Pidgin English Article Excerpt About Nigerian Singer Omah Lay, His Sister (Singer) Tems, & Others Arrested In Uganda (Dec. 2020)

 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.

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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

[facebook photo]

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

 "Nigerian singers, Omah Lay and Tems have been released from the custody of the Ugandan Police."

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.

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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 😪.

Ghana 🇬🇭 aprroves! Mad love ❤❤"

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Reply
2. Niyi ER Vlogs, Dec. 2020
"He sang this before going to Uganda"
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3. bamigboye damola, Dec. 2020
"Lol, he has this chune already."

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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?"

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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".

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6. Nee Ta, Dec. 2020
"This guy is too good 🙏🏾 so glad he's out of Uganda and back home."

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7. Chris Oghenetega Maloney, Dec. 2020
"Uganda is hell on earth"

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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"

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9. Immaobong udoh,  Dec. 2020
"Aishah Smadi you dey argue with this mumu chris person wey no get sense normally 😂😂😂 always fighting everyone in the comment section big papa like him ohh😂😂😂"

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10. KukuKrayzy, Dec. 2020
"This song is dedicated to Ugandan security who got him arrested. 😂🇨🇲❤️🔥"

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11. miss pearl, De. 2020
"Ungodly fellows 😂😂😂"

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12. KukuKrayzy, Dec. 2020
"@miss pearl Nicely done Miss Pearl 😂"

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13. Kagezi Susan, Dec. 2020
"But us as Ugandans we love him🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬"

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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!"

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15. easy Israel, Dec. 2020
"I listened to Omah Lay for the first time during his arrest in Uganda. Mehn this guy is good."

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16. Adegoke Wuraola, Dec. 2020
"Love you from Uganda 🇺🇬 💓 I come in peace o 😁"

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17. Natalie amanda & Ariel, Dec. 2020
"I grew up in uganda 🇺🇬! Iam not a Ugandan but i take it as my 2nd country but this thing they did pain me very well 🥺🥺🥺 ..... why just spoiling 2countries relationships just like that for no reason 🥺 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 🙌🏽"

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18. kingsley maynard, Dec. 2020
"Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬 i come in peace ✌"️

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19. Myself, Dec. 2020
"Hold your peace abeg"

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20. ileogben Steve, Dec. 2020
"Peace you shall get"

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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!💃 There's always a reason behind everything and some good came out of it. Push the music bro🥰❤️ I love you till infinity 💃😂😂😍"

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22. jolandtv, Dec. 2020
"Keep ur love...we ain't needing it🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬"

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23. Titanium emmroy. Dec. 2020
"You try shaa.. for being straight up.😉"

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24. Oscars Design, Dec. 2020
"We love you bro. We don't blame you guys for what happened but the dictator ruling you guys."

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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."

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26. Newman H, Jan. 2021
"this is a good comment"

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27 kingwordss kingwordss, 2021
"Africans themselves are good it's just our leaders"

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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Attitudes & Assumptions About Africans & About Poor People In A Discussion Thread Of A Ugandan Children's Dance Video

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides selected comments from the discussion thread of the YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw8gO-ro6Zs. This video showcases Ghetto Kids, a Ugandan children's dance dancing to the hit 2014 Afrobeat song "Sitya Loss".

These selected comments reveal certain attitudes and assumptions about Africans and/or about poor people in general, or about poor children specifically.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/ghetto-kids-problematic-name-for.html "Ghetto Kids" - A Problematic Name For A Talented Ugandan Children's Dance Group" for a companion post on this same video.

Also click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/eddy-kenzo-sitya-loss-ugandan-video.html for a pancocojams post about the video "Sitya Loss".

Thanks to Ghetto Kids for their dancing ability. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the producer of this video and its publisher on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Ghetto Kids Dancing Sitya Loss New Ugandan music 2014 DjDinTV



DjDinTV Uganda Music Videos, Published on Jan 31, 2014

Sitya loss [by] Eddy Kenzo...

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EDITOR'S COMMENT
The comments that are featured in this post aren't the only ones that express certain assumptions. Among the other assumptions that some commenters made are
1. that the word "ghetto" means the same things outside of the United States as it does in the United States
2. that all Black people can dance
and
3. that White people can't dance

The companion post about this video provides comments that debunks the assumption given as #1. There are probably lots of online articles or comments that debunk assumptions #2 and #3.

I decided to focus on the attitudes and assumptions about the poor that are expressed in these comments because I was surprised at how pervasive those themes were in that discussion thread. These comments below aren't the only ones in that discussion thread which express those attitudes and assumptions.

I believe that these attitudes and assumptions can and do have serious sociological and political consequences. But I leave that to others to explore.

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SELECTED COMMENTS
These comments are sub-divided into certain sections based on a particular theme. I've assigned numbers within each sub-division for referencing purposes only. I'm reposting these comments with no editorial comments.

These examples were gleaned from the comments written in English. No comments below include profanity or racist content. However, as a warning, please be aware that a number of racists comments and a few comments that include profanity and/or homophobic references can be found in that YouTube discussion thread.

Sub-Section #1
AFRICAN PEOPLE ARE HAPPY, AND/OR INNOCENT, AND/OR RICH IN LIFE AND SPIRIT
1. Webbing Castro, February, 2015
"The Kids teach me alot ..that one can make the World happy and full of smiles even without material objects. Despite the fact that they nearly have nothing in material things...their moves make me feel that the kids are VERY RICH IN LIFE AND IN SPIRIT! KEEP GOING AND KEEP STRONG!....To those who do not like it..please do not do so just coz the kids are africans..be human enough and learn to appreciate kids no matter what!....i mean those who click thumbs down..AND AM NOT MINCING MY WORDS! I MEAN IT !"

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2. aloo892472, March 2015
"I was born and bred in Uganda ; being of Indian origin the Exodus in 1972 brought me to UK aged 15.....these guys remind me of my young days in Uganda .Its a great life in Africa,and though I understood only some of this Lugandi song,the joy is indescribable ......and the poor kids are never sad ; their happiness always emerges through music and dance.Long Live Uganda."

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3. Zeus BACHDOR, April 2015
"Many people think that African die because of poverty, but they forget that the joy that animates African allow them to survive each day !! !!! Proud to be African!"

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4. kiddonet1, May 2015
"we africans are simple and happy people :) the magic of africa!!!"

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5. Noah oluwo, June 2015
"You can tap or steal all u want from us. The Oil, Gold, Diamond and many more. Bring the modified lies n call it DEMOCRAZY. Unfortunately, You can't steal HAPPINESS. It is OURS and you can never have it. Africa: Happy People"

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6. stingy hass, June 2015
"you only find this kind of stuff in Africa, Europeans know only money and wealth our wealth is the humanness and love for fun"

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7. Mbock Brimandi, June 2015
"These little genius are so funny. They are very strong dancers, my Africans young brothers. You guys are more happy than kids here in the USA even if they have everything but still they are shooting in school. It is much better and noble than opening a fire in a school. Poverty is not a fatality but been unhappy and unstable is worst than a cancer. Stay together! I do not just understand why they call you guys ghetto kids. First this word does not exist in any Bantu language; so if it is proven that the word ghetto is European then they must had or still have them. I'm in the USA and I could tell you right now that there are ghettos here for example in the down town of Paterson in New Jersey the one I know. So do not believe that you are one. Life in your place is not stressful like here, it is natural; everything here is artificial starting from the food will chemicals and people are afraid of getting sick because they cannot afford hospital bills unless they have one of the best insurance coverage. But we are in the first developed country in the world. They pretend to know God and with arrogance they think to teach you about God although they are the ones who really need to know God because they live like prisoners who do not socialize with their neighborhood. They keep sending their parent to shelters because they do not want to take care of them.
Your Cameroonian brother from USA."

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8. Amynah Abdy, August 2015
"From the kids to the beats...ohh my I love Africa XXX the pride and cradle of mankind it surely is as the joy and happiness we express is priceless!!!"

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Sub-section #2
POOR PEOPLE ARE HAPPY; POOR CHILDREN ARE HAPPY
1. Marc Edrice Maxi, February 2015
"You don't need money to be happy!!"

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2. RealBrigitteHarris, March 2015
"I love this video! To me I see happy children dancing and being happy because society has not yet told them that they cannot be happy until they have name brand clothes, fancy cars, mansions and more money than they can ever spend. I remember living in West Africa when I was 12 and as long as we had enough food to eat and water to drink I was quite content to climb trees, play in the dirt and go to the beach without worrying what I looked like, what I was wearing or what anyone else thought of me. That is the Africa I miss."

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3. Ama n, April 2015
"They are not ghetto; they are humble happy children dancing. Ghetto is a mind set conceived by the west to belittle those who do not live according the west's standards of living. The are richer in ways you cannot even begin to conceive.❤"

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4. Abraham Barrientos, April 2015
"Among poverty and hunger, they are still happy and able to live a life...God bless Africa!!!"

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5. Brunel M'bodi, May 2015
"+Christina Davila Ghetto has different meaning in Africa. it mean poor children. so basically it mean poor children who dont have anything but still happy :)"

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6. Buush Mo, June 2015
"HAPINESS IS NOT SOLD IN THE SUPERMARKET....FREE SPIRIT,"

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7. Lucy Nzowa, August 2015
"It is not their fault that they're poor...besides poor people are probably the happiest and most peaceful people on this earth

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8. MUH FACKS, August 2015
"what's so "ghetto" about this? to me, this just looks like lil youngns in the neighborhood dancing, living life and most importantly of all--having FUN. yea they might seem to not have as many materialistic possessions and objects like most of us (if you simply own a computer, you are privileged, just remember that) but i guarantee you they have more soul, spirit and true happiness that none of us will ever find in our lifetime. as the old saying goes and is so true, material possessions don't mean jack sh&t* if you're not happy within and your spirit is broken word to Bob Marley. learn from this, people
-snip-
*This word was fully spelled out in this comment.

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Sub-section #3
POOR CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT (CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT)
1. tube or not tube, March 2015
"+Dan Heather I figured after I search for the song and group but it still is awesome. I can easily imagine even real kids with same spirit in africa. I am from India and there was this argument afer slum dog millionaire that are kids really that innocent in indian slums. I like to believe they are and any sense of superficiality that comes across while acting in a movie or music video should not be conflicted with their innocence."

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2. tube or not tube, March 2015
"What does the song mean ? Pure pure Joy and raw innocent human happiness flows from the music and dance.
So wish I could experience the joy of these kids. Big big hug and kiss to these kids. Uganda you rock!"
-snip-
Also, note these similar comments about children being innocent:
1. "The innocents of children are priceless, you ask them to dance and they just go for it,,,without thinking about race or color...plz stop the Hate remarks,,,let the kids enjoy life..."

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2. Stacey Ebekweh, July 2015
"kids are so innocent, Bless there souls"

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ADDED 8/25/2015
Sub-section #4
POOR PEOPLE ARE MORE CREATIVE THAN RICH PEOPLE
1.blacksultan85, January 2015
"afican ghetto kids got skillz"

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2. Kwabena God, May 2015
"What a world. Where I am from, being ghetto is an honor/honour. We all aspire to be ghetto."

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3. kaporillo84ooooooooo, June 2015
"I don't see anything ghetto about this. It't not their fault that dance, music, hip hop and Rhythm was born there. People, remember where your roots are from."

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4. Unruly Hesbon, July 2015
"Ghetto yutes are the futute....Ghetto full of talent..love it"

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