Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on Nigerian singer's Omah Lay, with special attention to his November 2020 song "Godly".This post presents an excerpt from a BBC online article written in Pidgin English about Nigerian singer Omah Lay, his sister (Nigerian singer) Tems, and others being arrested in Uganda for allegedly violating Covid-19 laws in that East African nation.
In addition to sharing information about this subject, I'm presenting a written example of Nigerian Pidgin English for people (like me) who don't know Pidgin English and have rarely -if ever- read an example of that language. No translation to standard English is given with this article excerpt.
The Addendum to this post documents some comments from the discussion thread for the official YouTube video of his hit song "Godly". A number of the comments in that discussion thread express Nigerians' and some other Africans' negative opinions about Uganda and Ugandans as a result of that arrest.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/01/nigerian-singer-omah-lay-godly-lyrics.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube lyrics video of Omah Lay's song "Godly" and the transcription of those lyrics. Explanations about some of the Pidgin English in this song are also included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-global-reach-of-nigerian-singer.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases the official YouTube video of Omah Lay's song "Godly" and presents some examples of comments from that video's discussion thread that document the global reach of that song.
I'm interested in documenting where these commenters come from, what they said, and how they said it, including the use of African American Vernacular English as well as words or sayings in other languages, or in Pidgin English. However, I've only included a few explantions of some of these words or sayings.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, inspirational, and aestheic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Omah Lay for his music. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. YouTube.
EXCERPT ABOUT THIS SUBJECT
From https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-55313562
Omah Lay and Tems: Biography of Omah Stanley Didia AKA Omah
Lay, di Nigerian musician wey chop arrest for Uganda East Africaw
15 December 2020, Omah Lay Facebook
"Omah lay and Tems arrest for Uganda since Sunday dey make Nigerians dey para for social media ontop accuse say dem break Covid-19 rules.
Omah Lay wey real name na Omah Stanley Didia say im no know why Ugandan authorities no wan give am fair hearing on di arrest.
Tems don tok say she no go eat anything while she still dey for police custody for Uganda and she dey insist say she go remain without food until dem release her.
Di chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora commission Abike Dabiri don reveal say authorities for Uganda dey insist say dem must obey dia laws but she add say Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama don also dey on di matter and NIDCOM also dey in touch wit dia lawyers.
Who be Omah Lay?
Omah Lay and Tems: Biography of Omah Stanley Didia AKA Omah
Lay
Omah Stanley Didia aka Omah Lay na Nigerian artist wey from
Rivers state south-south of Nigeria wey grow up for Port Harcourt.
Him be 23 years, e start im career as teenage member of one rap group Lil King. Him later switch to producing before im decide to go solo.
Di musician attend Comprehensive High School for Rivers State. Before im enta University of Port Harcourt.
According to informate wey we gada e come from musical family, im grandfather bin play instrument for legendary highlife singer Celestine Ukwu before im die for 1976. Omah Lay papa sef sabi play drums.
For 2019, local radio stations for Port Harcourt begin play im singles "Do Not Disturb" and "Hello Brother".
Later dat year Omah Lay KeyQaad record label sign wey make am Port Harcourt for Lagos for di first time. Currently him dey signed to Dvpper Music record label.
Why Omah Lay dey arrested?
On Monday, authorities for Uganda hand cuff and remand Omah
Lay and Tems for prison ontop accuse say dem break dia Covid-19 rules.
Dem charge dem wit "negligently doing acts wey fit spread infectious diseases". Four Uganda citizens also dey charged wit di Nigerians, di police bin confam.
Omah Lay arrest in Uganda and latest social media reaction
#FreeTemsAndOmahLay na di top trend for Nigeria and pipo dey
use di hashtag take chook mouth ontop di mata for Twitter.
[...]
How Uganda police arrest Omah Lay and Tems
[Photo of Omah Lay and Photo Of Tems]
Di two musicians been perform for one event for Kampala on Saturday wey authorities claim say break coronavirus rules.
Omah Lay tweeted say him "just be singer wey dey try to entertain" and call on Nigeria ministry of foreign affairs to intervene for di mata.
Goment for Uganda bin suspend social gatherings including -
controversially - election campaign rallies, to reduce di spread of di virus."
-end of article-
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
From https://nairametrics.com/2020/12/15/omah-lay-and-tems-released-from-ugandan-arrest/
Omah Lay and Tems: Biography of Omah Stanley Didia AKA Omah
Lay, di Nigerian musician wey chop arrest for Uganda East Africa
15 December 2020
What you should know
Nairametrics reported on Monday, 14th December 2020 that Omah Lay and Tems were arrested in Uganda, after being charged with “Negligently doing acts likely to spread an infectious diseases.”
Omah Lay disclosed that the Ugandan authorities blocked the
Nigerian Ministry of Foreign affairs from interfering."...
-snip-
These fonts were used in this article.
****
ADDENDUM: COMMENTS ABOUT OMAH LAY AND THE UGANDAN ARREST
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqUd72pK15Y&ab_channel=OmahLay
Here are a few comments about Omah Lay and the Uganda arrest from the discussion thread for the official video of "Godly" (with numbers given for referencing purposes only.)
1.Memphis Osarfo Redeemer, Dec. 2020
"Omah Lah dey do the most , Uganda incidents inspire this
song , so touching ๐ช.
Ghana ๐ฌ๐ญ aprroves! Mad
love ❤❤"
**
Reply
2. Niyi ER Vlogs, Dec. 2020
"He sang this before going to Uganda"
**
Reply
3. bamigboye damola, Dec. 2020
"Lol, he has this chune already."
**
Reply
4. Nwuzor Ifeanyi, Dec. 2020
"The song already had more than 1.5 million views on YouTube before the incident..what are you even saying?"
**
5. Peter Emmanuel, Dec. 2020
"Well, many of the comments here says he release this song
after he was arrested but the truth is that he released it before his arrest,
so it's more like a prophecy song.
Big thumbs up Omah Lay".
**
6. Nee Ta, Dec. 2020
"This guy is too good ๐๐พ
so glad he's out of Uganda and back home."
**
Reply
7. Chris Oghenetega Maloney, Dec. 2020
"Uganda is hell on earth"
**
Reply
8. Aishah Smadi. Dec. 2020
"@Chris Oghenetega Maloney don't talk lyk
dat am a Ugandan en i lyk Nigerian Music don't judge the whole country u must
judge promoters en Ugandan police"
**
Reply
9. Immaobong udoh, Dec. 2020
"Aishah Smadi you dey argue with this
mumu chris person wey no get sense normally ๐๐๐ always
fighting everyone in the comment section big papa like him ohh๐๐๐"
**
10. KukuKrayzy, Dec. 2020
"This song is dedicated to Ugandan security who got him
arrested. ๐๐จ๐ฒ❤️๐ฅ"
**
Reply
11. miss pearl, De. 2020
"Ungodly fellows ๐๐๐"
**
Reply
12. KukuKrayzy, Dec. 2020
"@miss pearl Nicely done Miss Pearl ๐"
Reply
13.
"But us as Ugandans we love him๐บ๐ฌ๐บ๐ฌ๐บ๐ฌ"
**
14. Atim, Dec. 2020
"Lots of Love from Uganda Omah Lay. Your fans here love you
and everything that went down was really horrible. But we are not our police,
we are not our government just like Nigerians are not all your police. Keep
winning. Your music is amazing!"
15.
"I listened to Omah Lay for the first time during his arrest
in Uganda. Mehn this guy is good."
**
16. Adegoke Wuraola, Dec. 2020
"Love you from Uganda ๐บ๐ฌ ๐ I
come in peace o ๐"
**
17. Natalie amanda & Ariel, Dec. 2020
"I grew up in uganda ๐บ๐ฌ! Iam not a
Ugandan but i take it as my 2nd country but this thing they did pain me very
well ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐ฅบ ..... why just spoiling
2countries relationships just like that for no reason ๐ฅบ
African governments!!!!!! Mind you all African government no get sense! But then my love for nigeria could i put me
in a dilemma but i stand with Nigeria on this one ๐๐ฝ"
**
18. kingsley maynard, Dec. 2020
"Greetings from Uganda ๐บ๐ฌ
i come in peace ✌"️
Reply
19.
"Hold your peace abeg"
**
Reply
20. ileogben Steve, Dec. 2020
"Peace you shall get"
**
21.Your_Gal_Busheilah, Dec. 2020
"Love from Uganda ❤️ I don't care about the hate
now , we are one, not all Ugandans arrested omah lay stop hating!๐
There's always a reason behind everything and some good came out of it. Push
the music bro๐ฅฐ❤️ I love you till
infinity ๐๐๐๐"
**
Reply
22. jolandtv, Dec. 2020
"Keep ur love...we ain't needing it๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ"
**
Reply
23. Titanium emmroy. Dec. 2020
"You try shaa.. for being straight up.๐"
**
Reply
24. Oscars Design, Dec. 2020
"We love you bro. We don't blame you guys
for what happened but the dictator ruling you guys."
**
25. Aminat muhammed, Dec. 2020
"Am Nigerian , but i think ugadans are really good people
, is just a bad leaders which is a big problem to the entire continent."
**
Reply
26. Newman H, Jan. 2021
"this is a good comment"
**
Reply
27 kingwordss kingwordss, 2021
"Africans themselves are good it's just our leaders"
****
This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.
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