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

5,177,578 views • Apr 23, 2016

Shot and directed by Clarence Peters; Zoro presents the OFFICIAL video for his smash-hit single, "OGENE" featuring Flavour. -snip- Statistics for this YouTube video as of Jan. 28, 2024 at 5:16 AM EDT Total # of views - 5,178,161 Total # of comments - 1, 772 **** Edited by Azizi Powell Latest update - January 28,2024 This is Part I of a pancocojams series about the 2016 record/video "Ogene" by Nigerian rapper Zoro featuring Nigerian singer Flavour. "Ogene" is the Igbo name for an iron bell and a musical style that features that bell and other traditional Igbo instruments. This post focuses on the use of Igbo and the widely used African American Vernacular English idiom "You know what I mean" in Zoro's and Flavour's 2016 song "Ogene". "Ya know what I mean" and other forms of that saying are quite commonly found, particularly among poor and working class Black teenagers and young adults in urban neighborhoods throughout the United States. This post also highlights some examples of the use of certain Igbo language terms and certain African American Vernacular English terms in the official discussion thread of Zoro's and Flavour's 2016 video for their song "Ogene". A few of those comments include some examples from that discussion thread of the sentences "You know what I mean" and "You know what I'm saying" in Zoro's and Flavour's song "Ogene". Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/01/2016-nigerian-rap-song-ogene-by-zoro.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases that same 2016 video of Zoro's "Ogene" rap. That post also includes a commenter's unofficial transcription of that song's lyrics and some comments from that discussion thread about that transcription. Part II also includes my editorial notes about the inclusion of the pervasive use of "You know what I mean" and similar sayings among some populations of African Americans throughout the United States and my regret that the unofficial transcription of the lyrics for Zoro's "Ogene" rap that I quoted from that video's discussion thread only includes times that Zoro said "You know what I'm saying" and no transcription of him saying 'You know what I mean". The content of this post is presented for cultural, linguistic, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to Zoro and Flavour for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who were associated with this showcased video, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/01/nigerian-singer-flavours-song-game.html for the related 2024 pancocojams post entitled "Nigerian Singer Flavour's Song "Game Changer (Dike)" video, information, lyrics, & comments". That post presents some information on Igbo's ogene music.

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTWYQnbqN8I for the 2015 pancocojams post entitled "What "Igbo Kwenu!" Means".

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-history-of-ya-know-what-im-sayin-ya.html for the related 2023 pancocojams post entitled "The History Of "Ya Know What I'm Sayin", "Ya Feel Me" & Similar African American Vernacular English Sayings & Why Do People Say Them?"
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTWYQnbqN8ISome explanations for the Igbo language terms or the Nigerian Pidgin English terms are given in this pancocojams' comment section under the first use of those terms. 
Most of the African American Vernacular English terms are given without any explanations.
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.1. @proudly-anambarianboyproud4967, 2016 "great one from my Igbo people..ogene is our culture..great to see the song in raps,, remix asap..IGBO-KWENU,GREAT AND STRONG TRIBE,VERY PROUD TO COME FROM IGBO RACE.."-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."...

** 
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 😙😙😙😙👌🙆🙆"

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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 👍🔥"

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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
"💃💃💃💃💃💪💪💪💪💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥 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 year🙌🙌🙌, 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 😘😘😘😘😘"

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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 guy👍"

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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 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👌🏽"

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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 afọ
Native :nwa afọ"
-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 vibe💜"

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

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitors comments are welcome.

The Carnival Theme For Kizz Daniel's "Buga" Video Was Likely Inspired By Nigeria's Calabar Carnival

CalabarFestival, Jul 24, 2013 

Feel the energy, Enjoy the choreography...the colour, the glamour, the beauty of the Carnival Calabar. Carnival Calabar...Africa's Biggest Festival

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III  of a three part pancocojams series on Nigerian singers Kizz Daniel, featuring Tekno's 2022 song and video "Buga".

This post showcases a YouTube video of Nigeria's Calabar carnival and presents information and comments about that carnival. The official video for Kizz Daniel's "Buga" song is also showcased in this post for comparison's purposes.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/07/nigerian-hit-song-buga-by-kizz-daniel.html for Part I of this pancocojams series on Kizz Daniel, featuring Tekno's song and video "Buga". showcases the official YouTube video for "Buga" and includes the lyrics to that song. That song is sung in Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin English, and American English (including African American Vernacular English). 

Explanations in English for some of those lyrics are included in this pancocojams post.

That post also includes some information about Kizz Daniel &Tekno and a few general comments from that video's discussion thread.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/07/when-how-yoruba-word-buga-became-name.html for Part II of this pancocojam series. This post showcases a video of a TikTok Buga dance challenge and presents information & comments about the origin and meanings of the word 'buga".in Nigeria.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Kizz Daniel, Tekno, and all those who are associated with the "Buga" song and its official YouTube video. Thanks also to all those who are featured in this post's showcase video and thanks to the publisher of that video on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who were associated or are now associated with Nigeria's  Calabar Carnival..

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Kizz Daniel, featuring Tekno- "Buga"



Kizz Daniel, June 22, 2022

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INFORMATION ABOUT CALABAR

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar
"Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari and Kalabar)[2] is the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language.[3] The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and creeks of the Cross River (from its inland delta).

Calabar is often described as the tourism capital of Nigeria, especially due to several initiatives implemented during the administration of Donald Duke (1999–2007), which made the city the cleanest and most environmentally friendly city in Nigeria."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALABAR CARNIVAL
From https://www.carnivaland.net/calabar-carnival/#:~:text=the%20Calabar%20Carnival-,What%20is%20the%20history%20of%20Calabar%20Carnival%3F,one%20tourist%20destination%20for%20Nigerians.
"Calabar Carnival is known as the pride of Nigeria. For the entire month of December the city of Calabar puts on numerous carnival events.

[…]

The Calabar Carnival is without a doubt the biggest, best and longest tourism event in West Africa. It attracts over two million revellers and features participants from over 25 different countries. The Battle of the Bands and Street Parade is even broadcast to a television audience of around fifty million!

[…]

Africa’s best carnival Calabar Carnival is a month long celebration filled with exciting events. The highlight of Calabar Carnival is the Street Parade that features the Battle of the Bands. The Parade is only a slither of Calabar Carnivals attractions. There are ceremonies, concerts, art shows, street parties, masque events, sporting events and non-stop parties.

[…]

What is the history of Calabar Carnival?

The origins of Calabar Carnival started back in 2004 when Donald Duke the governor of Cross River, Nigeria, decided it would be the perfect way to boost tourism and the local economy. He wanted to turn Cross River State into the number one tourist destination for Nigerians.

He wanted to create a carnival festival that would heavily showcase the local heritage and the Calabar Carnival was a wild succuss! Today the carnival attracts millions of visitors throughout the entire month of December and has given the local economy a huge boost.

Ironically the biggest and best carnival in Africa, the birthplace of carnival, is actually one of the youngest carnivals in the world."... 

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT NIGERIA'S CARNIVALS (WITH A FOCUS ON THE CALABAR CARNIVAL)
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLF90M96m2Q " Kizz Daniel, Tekno - Buga (Official Video)",published by Kizz Daniel, June 22, 2022

All of these comments are from June 22, 2022 to July 17, 2022. These comments are given in relative chronological order with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.  

1. Jenakumo Yeri
"This Buga video has it all... Fine people, funny people, crazy people, culture, children, joy, happiness, colours, flags, nations, fights, football, dance... it's a carnival... It's crazy and it's dope. Another master class by TG Omori."
-snip-
TG Omori is the Director of this video.

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2. Mary Owens
"yes indeed !  its a carribeen carnival  ,with all the beautiful costumes"

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3. Reply
ezenwanyi
"@Mary Owens  stop calling it carribean. it literally looks straight like a calabar festival."

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4. Ajibola-johnson Boladale
" @Mary Owens  no it’s calabar festival from Nigeria"

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5. Claudia Hazlewood
"He went to Trinidad, Antigua, Jamaica, all over the Caribbean with this Carnival influenced video. We all looooove it. 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲"
-snip-
JM= Jamaica

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6. E E
"They have been celebrating carnival in the Southeastern region of Nigeria."

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7. Luminous Solitude
"@E E  not before those countries mentioned above though"

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8. E E
"@Luminous Solitude  The have been celebrating it for very long. It is to celebrate certain spirits."

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9. Luminous Solitude
"@E E  Was it not Donald Duke that started it?"

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10. taiwo oluwatoyin omolayo
"@Luminous Solitude  Yes, Donald Duke started it and it is in the  South-Southern region of Nigeria NOT South-Eastern. This is a misconception."

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11. Luminous Solitude
"@taiwo oluwatoyin omolayo  What is misconception? I'm confused."

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12. 7th Orisha
" @taiwo oluwatoyin omolayo  Donald who? The same carnival that we've been celebrating in Lagos since 1800s? 🤣"

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13. E E
"@taiwo oluwatoyin omolayo  Donald Duke popularized what they were celebrating in the villages. It's like when people said that Miley Cyrus invented twerking. Wow so if he didn't popularize it you wouldn't have known what Eastern villages were celebrating. And you are Nigerian. When it is time to criticize and denigrate other tribes we are champions. But to understand one another we are no where to be seen."

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14. @tosinkingjames
"Claudia, the carnivals in Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica and other Carribean/AfroLatina regions were started by West Africans who were taken as slaves to those regions. Majority of these people were taken from Nigeria, especially the South Western part where the Yorubas are headquartered. That is why Osun, Ifa, Ogun, Olodum and other Orishas are holding sway up to today in those regions. The carnivals and their elements were (and are) ritualistic ceremonies that West Africans did/do annually in honor of the gods. Out of these traditions came the fashion, the music, the cultures of the blacks in America's (including reggae, rap, trap, rhythm and blues, etc). The colonial masters and the slave masters took away the history of a people and turned it upside down because that's the most effective way to render them powerless. Please use YouTube and other internet sites to research these topics."

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15. Gloria Lijoodi
"We need to start thinking about holding African Festivals!

Could you imagine being in such a crowd! 👌🏾

Our ancestors would come down! LoL"

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16. Silvia Agh
"Fr"

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17. Precoded Child
"How are you sure our ancestors haven't bugad  to this jam already. They will still honour our invitation"

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18. Adé Adé
"The traditional festivals are so many in Nigeria you can't count. BTW apparently the concept of Carnival actually derives from many of the centuries old traditional and spiritual festivals we have, that were brought over there by our peoples during slavery - many still holding to this day..  Masquerades and Égúngún etc.."

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19. Blessing Kennzy
"Great idea, and different African countries host it every year, it’s gonna feel like the World Cup"

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20. Fatumata Djabi
"There's Afro Nation"

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21. Blessing Kennzy
" @Fatumata Djabi  The thing is Afro nation is a Festival not a Carnival and is not only hosted in Africa"

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22. Esme Adusei
"Pop out to Afrochella, it’s in Ghana"

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23. Ola Ola
"That was what FESTAC '77 was supposed to be but we Africans don't know how to love and keep our culture. Hopefully things will start to change with the younger generation!"

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24. Vybz Unit Entertainment
"Love to see the Carnival like Atmosphere there and the smiles on  the people faces ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ thanks for passing this culture down to the Caribbean islands ❤️❤️❤️🇬🇩"

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25. Beauty Stick
"Aww I love and appreciate this comment “thanks for passing this culture down to the Caribbean Island” 🖤🇬🇭"

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26. Royalty deal
"It wasn’t even passed down in terms of influence; Culture, carnival is in our blood in the Caribbean, because we are Africans by blood right and spirit. If I was a unlearned man, I would have thought of these similarities between the Caribbean, South America and Africa as a coincidence, but thank GOD I know better. The regalia looks exactly like those that we create in our Junkanoo/Carnival Parade in THE BAHAMAS."

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Reply
27. @tosinkingjames
"Many people appear surprised to see Carnival in a Nigerian video. Some say it was copied from Brazil. That is a historical fallacy. The carnivals in Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica and other Carribean/AfroLatina regions were started by West Africans who were taken as slaves to those regions. Majority of these people were taken from Nigeria, especially the South Western part where the Yorubas are headquartered. That is why Osun, Ifa, Ogun, Olodum, Olokun, Yemoja and other Orishas are holding sway up to today in those regions. The carnivals and their elements were (and are) ritualistic ceremonies that West Africans did/do annually in honor of the gods. Out of these traditions came the fashion, the music, the cultures of the blacks in America's (including reggae, rap, trap, rhythm and blues, break dance, twerking, etc). The colonial masters and the slave masters took away the history of a people and turned it upside down ... because that's the most effective way to render them powerless. Please use YouTube and other internet sites to research these topics to educate yourself. Eg: Calabar Carnival, Osun Festival, Eyo Festival in Lagos, Lagos Carnival, etc.

**
Reply
28. 7th Orisha
"Preach🙏🏾"

****
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE CALABAR CARNIVAL
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xWOYWdE9GE "Buga Reaction | Kizz Daniel, Tekno", published by Beni Dhru, June 23, 2022

All of these comments were published in June 2022. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1.DemiKhay Africa Tv
"There's the Calabar carnival held yearly in Nigeria. Calabar is the capital of Cross River State located in the South South region. Another is the Fanti carnival in Lagos Island, it was initiated by Afro Brazilian returnee slaves who settled in Lagos many years ago. it's the oldest in Nigeria but not as large as Calabar carnival which has much more international appeal. Well done, ladies".

**
2. Effiong Ukih
"Great reaction girls. Yes Nigeria has the biggest carnival  in Africa tag" Calabar carnival " . It was recently suspended for obvious reasons especially the global pandemic and others.  Hopefully it'll be restored soon.  Keep it up!"

**
Reply
3. Nkoro, N. E.
"yes, but this Year (2022) there will be #CalabarCarnival..... so please don't miss out. come and Buga your festivity and love from the beautiful city of Calabar - #DistinationCrossRiver"

**
4. KARMA
"We have a Nigerian carnival that lasts for a month, during the Xmas holidays..it begins on the 1st  to 30th Dec every year, and it takes place in Calabar, which was the first ever capital of Nigeria,  before Lagos, now Abuja..Great people, beautiful people. The whole world meet up there during the carnival period...Book hotels 6 month before going, else you won't find any."

****

This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information About Yoruba People And A 1998 Book Excerpt About Yoruba Dancers' Postures & Body Stances

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about Yoruba dance.

This pancocojams post presents information about Yoruba people and presents a book excerpt about Yoruba dancers' postures and body stances.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/10/five-youtube-videos-of-traditional.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases five YouTube videos of traditional Yoruba dancing.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Omofolabo S. Ajayi for writing the book Yoruba dance and thanks to all others who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT YORUBA PEOPLE  
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_people
"The Yoruba people (Yoruba: Ọmọ Káàárọ̀-oòjíire, Ọmọ Oòduà[32][33][34]) are a native West African ethnic group that inhabit western Africa, found mainly in the parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo that constitute Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute around 38 million people in Africa, a few hundred thousand outside of its continental borders, and bear some further representation among members of the African diaspora. The vast majority of the Yoruba population is today within the country of Nigeria, where the Yoruba make up 15.5% of the country's population by contemporary estimations,[35] making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, by number. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is, also, the Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native speakers.[36]

[…]

Significant Yoruba populations in other West African countries can also be found in Ghana,[37][38][39] Benin,[37] Ivory Coast,[40] and Sierra Leone.[41]

Outside Africa, the Yoruba diaspora consists of two main groupings; the first being that of the Yorubas dispersed mainly to the western hemisphere between the 16th to 19th centuries, notably to Cuba and Brazil, and the second consisting of a wave of relatively recent migrants, the majority of whom began to migrate to the United Kingdom and the United States following major economic and political changes of the 1960s to 1980s in Africa.[42]

[…]

Today, most contemporary Yoruba are Muslims or Christians.[22] Be that as it may, many of the principles of the traditional faith of their ancestors are either knowingly or unknowingly upheld by a significant proportion of the populations of Nigeria, Benin and Togo.[102]

[…]

The Yoruba diaspora

Yoruba people or descendants can be found all over the world especially in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Cuba, Brazil, Latin America, and the Caribbean.[216][217][218][219] Significant Yoruba communities can be found in South America and Australia. The migration of Yoruba people all over the world has led to a spread of the Yoruba culture across the globe. Yoruba people have historically been spread around the globe by the combined forces of the Atlantic slave trade[220][221][222][223] and voluntary self migration.[224] Their exact population outside Africa is unknown, but researchers have established that the majority of the African component in the ancestry of African Americans is of Yoruba and/or Yoruba-like extraction.[225][226][227][228][229][230] In their Atlantic world domains, the Yorubas were known by the designations: "Nagos/Anago", "Terranova", "Lucumi" and "Aku", or by the names of their various clans.

The Yoruba left an important presence in Cuba and Brazil,[231] particularly in Havana and Bahia.[232] According to a 19th-century report, "the Yoruba are, still today, the most numerous and influential in this state of Bahia.[233][234][235][236] … In the documents dating from 1816 to 1850, Yorubas constituted 69.1% of all slaves whose ethnic origins were known, constituting 82.3% of all slaves from the Bight of Benin. The proportion of slaves from West-Central Africa (Angola – Congo) dropped drastically to just 14.7%.[239]

Ancestry estimates for African Americans using discrete African populations as index show that African Americans have a majority African component most similar to that of the Yorubas of the Lower Guinea general region.

Between 1831 and 1852 the African-born slave and free population of Salvador, Bahia surpassed that of free Brazil born Creoles. Meanwhile, between 1808 and 1842 an average of 31.3% of African-born freed persons had been Nagos (Yoruba). Between 1851 and 1884, the number had risen to a dramatic 73.9%.

Other areas that received a significant number of Yoruba people and are sites of Yoruba influence are: Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Santa Margarita and Belize, British Guyana, Saint-Domingue (Now Haiti), Jamaica[240]… Barbados, Dominican republic, Montserrat, etc.”…

****
BOOK EXCERPT: 

YORUBA DANCE: The Semiotics of Movement And Body Attitude In A Nigerian Culture

by Omofolabo S. Ajayi (Africa World Press,1998)

from Chapter #1 [Section entitled "Yoruba Body Attitude In Communication"] 

"p. 35

Standard Dance Form

Even though there are numerous styles and forms of Yoruba dances, they are derived basically from a commonwealth of cultural body semantics. There is therefore what can generally be described as a standard Yoruba dance form. An essential component of the form is the standard posture of Yoruba dances. The upper torso is held forward at an angle of about 120 degrees to the rest of the body while the lower torso is flexed forward at the knees. Getting the proper posture is an important step towards the dance, since it is from this posture that the relevant various body parts start moving in rhythmical sequence to the music. The dancers in Figures 1 and 2 assume the standard posture, even though performing different dance styles and to different types of music.

Unless there is a specific message to communicate with the eyes, there is seldom any direct eye contact between the dancer or any other person or object. Female dances usually have their gaze fixed on the floor or at the lower edges of their dresses, while male dancers look straight ahead into space. Even if the eyes appear to be staring at an object or a person, it is with ‘unseeing eyes’. Although this lack of eye contact is in line with the social ethics (to establish eye contact is rude or a sign of aggression), It primarily helps to focus the dancer’s mind on the dance idea in order to better convey the message. It also discourages distraction, and aids in energy conservation. A smile on the dancer’s face is always welcome; it shows confidence and enjoyment.

Yoruba dances are generally not based on rigid uniformity of body movements.  Each person is an important individual, with a distinctive personality to convey to the audience, even in

Page 36

Group dances, movements are largely individualized…There is amble room for spontaneous and personal improvised movements, as long as the improvisations are in rhythm with the music and in consonance with the overall content of the dance.  In fact, the dancer displays his or her virtuosity in the richness of improvised movements and the smooth subtlety with which they are blended into the main form of the dance.  Except in a few dances where group uniformity is mandatory, it is rare to find two traditional Yoruba dancers dancing in choreographed unison to the same piece of music or dance content.

The concept of symmetrical balance is a crucial factor in the overall perception of the dance. Despite the fact that the body is psychically in a state of perpetual strenuous or energetic movements, the dancer must always maintain a balanced state of calm serenity. The dignified calmness of the stance is highly instrumental in attaining this state; it strikes an aesthetic balance between the two seemingly opposed elements-motion and stillness. It is the height of virtuosity for the dancer, even after a long spell of exhaustive dancing, to emerge immediately after totally composed yet exuding intense vitality and alertness, the sweat and panting breathes the only tell-tall sing of the physical exertion recently experienced. This emphasis on “the inner calm” balanced against the ‘external agitation’ prompts Farris Thompson to refer to Yoruba dances along with other dances on the west coast of Africa as the “aesthetic of the cool”. 2

The standard dance form demonstrates the close relationship between Yoruba body behavior and their dances. Their body bodes have been transposed into the full rhythmical kinesic symbolism of dance, where they form primary but essential components of the dance’s structural composition. Already richly endowed with their own cultural semantics, body signs in motional continuum multiply further the signification of the aesthetic and communicative value of the dance form. It becomes clear why in Yoruba society dance is fully integrated into the form of oral literature. The high communication value of dance becomes a ready medium to powerfully signify and express salient aspects of their culture.”…

****
This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.
  

The Global Reach Of Nigerian Singer Olamide's 2018 Hit Song "Motigbana"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on Nigerian singer Olamide and his 2018 hit song "Motigbana.

Part II showcases the official video of Olamide's song "Motigbana" and presents examples of comments from that discussion thread which document the global reach of that song.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/07/nigerian-singer-olamide-motigbana-video_14.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I showcases the official YouTube video of the song "Motigbana" by Nigerian singer Olamide and presents examples of comments from that video's discussion thread that explain what the song means

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Olamide for his musical legacy and thanks to all those who are associated with this music and this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO - OLAMIDE Motigbana (Official Video)



Olamide Baddosneh, August 15, 2018

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

Most of of the comments in this compilation include the commenter's nation, region, city, etc. 

I read A LOT of the comments in this discussion thread and I believe that I've included at least one example of every nation and/or every ethnic group that is mentioned in the comments that I read. More than one comment may be included for some nations. 

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

2018
1. Wamani Ivani

"This is Olamide 2018 ohhh the song is trending worldwide"

**

2. Josmar Ariel

"Hooooooot🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥panamá act🇵🇦🇵🇦😎✌️"

**
3. Anselmo Fifi, 2018

"From RWANDA I do not care about da meaning
I'm listening to it while preparing to enter in 2019"

**** 2019

4. ADEREMI J. AJIBOWO

"We Nigerians are too lively abeg. Kudos to the king of the street! Olamide Baba..."

**
5. Rachel Pauline

"All the way from kenya🇰🇪🇰🇪 mad love to Olamide n his killer song😍"

**

6. Diu diallo Dadiu

"Nigerian music  i like it   bujumbura  burundi"

**

7. Willi Tsuma
"This song is a whole Vibe,  Coming from a Kenyan dude 😎 Respect💯"

**

8. Lucy Sammy

"Much love from Kenya, olamide baddo be the best 

😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘"

**

9. Paris Jacksons

"Song 100% Nigerian

Comments 99.9% Kenyan"

**

10. zamora kenya

"kenyan king kaka sampled this he got a hit song
tanzanias diamond and rayvanny sampled this and made a monster track
olamide is a goat ,another kenyan comment btw

**
REPLY

11. Jimmy Steeve

"What is the tittle of the diamond song"
**
REPLY
12. zamora kenya

"@Jimmy Steeve tetema ft rayvanny"

**
13. Frimpong Augustine

"Love this song. Don't understand cool beat . big love from Ghana"

**
REPLY

14. blazinghot99

"Motigbana means I'm on fire"
-snip-
The colloquial African American originated meaning of "I'm on fire"
is something like "I'm doing really well".

**

15. Júnior Xavier
"brazil here 🇧🇷 i love this 💟💟💟"

**

16. Kemi

"A lot of Kenyans here. XD

Lots of love from Egypt!"

**

17. Mouada feriel

"Am from algeria i don't understand anything but i like it god
bless u guys 😎💥u are the best"

**
REPLY 

18. Nerverland I-DLE

"I'm from Algeria too.. what is this language !??"

**

REPLY 

19. obeakemeh matthew

"D language is Yoruba language. And motigbana
means 'am on fire'"

**
REPLY

20. obeakemeh matthew

"It's actually one of the languages  that are
well spoken in Nigeria"

**

21. DripList by Somi

"this is jam in Amsterdam"

**

22. Kateri Svec
"Love from the czech republic"

**

23. Awah Kizita
"Olamide you are indeed a legend oh. This song is hot.
Much love to you from Cameroon"

**

24. Grove 4 Life

"Keep flying high olamide..from UK😁😁"

**

25. Frank George

"Love this song straight from Uganda the pearl of Africa"

**
26. Bouch Lara

"i love love love...all the way from morrocco ♥♥♥"

**

27. marius pantiru
"Sounds good in Romania"

**

28. Kimouiya Brown

"Did my DNA and im mainly Nigerian! So, seeing talent like this 

makes me beyond proud! Im reppin 🇳🇬 in 🇺🇸!!!

#ProudtobewestAfrican #blackexcellence"
-snip-
"NG" = Nigeria; "US"= United States
**
REPLY

29. XAMAYA

"Kimouiya Brown one love ❤️ from naija"

**

REPLY

30. Ada Powers
"Welcome home, Kimouiya! We've been waiting for you :-)

**
REPLY

31. J. Marie

"Me too :) mainly Nigerian (no wonder this music speaks to my soul lol)
... Sierra leonian.. and partially Kenyan... but in US"

**

32. muha a
"Just a Turkish guy from the Netherlands sending love to all of Nigeria,
Naija people and music."

**

33. Tarık

"This Song Played All İstanbul 🇹🇷 Summer Nights"
-snip-
"TR' = abbreviation for "Turkey"

** 

34. Karoll vergara
"Antwerp over here 💪🏾"

-snip-
"Antwerp" is a city in Belgium

**

35. TIMLALIN K
"Morocoooooo 😙😙😙😙😙😙🙋🙋"

**

36. Kingstin Bell

"From Alabama love this 🎶."
-snip-
"Alabama" is a state in the United States

**

37. NA Trending Videos

"olamide for life, all the way from Namibia"

**

38. Parmida Tagarian

"Living in Germany but I’m a Persian girl ✌🏽👅"

**

39. Mia Fana
"Ethiopian 🇪🇹 lots of love"

**

40. Ousmy Kone

"Je kiff grave le son depuis la côte d'ivoire"
-snip-
From Google search: "je kiff grave le son" -"I really love this song"
depuis la côte d'ivoire" [I'm] from the Ivory Coast.

**

41. Love music bad all genres

"I dont understand a word but it got my body moving. .....love afro beats. 

JAMAICAN LOVE ALWAYS🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲"

**
REPLY

42. blazinghot99

"Motigbana means I'm on fire."

**
REPLY

43. Elle Membs

"Me too sis UK born, Jamaican/SVG roots, loving this🔥🔥 🇯🇲🇬🇧🇻🇨"

-snip-
"UK" is an abbreviation for The United Kingdom, “JM” is an abbreviation for Jamaica,
 and “GB” is an abbreviation for Great Britain. "SVG" and "VC" are abbreviations
for the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

**
REPLY

44. Jermaine p

"Jamaicans represent 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲 check out nowo wizkid and baba dj spinal"

**
REPLY
45. Gibson Callaway

"Respect I think Afrobeats is influenced by Reggae Dancehall either way the two should make collabs! 🇯🇲🇳🇬🤝🤜🤛"

**
46. amisaki hyuriko

"Love from Malaysia"

**
47. chun yang

"First Chinese"

**

48. Bechir MLI

"Much love from Qatar 🇶🇦"

**
REPLY

49. wampamba solomon

"How is qatar"

**
REPLY 

50. Bechir MLI

"wampamba solomon good Al hamdulellah 😊"

**
REPLY

51, wampamba solomon

"Are there jobs Uganda is killing me"

**

52. Barkhad Hassan

"Biiiiiiiiiiigggg, luv frm somaliland......"

**

53. kem wynt
"Jamaica luvs you 🖤💚💛🖤💚💛🖤"

**
54. Mes helo

"Amazing bit# can't stop listening 🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮"

-snip-
“FI”= Finland

*️*

55. Susie Wells

"Mixed chic...of Caribbean decent and lovin it. Played this out loud in my local 

super market ( i forgot my earpnoes🙄)in London UK a couple of months ago
and another browsing customer stood next to me commenting that the
music I was playin sounds niiiice. So I told her who it was and she stood
next to me dancing, then one of the staff came along and danced with us 🤣😂"

**

REPLY

56. Ade Adedapo
"O, I kinda thought Nigerian music was not so unique in London"

**
REPLY

57. Susie Wells

"Ade Adedapo African music is well known in U.K....just maybe not this tune.....YET!
It's ok I'm sure it will be super popular before you know it.

**
REPLY
58. Susie Wells, 2020

"@Ade Adedapo Nigerian music is very very popular here and has been
 for yeeeeaaaars!!!"

**

59. sammy jack

"No matter the weight of bad government in 9ija the no fit stop us 

from shining cos come rain come sun 9ija still remain the best in
African, shout out to you my mr olamide u really finish work
for this song, Sammy from USA.

**
60. Chijioke Elvis

"Who else is listening for mmmm Norway 🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬"

**

61. Vannuge Jiiko

"One love from Malawi🇲🇼🇲🇼🇲🇼 beautiful video too good ❤️"

**

62. Nollywood treading music and movie

"Love ya song like no other👌

 Russia all the way"

**

63. Remi Memento

"With ❤️ from France 🇫🇷🙌"

**

64. Frenchy Vien
"Haiti kompa vibe🎶🎶🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹 #olamide"

**

65. Harris K. cYx
"Greetings from Athens/Greece 🇬🇷

R. E. S. P. E. C. T"

**

66. Denny brown
"luv olamide from Tanzania"

**

67. Thegamerteo05
"From Italy but Nigerian"

**

68. Gibson Callaway

"You know here in ATL it’s heavily populated with West Africans

 and Nigerians here stay jammin afrobeats Davido,Olamide
 and Mr Real etc....🔊🎶🕺🏾💃🏼😎"

-snip-
"ATL"= Atlanta, Georgia (United States)

**

69. nikhil shetty
"Love from India"

**

70. Hafida Ak

"Greetings from algeria 🇩🇿"

**
71. IK DA BOSS

"Who else is listening from china???"

**

72. Tanya Chikwanah
"All the way from Zimbabwe"

**

73. Ben Franklin

"@NigeriaMusic on Instagram brought this Canadian here! Much love!!!"

**
REPLY

74. NatureBoy Órìsá

"Ben Franklin Good stuff.. Thanks for the support 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬"

**
75. heema saad

"From libya , Nice song 👍🏼

Keep going olamide 😘"

**

76. joseph Mendy

"GO HEAD NAIJA FROM SENEGAL"

**

77. BNW Tv

"Much love from UAE"
-snip-

 "UAE" =The United Arab Emirates

**

78. Breaking Good
"Olamide Fan From Bangladesh 😍"

**
79. horedjoly horedjoly

"Olamide the best am from Guinéa live  France Paris"

**

80. Samkenelope

"Am from SA and don't understand this but the way I love it 🙌"

-snip-
"SA" = "South Africa"

**
81. Safiah Swaray

"Much love from Guinea 🇬🇳"

**
82. Könty Deng

"Love from the land of rivers south Sudan"

** 

83. Monsieur_X Broly
"Moi je viens du Bénin"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English "I come from Benin"

**

84. Ary Tickouet

"Luv from Cameroon♥"

**
85. slimboss khalifa

"I do not understand the language they are using, but I really like

 this music from Mozambique.+258"

**

86. John Rasul JR

"I dont understand but the melody n beat makes me 

fallen in love on this song... 😅💞 here from Tanzania"

**

87. Anelisa Nakani

"I'm Xhosa (South African) and I love how he always uses Yoruba

 and pidgin in his songs he made me be interested in learning 

them as I want to understand his songs ...

much love from your biggest fan in South Africa 

😊🔥💝😊💝💝💝🔥🔥💝👏😍😍"

**

88. Mwanakongo

"Olamide one love yours cousin Congolese motigbana.....

🔥🙆🔥🙆🔥🙆🔥trop fort🇳🇬x🇨🇩x🇨🇦"
-snip-
"trop fort" = French for "too strong"
"NG" = Nigeria; "CD" =Democratic Republic of the Congo; "CA" - Canada

**. 

89. Music Bank

"Big ups yo...from Eritrea"

**

90. Kenneth Ndereba

"These comments down here just shows you how Afrika can become
one i swear ....👏👏👏 #oneAfrika♥"

**

91. Darla Uzumaki
"🔥🔥🔥 love from New Jersey USA"

****
2020

92. jhoana Dávila

"Soy colombiana y me encantan todas estas canciones

Son una maravilla, felicitaciones ❤️"
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English:
""I am Colombian and I love all these songs
They are wonderful, congratulations ❤️ "

**

93. Mariam Hussain
"I came from Iam Hamamat, I love this song greeting from Egypt 🇪🇬 ❤️❤"

**

94. Bella Art Africa

"Pure African talent, Nigerian representing the motherland. 1Africa 1Love 💚❤️💛"

**

95. FABIAN MUTHURI

"Danced in all Kenyan clubs but if asked the translation of some words 

in that song, nobody can answer... But it's a big tune"

**
96. Sharon Bwalya

"This quarantine whose still listening to this song 🇿🇲🇿🇲🇿🇲"
-snip-
"ZM" = abbreviation for "Zambia"

**

97. ONLY FOOTBALL

"Omar from Rwanda the song is so danceable in fact it can boss the party."

**

98. A human Who doesn’t like noobs

"This song is lit 🔥 in chad right now 🇹🇩"

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

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.