "we use to sing [Mama Shiroo] the same in Kenya. We had girls name shiro ( short form of wanjiru) and they would be pissed off. "

****

THE KENYAN SONG "MAMA CIRU" ("MAMA CHIRU") 
My curiousity about the name "Mama Shiroo" in Kenya led me to some YouTube music videos of the Kikuyu song (or songs?) entitled "Mama Ciru" or "Mama Chiru". Here's a link to one of those videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0186CyHZsnI Mama Ciru John Ndichu,  Jan 27, 2011. Some commenters in that video's discussion thread referred to that song as a classic and one commenter @michaelgichia2048 wrote in 2019 that "This song was such a hit that people in salaam clubs adopted  the name mama chiru. Same with some businesses".

In 2023 another commenter @edwingikura shared this explanation for that song: "It's about a man who says that he loved his wife very much, but after 10 years  or so she changed like a snake she even started seeing other men and on  one or two occasions he was almost attacked by the men she was with in a bar.

He then says that he's friends told him that even if he loves her more then money he has to move on."
-end of quote-
That storyline for "Mama Ciru" is quite similar to the lyrics for the Jamaican Dancehall song 'murder She Wrote", but I don't think that the tunes and tempos for those two songs are the same or even similar. 

Here's information about the song "Mama Ciru" from an article about the death of  Kenyan singer/composer Mûrîithi John Walker  https://debunk.media/muriithi-john-walker-an-obituary-in-seven-songs/ "Mûrîithi John Walker: An Obituary In Seven Songs by Ras Menge Sham Feb, 8, 2023
..."I had never heard this song before this performance. Kîrîro kîa Mama Cirû is a fun genre-bending song that invites the listener to let go and let loose. Come, let’s play. Let’s do it as we listen to Mama Cirû’s lamentations, is the song’s request. The question I had earlier comes back and presents itself differently: Does it matter to Mugithi musicians what the song they are singing is about?

Kîrîro kîa Mama Cirû samples Murder She Wrote by Chaka Demus and Pliers. When we were children we misheard ‘Murder She Wrote’ as ‘Mama Ciru’. I think this is what Mûrîithi John Walker wants to do with the song, to take us back to that place of invention, that place, like that of childhood, where a world can be created. The song, as different as it sounds with its punchy riffs and rolling bass guitar, still sounds like Mugithi, and still looks like the man on stage. There is the serious foundational Kikuyu pop sound, brown, loose, and ever present like his suit. And then there is the experimental stuff, the turtleneck and the silver chain that says I’m here to play, to mess around and find out."
-snip-  
Please share any memories or information that you have about this Kenyan song entitled "Mama Ciru" in the comment section below. Thanks!

****
SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THE USE OF THE WORDS "MAMA SHIRO" INSTEAD OF "MURDER SHE WROTE" IN THAT JAMAICAN DANCEHALL SONG

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av7F1JBmj4 [This is the video that is embedded above]

These are only some of the comments in that discussion thread that refer to singing "Mama Shiro" instead of "Murder She Wrote". 

2020

1.@kmuturi238
"Kenyans who grew up singing "Murder Shiro" and "Mama Shiro" let's gather here😂😂😂🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪💙
-snip-
This comment had 1.6 likes and 110 replies (as of Feb. 11, 2024 at 10:02 PM EDT)

Unless otherwise noted, the non-English words given below are in Swahili. Their Swahili meaning is given below the comment (from Google translate from Swahili to English.) Additions and corrections are welcome.

**
Reply
2. @alexwambua4492
"Mama Shiro😂"

**
Reply
3. @kmuturi238
"😂😂Mimi nilikuwa nasikia "murder Shiro"
-snip-
"I was hearing "murder Shiro"

**
Reply
4. hiroo... Mama shiroooo

**
Reply
5. @alexsirzlopez3204
"Tuko ndani mama shiro tuko ndani"
-snip-
"We are in, mother shiro, we are in"

**
Reply
6. @flostar3790
"😋😋"

**
Reply
7. @jamesmtaita6120
"Anaitwa Chuck Odemus ni mjaluo wa Jamaica.."
-snip-
"His name is Chuck Odemus, he is from Jamaica"

**
Reply
8. @ThatguyJoshman
"Tuko hapa nyuma ya tent😂"
-snip-
"We are here behind the tent😂"

**
Reply
9. @petesnow2484
"I'm nigerian..... but lol. that was funny"

**
Reply
10. @adilmohamed1784
"but I'm not the only one who grew up with this mother shiro umwakinHahaha mother shiro we thought it was a mother from kiambu"
-snip-
"Kiambu" is a town in Kenya, East Africa.

**
Reply
11. @soniemaina
"Guilty as charged 😂😂😂😂"

**
Reply
12. @everydayapps7225
"Wakenya hamkosangi kila mahali.🔥 Wooho 🔥
-snip-
"Kenyans are everywhere"

**
Reply
13. @nukonuko1184
"We never knew she wrote 😂😂😂"

**
Reply
14. @rusticpoet
"hahahahaha! I remember everyone going wild when that part came on! Murder shiro, murder shiro!

**
Reply
15. @nickie2483
"😭😭😭😭😭"

**
Reply
16. @aajabbinmagosh5509
"Madam shiro"

**
Reply
17.@muufenty774
"Tuko wengi😅😅"
-snip-
"We are many".

**
Reply
18. @gracesherry2964
"😂😂😂😂😂here i am"

**
Reply
19. @kenyanswiss
"Matha shiro"

 
**
Reply
20. @imaniimani3709
"🤣😅🤣😅🤣😅 lol wacha tu but  it flowed though"
-snip-
"wacha tu" = "just let it go"

**
Reply
21. @alyfepoisonbunny2716
"I grew up with this song 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹"
-snip-
"TT"= Trinidad and Tobago (a Caribbean nation)

**
Reply
22. @lucielucie9646
"I still do. Sounds better that way 😂😂😂"

**
Reply
23. @TheEdnablue
"Tupo hapa 🤣"
-snip-
"We are here"

**
Reply
24. @kendrickswife
"Straight uppppp!!!!!!!😂😂"

**
Reply
25.@shiikamau403
"we r in which.tent😂😂"

**
Reply
26.@bobkipkoech
"😂😂😂Great seeing my fellow Kenyans hapa"
-snip-
"hapa" = "here"

**
Reply
27. @chaavinabbey9546
"Bruh, er'body sang it like that... 💥🔥 We Go"

**
Reply
28.@carolinewambui9506
"Bado ni mama shiro😂😂
-snip-
"It still is mama shiro"

**
Reply
27. @brian_mwangi
"mada shiro :-)"

**
Reply
28. @adimwangi758
"Mother Shiro''

**
Reply
29.@rebeccawambui7510
"Yeeey aki ukweli."
-snip-
"Yes, it's true".

**
Reply
30. @bernardwanjohi7201
"🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀"

**
Reply
31.@chrispinuswafula3029
"Hahahaha mother Shiroooo"

**
Reply
32. @danniarscott3233
"That’s hilarious 😂"

**
Reply
33.@lorrdolly
"And it remains murder shiro forever...... Takes me back to F2 jam sessions in the afternoon"

**
Reply
34.@rossitahwayua9171
"Hata Leo ni mada shiroooo..lol"
-snip-
"Even today it is mada shirooo lol"

**
Reply
35. @mosebrownie4013
"I think Jamaican song rock in kenya than Jamaica yenyewe😁 mother shiroo
=snip-
"Yenyewe" = itself
-snip-
My interpretation of that comment (as an African American who doesn't speak Swahili) is "I think the Kenyan version with the words "Mother Shiroo" rocks (is better) than the Jamaican song with the words "Murder she wrote".
..
**
Reply
36. @nancywanjiru820
"Hehehehhe gosh tumetoka mbali, I rem my uncle told me it's murder shiro"
-snip-
"tumetoka mbali" = we have come a long way.

"rem" = a non-standard short form of the English word "remember".

**
Reply
37.@kendykellis8715
"Mother Shiro waaaah"
-snip-
"waaaah" a sound like you're laughing so hard you are crying.

**
Reply
38.@felixkhale
"Nigerians too.😭😭😂😂"

**
Reply
39.@ndimoowawangari9875
"Mother cirû"

**
Reply
40. @mitcheallchikowore2447
"😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I'm not from Kenya  also I used to sing
medha Shiroo 🇿🇼🇿🇼
-snip-
"Zw" =Zimbabwe

**
Reply
41.@benabena1908
"The first reggae song that I knew."

**
Reply
42. @drakeweru9505
"The accuracy 🤣🤣"

**
Reply
43. @abietrue404
"lol"

**
Reply
44. @husseinjuma3126
"Mayo shiro🤣🤣🤣"

**
Reply
45.@loisemuhia8130
"Present"

**
Reply
46. @shanzie593
"Lmao"

**
Reply
47. @candicetshuma5954
"Even Zimbabweans 😂😂😂"

**
Reply
48. @LoftusBlake
"pete snow  Nigerians understand Jamaican Patios right?"

**
Reply
49. @faithwahomedon3158
"Alex Wambua  we umeharibu 😂😂"
-snip-
"we umeharibu" = "you have ruined it "

**
2021

Reply
50.@asiyyahmullen8777
"Merdashiro 🤣"

**
Reply
51. @essiechege3710
"Manda shiro"

**
Reply
52. @aminamakokha2761
"Leo ushamba umetoka after 40 yrs 😂😂😂😂nitaambia nini watu"
-snip-
"Today the farm has come out after 40 yrs 😂😂😂😂 what am I going to tell people"
-snip-
I'm not sure what this comment means, but I think the commenter is asking how does he tell people in his village that what they think this song means isn't what it really means.

**
Reply
53. @lucyreigns836
"😂😂😂😂😂😂 cheza chini  murder shiro"
"cheza chini"= "play down"

**
Reply
54. @fatimaabdallah2408
"Murder shiro milele 😂"
-snip-
"Murder shiro forever"

**
Reply
55.@TanDaGodDiva
"Hello muderrrrr shhhhhiiiroooo"

**
Reply
56. @TanDaGodDiva
"Muderrrrr Shiiiroooo!!!!"

**
Reply
57.@saradubai6974
"Yeah I grew up knowing it was "mother shiro" I didn't know it was,
"murder she wrote" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂so funny n fool of me!"

**
Reply
58.@lizk2643
"my little sis.. still call her murder shiro"

**
Reply
59.@motherofanangel1143
"Lmaooooo"

**
Reply
60.@Radiocity256
"ndio mama shiroo"
-snip-
"yes, mama shiroo"

**
Reply
61.@reecemwongeli2698
"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣kumbe si mimi pekee nilikua na hii umbwakin ya mother shiro"
-snip-
"but I'm not the only one who grew up with this mother shiro umwakin"

**
Reply
62. @kylielinae
"It's still "mother Shiro" and "no woman no cry" not "no woman don't cry" Wakenya tuko everywhere"
-snip-
"Wakenya tuko everywhere" = "We are Kenyans everywhere."

**
Reply
63. @manni2723
"Mother Shiro"

**
Reply
64.@avrilhernandez4635
"Not Kenyan, but Caribbean 🇩🇴 and I grew singing the same thing 🤣"

**
Reply
65.@Just_Tracy
"yesss nilifanya kitu kimoja i use to say "muder shiro"

-snip-
"yesss I did the same thing i use to say "muder shiro"

**
Reply
66.@yumnathomas6591
"😭😭😭#epic!!!!😂😂😂🖤❤"

 **
67.@katusiimeevelyne5445, 2020
"Here in Uganda we still play this song in bars as though it was released yesterday 🤗😂😂"

**
Reply

68. @Ankunda717, 2020
"Its an everyday song hahaha"

**
Reply

69.@Youngxfatal93, 2020
"All day everyydayy 💯"

**
Reply
70. @orikirizacharliebrown3912, 2020
"Me I could sing it like, mother shiro🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 shame di me"

**

Reply
71. @WallySheccid, 2020
"Du yu nou de way mai brudah?"
-snip-
My guess is that this question "Do you know the way my brother?" means "Do you know the correct words for this song, my brother?"

**

Reply

72, @orikirizacharliebrown3912, 2020

"Wally Mendoza  na  tell me"

**

Reply

73. @sarahkukiriza6174, 2021
"@Orikiriza Charlie Brown  ur not alone..me I shouted imara shiro  in 90s until when 
  I got the lyrics in a newspaper. I nearly fainted laughing."

 **

Reply
74. @orikirizacharliebrown3912, 2021
"Sarah Kukiriza  omg 🤔🤔😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

😂😂😂😂😂😂"

**

Reply

75.  @sarahkukiriza6174, 2021
"Orikiriza Charlie Brown  I even told  the story to my kids .even if u rewind it 10 tyms
u would still hear the same lyrics and fits right.  Ooh those days are good to remember"

**

Reply

76. @orikirizacharliebrown3912,2021

"Sarah Kukiriza  your just funny🤣🤣🤣🤣"

 **
Reply
@sheriekasirye1321, 2021
"I remember in 90's our yrs this song would be played many times but no one would be
able to sing the real lyrics.

**
Reply
@ivelocairfa9872, 2021
" Orikiriza Charlie Brown  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥰, we use to sing the same in Kenya. 
We had girls name shiro ( short form of wanjiru) and they would be pissed off. I remember those sweet days walai."

****
This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

  

Gidi Gidi Maji Maji - "Unbwogable" (Kenyan Hip Hop In Sheng Language YouTube examples & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the now classic 2002 Kenyan Hip Hop track "Unbwogable" by Gidi Gidi Maji Maji 

Part I presents some information about that song and showcases two YouTube examples of "Unbwogable" by Gidi Gidi Maji  Maji. The lyrics to that song are also included in this post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/07/comments-from-youtube-discussion.html for Part II presents some comments from the discussion threads for three YouTube examples of "Unbwogable" by Gidi Gidi Maji Maji.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Gidi Gidi Maji Maji for their musical, cultural, and political legacies. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Thanks also to my good friends Lucas & Judith who are Luos from Kenya. From the late 1990s to 2014 Lucas was the  technical mastermind for my cultural website cocojams. Without Lucas, there would not have been a cocojams, pancocojams, or any other internet site that I curate. Thank you so  much!

****
SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES

Example #1: Gidi Gidi Maji Maji - Unbwogable [video]

Stefan Klopp, Jun 23, 2006

Gidi Gidi Maji Maji performing their hit song Unbwogable at the World Urban Forum Global Hip Hop Concert in Vancouver, BC, Canada on June 22nd.

-snip-
"Unbwogable" is a Sheng word from Kenya, East Africa. That word combines the Lou (Kenya) word "bwoga" with the English suffix "able".

Here's a definition for the word "bwogable" that was posted in this video's discussion thread by Gloria, May 2020:
"Bwoga is a luo word meaning scare so unbwogable means unscareable"

****
Example #2: Gidigidi Majimaji - Unbwogable [sound file]



GrownNSexyMusic, Aug 29, 2012
****
EXCERPT ABOUT THIS SONG 
From https://medium.com/@ericgatobu/sheng-how-a-kenyan-urban-vernacular-is-gaining-national-acceptance-39683045ad94 Sheng: How a Kenyan urban vernacular is gaining national acceptance

Eric Gatobu, May 20, 2019 

..."In 2002, when Kenya was gearing up for a momentous regime change, the collective optimistic disposition of Kenyans was encapsulated in one Sheng word — Unbwogable. A witty song by the duo Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji which was co-opted by the then National Rainbow Alliance (Narc) as its campaign anthem embodying its message of an unstoppable march into a new dawn in Kenyan leadership. Unbwogable’s lyrics reflected the true nature of Sheng, an amalgam of English, Swahili and other Kenyan vernacular languages. Narc won in a landslide victory against the independence party, Kanu"....

****
LYRICS: UNBWOGABLE
(by Gigi Gigi Maji Maji)

[Intro]

Okok Primary School, ewi got

Mano kumwadakie omera...

Well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well hehe!

Okew gi ngato

Gidigidi Majimaji in the house

And Tedd Josiah

I am unbwogable! (Twende Tedd)

[Verse 1: MajiMaji]

What the hell is you looking for?

Can a young Luo make money anymore?

Shake your feet baby girl, en ango?

Majimaji nyakwar Ondijo, I'm a Luo but who are you?

What are you? Who the hell do you think you are?

Do you know me? Do I know you?

Get the hell out of my face because, hey

I am unbwogable

I am unbeatable

I am un-suable

So if you like my song, sing it for me I say

[Chorus]

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

[Verse 2: MajiMaji]

Yawa jodongo nyaka upar

Joma okonyi nyaka ipar

Joma otingi nyaka ipar

Majimaji nyaka ipar Ondijo kwaru yawa

Oginga Odinga dong aparo i

Tom Mboya dong aparo i

Ouko Robert dong aparo i

Raila Amolo dong aparo i

Gor Mahia dong aparo i

Okatch Biggy dong aparo i

Orengo Jimmy dong aparo i

Julie 'Dunia Mbaya', Joluo malo malo ute

[Chorus]

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

[Verse 3: Gidigidi]

Yes Sir, an owad gi ng'a?

Nyakwargi Ajengo Jakobodo ng'a ma tugo koda?

Listen nobody can bwogo me

Neither nobody can bwogo this

Gidigidi big name I'm saleable

Kama pilipili, yes, I'm terrible

Kanyamwa Homabay ng'a ma chalo koda?

Do you know Gidigidi is unbwogable?!

[Chorus]

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

[Verse 4: Gidigidi]

Agwambo gini tek manade ni? Yawa gini pek manade ni?

Jobondo gini tek manade ni? (You are unbwogable!)

Orengo gini tek manade ni? Yawa gini pek manade ni?

Jougenya gini tek manade ni? (You are unbwogable!)

Anyang' Nyong'o gini tek manade ni? Yawa gini pek manade ni?

Joseme gini tek manade ni? (You are unbwogable!)

Joe Donde gini tek manade ni? Yawa gini pek manade ni?

Jogem gini tek manade ni? (You are unbwogable!)

Ochuodho gini tek manade ni? Yawa gini pek manade ni?

Rangwe gini tek manade ni? (You are unbwogable!)

[Chorus]

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

Who can bwogo me?

Who can bwogo me?

I say, who can bwogo me?

I am unbwogable

Brian Adams (2020) added these lyrics to the video discussion thread that is given as Example #2 in this pancocojams post.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of The Term "Big Up" ("Big Ups") In Several YouTube Discussion Threads For Contemporary African Music Videos

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- May 18, 2023

This pancocojams post provides a definition for and information about the Jamaican Patois term "Big up". ("Big ups),

This post also presents selected YouTube discussion thread comments that include the term "Big up." ("Big ups") .

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all of the featured singers and musicians whose videos are referenced in these comments. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.

****
This post is part of ongoing pancocojams series on linguistics. I'm particularly interested in African American Vernacular English, Jamaican Patois, African Creole languages, and the combinations of those languages/dialects with traditional African languages in YouTube music, and/or in YouTube discussion threads.

 Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-term-big-up-in-youtube-discussion.html for a related post on the use of the term "big up" in a 2013 YouTube music video's discussion thread - "Xigubu" by DJ Ganyani ft FB (Fiesta Black).

Click the tabs below to find other pancocojams posts in this series.

****
JAMAICAN PATOIS DEFINITION OF "BIG UP"
From http://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/top-15-jamaican-patois-words-you-should-know#.V9MRmpgrLcs
Top 15 Jamaican Patois words you should know, Posted on July 28, 2014
"Big up
English Translation:
Give respect / Give props
Definition
To give respect, encouragement or to acknowledge someone
Example Sentences
(Patois) Mi hav fi big up John fi everything him duh fi wi
(English) I have to give John respect for everything that he did for us"

****
EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE TERM "BIG UPS" [Added 9/9/2016]
From http://grammarist.com/usage/big-ups/ http://grammarist.com/usage/big-ups/
"Big-ups (sometimes unhyphenated, sometimes singular) is an idiom that entered American English and, less conspicuously, British English around 1990. It has several meanings, but in the U.S. and Britain, where it started in hip-hop culture, it’s mainly used to acknowledge someone or to express respect or approval. It usually works as a noun. For instance, a performer on stage might send big-ups to a friend in the audience, or we might give big-ups to Grandma for her amazing green-bean casserole. In the acknowledgement sense, a big-up is similar to a shout-out. When it expresses praise, a big-up is similar to kudos and props.

Big up also appears as a verb phrase meaning (1) to give big-ups, (2) to make bigger (figuratively or literally), or (3) to pay homage to.

These 21st-century uses of big-ups descend from older senses primarily from English-speaking parts of the Caribbean, where the phrase has several meanings, including (1) a strong or important person,1 and (2) to promote or to elevate the importance of (someone). Outside the Caribbean, the phrase first gained traction in New York City and London, where Caribbean immigrants had an influence on the development of hip-hop culture through the 70s and 80s, and it gradually spread through the 90s and 00s. Though big-ups still appears occasionally, some might find it a little dated, and it tends to give way to shout-out and other synonyms.

Examples:
Music has become the vehicle to dis or big-up the latest fashion trend. [Vibe (1994)]

Big ups to Sean “Puffy” Combs who, despite being one of the most successful producers today, retains enough humility to reach back and pull up another black talent. [Billboard (1995)]....
-snip-
That article didn't provide any information about when "big up"/"big ups" was first used in the Africa continent. However, the earliest date that I found for the use of "big up" was July 13, 2010, in the title of and several comments from a nairaland.com [Nigerian] discussion post congratulating South Africa for their success in hosting the World Cup. http://www.nairaland.com/477417/drop-congratulatory-message-south-africa/1"...

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This pancocojams post documents in a small way that the Jamaican originated term "Big up" ("Big ups") has been and still is used in the continent of Africa.

The comments that are found below are from several YouTube discussion threads for contemporary African music. These videos were selected at random as a result of my "surfing" YouTube from contemporary African music.

Most of these videos have been featured in their own pancocojams post or may be featured in an upcoming pancocojams post.

The discussion threads that are quoted below are from YouTube videos from the following African nations (given in alphabetical order) 

Cameroon & Uganda collaboration
Kenya
Nigeria
South Africa

Tanzania
Uganda
Zimbabwe

**
The fact that these comments are in a YouTube discussion thread for a video from the nation of South Africa does not mean that all the commenters are from that nation. However, most of the commenters are from some African nation as indicated in their comments.
The earliest form of this term is probably "Big up yourself".

**
This compilation doesn't purport to be all of the comments in that discussion thread to date that include the term "Big up"" ("Big ups").

****
EXAMPLES OF THE TERMS "BIG UP"/"BIG UPS" IN YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREADS FOR SEVERAL AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC VIDEOS
These comments are presented in chronological order for each video with the oldest comments given first except for replies. However, these comments may not be in consecutive order.

I've assigned numbers for referencing purposes only.

I. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex0NwMcf8iE
Eddy Kenzo - Sitya Loss [Uganda]

1.Orode-Okah Benjamin, 2015
"I have played this song not less than 100 times since ystday... its been on repeat cos the happiness in it is sooo contagious. Big ups Eddy Kenzo!!!"

**
2. falia dudia, 2015
"too much love kenzo here in cape town, big up man."

**
3. guy ahanga8 months ago, 2016
"Never knew why this song was remembering me one of the song of Zaiko Langa Langa, the one that Fally Ipupa recently mixed in the F-Victeam generique #2 single, until I discover that they are our neighbors from Uganda. Big up Bujumbura 💗👏👍"

**
Diaze Plus, 2016
"big up brother"

****
II. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCcuzqRRTHQ
PSquare - Shekini [Official Video] (Nigeria)

1. ViruSraSta, 2015
"great tune! Big ups from Poland!!!!"

**
2. Oscar Ruderstad, 2015
"Sweden, come into the dance. Big Up to this tune!"

**
3. RICCI CASTRO, 2015
"I'm So InLove With African Music 😍!! My Brother is A DJ And Every time he put this songs People too Crazy Loving this Music's. #BigUpFromHonduras!
#NYC!"

****
III. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drq46aiC_4I Gasha & Eddy Kenzo -"Chill", a Cameroon & Ugandan collaboration

1. Debel Ajiboye, 2015
"I am a Nigerian and I am just knowing about Gasha through this song. OMG! She is really talented. What a talented female artist Cameroon got. Big up Kenzo for futuring her, she killed the song with her opera voice, you must indeed buy her an aeroplane like she said loool"

**
2. Georges MOMO, 2015
"Big up Gasha"

**
3. paul barezi, 2015
"beautiful music big ups Gasha n Eddy K"

**
4. Olivia Fodouop, 2015
"Been playing this song on repeat since discovery yesterday, PROUD Cameroonian! Big up, Gasha & Eddy Kenzo :)"

****
IV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL_EM4wSbqc
Joseph Garakara -Idya Banana [Zimbabwe]

1. merenguero1026, 2011
"im not african but this sounds like soca calypso from the carib of honduras... so im guessin this is where the roots of our music is from beautiful music i must say ;) big up to Zimbabwe"

****
V.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6sv27w-eQw Kitole Official Video By Stephen Kasolo [Kenya]

1. Shanice Blessing, 2016
"waoo amazing one kitole big up, thumbs up for your dancers they are just making the song to be more than awesome👌👌👌👌👌"

****
VI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_XkTKoDI18
Yemi Alade - Johnny (Nigeria)

1. ISAAC JUMA, 2016
"Yemi big up yourself....sexy woman..reminds me of the antique African ladysexy Yondo sister.....Africa hoyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..a big chune"

**
2. djmaleda, 2016
"Love this tune. Big up my Nigerian massive. Nuff love.

"And he say i no do him like the west india they do"?"
-snip-
"massice" = people (masses of people)

**
3. Sebenzile Magagula, 2016
"yemi rock big up strong girl💪😙"

**
4. Spade Guidingstar, 2016
This Song Is The Sh&t!* I love this tune. I played this song at wedding and the place went stupid! No one at the party never even heard it B4! This tune is hard! Big Up Yemi Alade!
-snip-
*This word was fully spelled out.

****
VII. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhk52GlkhVA
MAFIKIZOLO ft Uhuru KHONA (official video) (South Africa)

1.Ras Sjamaan, 2013
"#1 tune! Everybody understands now that afrohouse is the future of music! Big up SA for putting it down."
-snip-
"Afro House" is the music genre for this South African record.

**
2. Lulu M, 2013
"MAFIKIZOLO..... <3 br="" girl="" u=""> Big up all the way from East Africa, TANZANIA :)
Ur songs never disappoint us. HAKUNA MATATA ~"

**
3. sd17 mufc, 2014
"Big Up South Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!"

**
4. Haroon Ebrahim Collier, 2014
"Beautiful African Queen, Stunning Voice, Well produced Song and Music Video, Wicked Beat, it's no surprise they won song of the year for this one, Big-Up Mafikizolo and Uhuru
-snip-
Another commenter wrote that they won the MAMA award. 

**
5. Busy Kasanke, 2014
"song is a hit is UG Kampala. big up Mafikizolo"
-snip-
"UG" = Uganda

**
6. Patrick Kamara, 2014
"No doubt, Khona will be the song of the year 2013. This is going to be a 'Khona Christmas' LOL. Love it here in SIERRA LEONE. Song hitting in all clubs, pubs and pubic transports.... I mean everywhere! Big up to Mafikizolo and Uhuru for making Africa proud."

**
7. Jolly twapstar, 2014
"wow such a nice beat and nice track. I enjoy this music so much anytime i listen to the music. Big up man. Mi from nigeria. Your music rock everywhere in my city"

**
8. gedza Mak, 2014
"U CAN ONLY UNDERSTAND THIS MUSIC WEN U VISIT SA###BIG UP PRETORIA"

**
9.. Daniel Adu, 2016
This tune is blazing hot in my stereos right here in GHANA and the replay button is RAPED! Big Ups NAFIKIZOLO....I dnt understand sh&t* in the song but it is a banger merhn"
-snip-
"reply button is raped" = keeps on being touched; I've also seen this written (on other YouTube contemporary African music video discussion threads that the replay button is being "murdered" since it was hit so much.

*That word is fully spelled out in this comment.

"A banger" - a hot tune, the bomb

**
10. kingjoe mnand, 2014
"big up good music sa"

**
11. pat dad, 2014
"@Gh.... really proud to be African... BIG UPS; BEAUTIFUL SONG..."

**
12.john Ng'ang'a, 2014
"big tune buh i wish i knw the S.A language.big up khona."

**
13..Wangui Rae Malkia, 2015
This is about THE AFRICAN SPIRIT. AFRICAN POWER AFRICAN BEAUTY. the devil is a lier oh.My sistoh OH .. One Africa. BIG UP YOURSELF. BIGUP. Haha kumekucha."
-snip-
The comment "the devil is a liar" might be in response to a number of comments that are either in support of or opposed to the inclusion in this video of the featured dancers who are known to be gay.
-snip-
Here is the an example from that Mafikizolo video's discussion that ends with "props":
"Matthew Xiu, 2014
"Whoever is directing these Mafikizolo videos (and the video for Xigubu as well) is doing a GREAT aesthetic job. The outfits, scenery, everything is beautiful! The music is awesome too! #Props"
-snip-
This is the only example of a comment that I recall reading in the period of time that I've been doing this particular research that ends with that word instead of the synonyms or closely related terms "big up" or "well done", "congratulations", or "bravo!"

****
VIII.
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yso4qCfM-0 OLD SCHOOL BONGO CLASSICS MIX 2020 - DJ KENB / FT ALIKIBA, MB Dogg,Belle 9,Professor JayRH EXCLUSIVE [Tanzania]

1. Charles kakooza, 2022
"This is the best BONGO OLD SCHOOL NONSTOP,BIGUP ON YOSELF"

**
Reply
2. RICHY HANIEL, 2022
"Thanks for the support, Big up"

**
Reply
3. Charles kakooza, 2022
"BIGUP to you bro"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

<3 br="" girl="" u="">
Visitor comments are welcome.