Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Brazil's Axé music and Bahia, Brazil's renown Ilê Aiyê Band.
Information about the meaning of the phrase "ilê aiyê is also included in this post.
In addition, this post showcases three YouTube examples of Ilê Aiyê along with selected comments from those videos.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, linguistic, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Brazil's Ilê Aiyê Band for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT AXE MUSIC
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ax%C3%A9_(music)
"Axé.... is a popular music genre originated in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in the 1980s, fusing different Afro-Caribbean genres, such as marcha, reggae, and calypso. It also includes influences of Brazilian music such as frevo, forró and carixada. The word Axé comes from the Yoruba term às̩e̩, meaning “soul, light, spirit or good vibrations”.[1][2] Axé is also present in the Candomblé religion, as “the imagined spiritual power and energy bestowed upon practitioners by the pantheon of orixás”.[1]
Roots and History of Axé
Numerous different African cultures were brought to Brazil due to slavery, which lead to the creation of the vibrancy and complexity of Brazil and its culture. Therefore, several of Brazil’s popular music styles have derived from African cultures and African diasporic influences, including samba, lambada, funk and axé. There is a tendency by Brazilian musicians to draw inspiration and utilize themes, imagery and symbolic symbols from the Candomblé religion and its African roots.[1] Artists such as Gilberto Gil, Vinicius de Moraes, Caetano Veloso, Sergio Mendes, Daniela Mercury, Carlinhos Brown, among others, have all used African culture, religion and symbols as inspirations and lyrics of their songs.[1]
Axé was a fusion of African and Caribbean styles such as merengue, salsa and reggae, as well as being influenced by other Afro-Brazilian musical styles such as frevo and forró. Axé music was labeled in 1980s, but it was already noticeable in the 50s with the incorporation of the “guitarra baiana” (guitar from Bahia).[3] This genre was purely instrumental, and remained so until the 1970s, when Moraes Moreira (of the band Novos Baianos) went solo.
In 1974, carnival in Salvador, Bahia began taking shape. A group of Afro-Brazilians civil rights activists formed Ilê Aiyê, a music ensemble that derived their heavy rhythm from Candomblé’s religious ceremonies. Quickly, Ilê Aiyê gained a huge following, allowing them to influence other artists to incorporate the samba-reggae style and the heavy beats to their music.[3] Groups such as Timbalada, Olodum and Filhos de Gandhi also shared the heavy beats and rhythms with Ilê Aiyê, as well as utilizing African symbols such as typical outfits and instruments that all these bands use to perform. Olodum's rehearsals soon became a starting point for up and coming artists, composers, and music. In these rehearsals, artists presented and experimented with their music, in search for legitimacy from the population.[4]"...
-snip-
"Axé" is written as " às̩e̩" in Yoruba, but is often given as "ashay" or "ashey" in English. These words are pronounced "ah-shay"
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ase_(Yoruba) for information about Ase.
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INFORMATION ABOUT BRAZIL'S ILE AIYE BAND
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il%C3%AA_Aiy%C3%AA
The Afro-Brazilian group Ilê Aiyê was founded in 1974 by Antônio Carlos “Vovô” and Apolônio de Jesus in the neighborhood of Liberdade, the largest black population area of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The expression stems from Yoruba language (ilê - home; aiyê - life) from may also be interpreted as 'eternal heaven'.
Ilê Aiyê works to raise the consciousness of the Bahian black community. Persecuted by the police and the media during its first years, and still controversial for only allowing blacks to parade with the group, Ilê Aiyê is a renowned element of Bahia’s carnival. The group pioneered the type of carnival group known as the bloco afro, featuring themes from global black cultures and history, and celebrating the aesthetic beauty of black people. All other blocos afros borrow elements originally created by Ilê Aiyê, including such groups founded shortly afterwards, such as Olodum and Malê Debalê.[1]
During Bahian carnival, the group includes hundreds of musicians, dozens of dancers, and thousands of members. They traditionally begin their procession on the Saturday night of Carnaval at the home of the Dos Santos family, where for many years Mãe Hilda de Jitolu, the mother of co-founder Vovô presided as spiritual mother to the group and formal leader of a candomblé. As Ilê Aiyê passes, carnival crowds sing along by the thousands to songs about the importance of African and Afro-Brazilian culture and religion."...
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WHAT ILE AIYE MEANS
From https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.brazil/shYXj3B59mw
Ayodele Ayetigbo , 9/5/96
"Ile Aye, by its Yoruba literary translation, means the house of the world. Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin, Sierra-Leone and other countries along the coast of West Africa believe that Aye (world) is one kind of a giant market hall where each human visits to hawk or practise what he believes. At the end of this market activities, Yoruba religion says all humans then return to our original home - heaven (orun) to give account. It is thus said in Yoruba:"
Aye loja, orun ni'le
This means in English: The world is a market while heaven is home. We are all visitors to the world and must at the end return home.
Ile in Yoruba = house
Aye = the world
Ayetigbo - my last name, for a quintessence, means the world has heard. Yoruba believe there is literary and spiritual meanings to names and words. That Ayetigbo, as a character, practises a profession such as communication is therefore not surprising to a Yoruba scholar. The Yoruba carry no social security numbers or cards as practised here in the US. Your name tells all about you.
Ile Aye is significant to us cos that's the only playhouse we can grasp as living beings. The other world, that is, heaven - the real home - is way beyond our physical comprehension This can only be felt or imagined in dreams and other ritualistic engagements. The intrigues, lies, dysinformation, misinformation, thievery, slavery, racism, ethnocentrism and all other bad stuffs humans engage in while on earth, as in a market place, makes "Ile aye" all the more so significant to the followers of Yoruba religion. Yoruba as a religion is being practised in Brazil, Cuba, the US and other parts of the world where people trace their ancestry to the Yoruba of West Africa.
Enough and I hope I have been helpful."
**
Steve Enzer, 9/12/96
..."Not to try to contradict someone who obviously has much more information on the topic than this gringo does, I would just pass on that I do have a CD with a Clara Nunes recording of a song called Ilu Aye, which may or
may not be the same Yoruba phrase, translated (as the title of the song) as "Terra da Vida" - or "Land of Life."
I don't know how that fits in with the rest of the discussion, but I wanted to pass it on.
The recording, by the way, is the MPB disk from the series "Brasil: A Century Of Song" on Blue Jackel (sic) records, which is a great compilation if you happen to see it around. Picked it up last night and I've already played it 3 times... que saudades do Brasil!!!
Steve Enzer
Cambridge
-snip-
More comments about the meaning of "Ile aye" can be found in this pancocojams post: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/07/similarities-differences-between-yoruba.html Similarities & Differences Between The Yoruba Word "Aiye" ("Aye") And The American Word "Ayee". That post also features comments from the discussion thread of Nigerian Afrobeat artist Davido's 2014 YouTube video "Aye".
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Ilê Aiyê | Que Bloco É Esse?
Petrobras Published on Feb 8, 2012
http://www.petrobras.com.br/queblocoe
Religião, fé, tradição e muito ritmo: o Ilê Aiyê é a cara da Bahia.
A Petrobras apresenta o primeiro mini-documentário do projeto ´Que Bloco É Esse?´, que conta um pouco da história do ´mais belo dos belos´.
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English
Religion, faith, tradition and a lot of rhythm: Ilê Aiyê is the face of Bahia.
Petrobras presents the first mini-documentary of the project 'Que Bloco É Esse?', Which tells a bit about the history of 'the most beautiful of the beautiful'.
-snip-
Here are four comments from this video's discussion thread:
1. ticiadiasbrasil, 2012
"Antes eu queria ser invisível..., mas tudo mudou,... Foi tremendamente emocionante."
Muito lindo o que ela disse.
Hoje sou uma mulher negra, mas já fui uma menina. Uma menina negra que olhava para suas bonecas loiras e então desejava ser invisível. Eu sei como é se sentir assim. E fico muito feliz que existam iniciativas como estas do Ilê Aiyê que valorizam não só a beleza como também a história do povo negro.
Porque povo que não tem respeito pelo seu passado , não preza pelo seu futuro."
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English
"Before I wanted to be invisible ... but everything changed, ... It was tremendously exciting."
Very beautiful what she said.
Today I am a black woman, but I was a girl. A black girl who looked at her blond dolls and then wanted to be invisible. I know what it feels like to be like this. And I am very happy that there are initiatives like these of Ilê Aiyê that value not only the beauty but also the history of the black people.
Because people who have no respect for their past, do not cherish their future."
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2. Kiki da Bahia, 2012
"Meus Deus qua saudade da Minha Grande Mãe Banda Aiyê cinto muita falta dela Hoje eu eu moro en Nova York mais cinto fala da minha familia Ile Aiye
Axe Atomico!!! familia Ile Aiye"
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English
'My God misses my Great Mother Banda Aiyê I miss her a lot Today I live in New York more belt speaks of my family Ile Aiye
Powerful Axé!!! Family Ile Aiye"
**
3. Gabriela Jonas Macedo Moreira, 2012
"VIDA LONGA PARA O ILÊ!!!"
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"LONG LIFE FOR THE ILÊ !!!"
**
4. jantyla, 2013
"Gostei do depoimento do Crioulo. Legal o nível de consciência de autoestima que alcançou! Reparem no centramento de alguém que se reconhece, se aceita e se gosta por todo um contexto cultural que muita gente ainda não assimilou, nem compreendeu!"
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"I liked the testimony of the Crioulo. Cool the level of self-esteem consciousness you've achieved! Look at the focus of someone who recognizes, accepts and enjoys a cultural context that many people have not yet assimilated or understood!"
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Example #2: Ilê Aiyê - Alienação | Desfile | Que Bloco É Esse?
Petrobras Published on Feb 28, 2012
http://www.petrobras.com.br/queblocoe...
O Ilê Aiyê desfila pelas ruas de Salvador cantando a consciência negra desde 1975. Confira o clipe da música "Alienação", produzido pela Petrobras durante o desfile do 'mais belo dos belos' no Carnaval de 2012.
Vem descobrir junto com a gente que bloco é esse!
Quer conhecer mais sobre a história do Ilê Aiyê? Assista o mini-documentário: http://youtu.be/w6yayr0WHA4
Confira também o clipe do Ilê com o rapper Criolo: http://youtu.be/at0dpAA6dm
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"Ilê Aiyê parades through the streets of Salvador singing black consciousness since 1975. Check out the music video "Alienação", produced by Petrobras during the parade of the most beautiful of the beautiful in Carnival 2012.
Come find out with us what block this is!
Want to know more about Ilê Aiyê's history? Watch the mini-documentary: http://youtu.be/w6yayr0WHA4
Check out also Ilê's clip with rapolo Criolo: http://youtu.be/at0dpAA6dm"
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Example #3: Ilê Aiyê 'Depois Que O Ilê Passar' 'A Força do Ilê' Brasil 500 Anos
olbp Pinheiro Published on Apr 9, 2013
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
1. Silvia Cristina Serrao, 2014
"Amor ao ilê."
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"Love to the ilê."
**
2. Wagner Wagner, 2016o
"Estou toda arrepiada, salve minha Bahia, salve u ilê, salve os orixas."
-snip-
Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"I'm all shivering, save my Bahia, save my soul, save the orixas."
-snip-
Here's some information about Brazilian orixas:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candombl%C3%A9#Deities
"Candomblé ...is an Afro-American religious tradition, practiced mainly in Brazil[2] by the "povo do santo" (people of the saint). Candomblé officially originated in Salvador, Bahia at the beginning of the 19th century, when the first temple was founded. Although Candomblé is practiced primarily in Brazil, it is also practiced in other Latin American countries, including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Venezuela, having as many as two million followers.[2][3]
Candomblé developed in a creolization of traditional Yoruba, Fon, and Bantu beliefs brought from West Africa by enslaved captives in the Portuguese Empire.[2] Between 1549 and 1888, the religion developed in Brazil, influenced by the knowledge of enslaved African priests who continued to teach their mythology, their culture, and language. In addition, Candomblé absorbed elements of Roman Catholicism and includes indigenous American traditions.[2]
As an oral tradition, it does not have holy scriptures.[2] Practitioners of Candomblé believe in a Supreme Creator called Oludumaré, who is served by lesser deities, which are called Orishas.[2][a] Every practitioner is believed to have their own tutelary orisha, which controls his or her destiny and acts as a protector.[2] Music and dance are important parts of Candomblé ceremonies, since the dances enable worshippers to become possessed by the orishas.[2] In the rituals, participants make offerings from the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms....
Candomblé is a polytheistic religion and worships a number of gods:[6]
the orishas of the Yoruba (Ketu nation), spelled Orixás in Portuguese;
the voduns of the Fon and Ewe (Jeje nation); and
the nkisis (minkisi) of the Kongo (Bantu nation).
These deities are believed to have been created by a supreme God, Olodumare[7] (called Zambi by the Kongo people; and Nana Buluku by the Fon people).[7] The orishas and similar figures form a link between the spiritual world and the world of humans.[7]"...
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Showing posts with label ayee social media term. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ayee social media term. Show all posts
Friday, July 14, 2017
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Similarities & Differences Between The Yoruba Word "Aiye" And The American Word "Ayee"
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision: October 21, 2019 at 4:57 AM: Title change from "Similarities & Differences Between The Yoruba Word "Aiye" ("Aye") And The American Word "Ayee"". I also corrected the spelling for the Yoruba word: "Aye".
This pancocojams post provides definitions of the traditional Yoruba word "Aye".
This post also showcases the official video of Nigerian Afrobeat singer Davido's 2014 record entitled "Aye" which is an adapted form of the traditional Yoruba word "Aye".
The chorus of that song which includes the word "Aye" is given in this post along with selected comments from that video's discussion thread and reprint of a Google group discussion about "aiye", a Brazilian form of that word.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/davido-aye-nigerian-afro-beat-video.html for a 2014 pancocojams post on Davido's song Aye that includes this same video, the complete lyrics for that song, explanations of some of Nigerian pidgin English or Yoruba words and phrases that are found in that song, and other comments from this video's discussion thread.
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The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, linguistics, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
I'm particularly interested in documenting the similarities and differences between that word and the contemporary American originated English word "ayee" (also spelled "ayy" and other similar spellings.)
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Davido for his musical legacy. Thanks also to al those associated with this featured video and all those who are quoted in this post. In addition, thanks to the YouTube publisher of this video.
Thanks to a Yoruba professor who sent me an email (on October 21, 2019) that included information about the correct Yoruba spelling of the word "Aye".
-snip-
The YouTube discussion thread of Davido's video "Aye" is rich in information and interesting comments. I plan to publish additional posts on comments from that discussion threads. These posts can be found by clicking the Davido Aye video tag that is found below.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/07/information-about-brazils-axe-music.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Information About Brazil's Axé Music & Three Videos Of Brazil's Ilê Aiyê Band".
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INFORMATION ABOUT DAVIDO AND THE SONG "AYE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davido
"David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992),[1][2] better known by his stage name Davido, is an American-born Nigerian recording artist, performer and record producer...
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Davido relocated to Lagos at a young age. His debut album Omo Baba Olowo, released in 2012....
On February 2, 2014, Davido released "Aye" as the fourth single from the upcoming album. The song was produced by T Spice.[46] The music video for "Aye" was released on February 7, 2014, and was directed by Clarence Peters. According to the music video's synopsis, "Davido plays a poor farmer who falls in love with the prince’s love interest.”...
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DIFFERENCES IN MEANINGS AND PRONUNCIATION FOR SIMILARLY SPELLED YORUBA WORD "AYE" ("AIYE") AND THE AMERICAN ENGLISH ORIGINATED WORDS "AYEE" ("AYY" AND SIMILARLY SPELLED WORDS)
Given my theory* that the American originated word "ayee" ("ayy") that is currently relatively widely used on social media may have its source in an adapted form of the nickname "A" for Atlanta, Georgia, it's remarkable that Nigerian Afrobeat star Davido who had a hit song entitled "Aye" was born in Atlanta and lived there for a short time. However, I think that is a coincidence.
Both the American English term "ayee" and the word "ayy" in "ayy lmao" (an extension of the social media use of "ayee") have different meanings than the Yoruba word "Aiye" (also given as "Aye"). Furthermore, both of those American originated words are pronounced differently than the traditional Yoruba word "Aiye" and its contemporary adaptation "Aye". (Read below.)
That said, I wonder if any of the comments which included the word "Aye" in the discussion thread for Davido's song "Aye" were influenced by the way that the American English word "Aye" is used in online social media and elsewhere.
For example, both of those words are often elongated (for instance "Ayeeeee!"), but, unlike American discussion centered threads, that word is sometimes found at the end of sentences in Davido's video's discussion thread.
*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/07/theories-about-african-american-uses-if.html for a pancocojams post about the English words "Ayee" ("Ayy" and similarly spelled words).
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PRONUNCIATIONS:
The Yoruba word "Aiye" and its contemporary form "Aye" appear to be pronounced ah-yeh (with the "yeh" pronounced like the English word "yeah".
In contrast, the contemporary American English originated word "ayye" (also given as "ayy", "aaaaa", and other similarly spelled words) is pronounced like an elongated English letter "a". But the word "ayy" in the contemporary phrase/meme "ayy lmao" appears to usually be pronounced like the English letter "i" (and the English word "eye") and the letters for the internet acronym "lmao" ("laughing my ass off") may be pronounced separately or "lmao" may be pronounced like the Portuguese word that translates to the word "lemon" in English.
The Yoruba word "Aiye" (and its contemporary form "Aye") and the American English words "ayee" ("ayy" and similar spellings) demonstrates the fact that words from different languages that are spelled the same or similarly may have completely different pronunciations and completely different meanings. That said, there's no way to know how each commenter in online discussion threads actually pronounced these words. For that reason, people familiar with the American English originated word "ayee" might pronounce the Yoruba word "Aye" the same way that they pronounce the American English word "ayee".
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THE MEANINGS OF THE YORUBA WORD "AIYE" ("AYE")
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8
Jewel Love, 2016
"What does Aye mean?"
**
Reply
Tayo Awoniyi, 2016
"It means Mother earth in Yoruba. Though he has misspelled it. It should be spelt Aiye."
***
From https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.brazil/shYXj3B59mw
Pancocojams Editor:
These comments are from a page for a 1996- 2015 Google group discussion on the meaning of "ile aye". I'm quoting in its entirety for folkloric purposes (except for some quotes of preceding comments and some commenters names that include email addresses).
I've numbered these comments for referencing purposes only.
1. tobod, 9/4/96
"The Yoruba invocation "ile aye" is often used in Brazilian songs I have heard. Can anyone out there offer me an insight on exactly what it means? Why is it so significant?"
**
2. Ayodele Ayetigbo , 9/5/96
"Ile Aye, by its Yoruba literary translation, means the house of the world. Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin, Sierra-Leone and other countries along the coast of West Africa believe that Aye (world) is one kind of a giant market hall where each human visits to hawk or practise what he believes. At the end of this market activities, Yoruba religion says all humans then return to our original home - heaven (orun) to give account. It is thus said in Yoruba:"
Aye loja, orun ni'le
This means in English: The world is a market while heaven is home. We are all visitors to the world and must at the end return home.
Ile in Yoruba = house
Aye = the world
Ayetigbo - my last name, for a quintessence, means the world has heard. Yoruba believe there is literary and spiritual meanings to names and words. That Ayetigbo, as a character, practises a profession such as communication is therefore not surprising to a Yoruba scholar. The Yoruba carry no social security numbers or cards as practised here in the US. Your name tells all about you.
Ile Aye is significant to us cos that's the only playhouse we can grasp as living beings. The other world, that is, heaven - the real home - is way beyond our physical comprehension This can only be felt or imagined in dreams and other ritualistic engagements. The intrigues, lies, dysinformation, misinformation, thievery, slavery, racism, ethnocentrism and all other bad stuffs humans engage in while on earth, as in a market place, makes "Ile aye" all the more so significant to the followers of Yoruba religion. Yoruba as a religion is being practised in Brazil, Cuba, the US and other parts of the world where people trace their ancestry to the Yoruba of West Africa.
Enough and I hope I have been helpful."
**
3. Adey™ , 9/6/96
“Hello,
"Ile Aye" simply means--This World!!"
Peace bro,
Adey”
**
4. Steve Enzer, 9/12/96
Ayodele Ayetigbo wrote:
"Ile Aye, by its Yoruba literary translation, means the house of the world. Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin,
Sierra-Leone and other countries along the coast of West (lots of good info. deleted)
"Not to try to contradict someone who obviously has much more information on the topic than this gringo does, I would just pass on that I do have a CD with a Clara Nunes recording of a song called Ilu Aye, which may or
may not be the same Yoruba phrase, translated (as the title of the song) as "Terra da Vida" - or "Land of Life."
I don't know how that fits in with the rest of the discussion, but I wanted to pass it on.
The recording, by the way, is the MPB disk from the series "Brasil: A Century Of Song" on Blue Jackel (sic) records, which is a great compilation if you happen to see it around. Picked it up last night and I've already played it 3 times... que saudades do Brasil!!!
Steve Enzer
Cambridge
**
5. Akua Ofeibea Abotare
9/24/96
[regarding Steve Enzer's comment]
"makes perfect sense that the brazilian singer would use a phrase like "ile aye" in her record. Many of the captives brought here the African continent were Yoruba. (some say the Yorubas are the most represented African culture in the New World, and that most African descended peoples here in the West are of Yoruba origin or have Yoruba roots. I'm not an expert, I just pass it on). Mostly in Cuban, but there were some Yorubas in Brazil as well. Many of the African influenced religions of the "New world" are of Yoruba origin or have
very complimentary components to the Yoruba cosmogony. These included Santaria of Cuba, and Condomble of Brazil. Brazil seeoms [sic] to have a very large Congo population as well. hope it helps.
Akua"
**
6. ruben.l...[email address deleted], 10/10/13
“I am of Spanish origin living in the US but have lived in Brazil for many years and attended carnivals in Rio, Salvador, Canoa Quebrada, Recife, Aracati, Paracuru, Fortaleza, etc... I am a big fan of Axe Bahia and understand perfectly your question.
All explanations here are correct, however they are too technical and don't answer your question: "why in music". Today in Brazilian pop culture "Ile Aye" means "big party (festa) where everyone (the world if you like) participates and everybody is welcome". Like a carnival of life.
So, when, for example, you hear "ile aye", "foi for amor ao ile" or "estava atras do ile" in songs from Daniela Mercury, the meaning is something like "big party", "it was becaused I loved to party" and "i was looking for a big party", in same sense as we use "fiesta" in Spanish or like a big "spring break party" in US culture.
Hope I answered your question."
**
7. thesmal...[email address deleted
3/19/15
"I am surprised to see that no one has mentioned that Ile Aiye is a samba afro/samba reggae group based out of Bahia. they go way back, and many if not most of their songs use the term in the lyrics. Check it; http://www.ileaiyeoficial.com/
**
8. ipenko...[email address deleted] 8/1/15
"Ile aye means; The World"
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Aye - Davido (Official Music Video)
DMW HQ, Published on Feb 7, 2014
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PARTIAL LYRICS FOR DAVIDO'S SONG "AYE" (CHORUS)
[Chorus:]
Aa yeee
(Alelelele)
Aaa yeee
Cause you want my love o
Aa yee
(Oya shekele mama)
Aaa yee
Cause you want my love o
She no want designer
She no want Ferarri
She say na my love o
You belong to meee
And I belong to her o
babyyy
You go killie somebody
They say love is blind
but I dey see am for your eyes o
Aa for your eyes o
They say love is blind
but I dey see am for your eyes o o o o
for your eyes o
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM DAVIDO'S AYE (OFFICIAL VIDEO) THAT INCLUDE THE WORD "AYE" OR SIMILARLY SPELLED WORDS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8
[Revised July 14, 2017]
These comments are given in chronological order, with the exception of responses, with the oldest comments given first. I've assigned numbers for referencing purposes only.
These are all of the comments with the word "Aye" that I was able to read in that video's discussion thread*. Some of these comments clearly refer to the title of Davido's song. However, the meaning of the elongated form of the word "Aye" and especially those words that are followed by are exclamation points are less clear. Are those comments praising that song (or the earth orisa)?
*After multiple page uploads, my computer stopped loading comment pages. Consequently, I wasn't able to read all of the comments on this discussion thread.
The word "Aiye" wasn't included in any comment that I was able to read.
2014
Michelle Tshimanga
"Oya shake up your assets! Make your man no go forget! Ehhhh AYYYEEE!"
-snip-
"Shake your assets" [meaning "shake your butt"] is a line in this song.
**
2016
2. Siham Somali
"nobody listens to this song like I do aye 😂👏"
**
3. Abel First-Quao
"'Nobody can love you, Lakadu!
Nobody can touch you, Lakadu!'
And so, Lakadu was forever alone. Aye!
-snip-
This comment is part of a running (ongoing) joke that was first posted in 2015 and includes a number of commenters. The joke is that in the song Davido sings "No one can love you like I do". However, he speaks English with a very thick Yoruba accent, and English speakers might think that the words "like I do" were a (made up, non-existent) African name "Lakadu".
**
4. kstarBAM
"Dancing to this in my room alone in USA! It's spectacular! Ayyyyyyeeeeeee!!!"
**
5. Joy Osas
"wow still in love with this track aye eeeeee"
**
6. Christian Byiringiro
"good aye"
**
7. Adeiza Ozigi
"Aye!!! So African. So Nigerian! 2016!"
**
8. adozuka izzati
"aye miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"
****
2017
9. Belinda Antoine
"lovelygirl2u I am from Haiti too. I do love that song. there's something in it that makes me dance like crazy. ayeeeee ayeeeee"
**
10. Vincypearl
"Ayeeeeee, Ayeeeeee 💃"
**
11.Thomasina
"aiyeeee! 🌄"
**
12. Connie Tee
"haha thanks sweetheart... my boo dedicated this song to
me... love you ARNOLD... ayyyyyeeeeeee"
**
13. Tendai Murwisi
"There is no one life on earth that surpasses a pure African life.Proud to be black African.Aye"
**
14. kiara walker
"Aye!!"
****
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Latest revision: October 21, 2019 at 4:57 AM: Title change from "Similarities & Differences Between The Yoruba Word "Aiye" ("Aye") And The American Word "Ayee"". I also corrected the spelling for the Yoruba word: "Aye".
This pancocojams post provides definitions of the traditional Yoruba word "Aye".
This post also showcases the official video of Nigerian Afrobeat singer Davido's 2014 record entitled "Aye" which is an adapted form of the traditional Yoruba word "Aye".
The chorus of that song which includes the word "Aye" is given in this post along with selected comments from that video's discussion thread and reprint of a Google group discussion about "aiye", a Brazilian form of that word.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/davido-aye-nigerian-afro-beat-video.html for a 2014 pancocojams post on Davido's song Aye that includes this same video, the complete lyrics for that song, explanations of some of Nigerian pidgin English or Yoruba words and phrases that are found in that song, and other comments from this video's discussion thread.
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The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, linguistics, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
I'm particularly interested in documenting the similarities and differences between that word and the contemporary American originated English word "ayee" (also spelled "ayy" and other similar spellings.)
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Davido for his musical legacy. Thanks also to al those associated with this featured video and all those who are quoted in this post. In addition, thanks to the YouTube publisher of this video.
Thanks to a Yoruba professor who sent me an email (on October 21, 2019) that included information about the correct Yoruba spelling of the word "Aye".
-snip-
The YouTube discussion thread of Davido's video "Aye" is rich in information and interesting comments. I plan to publish additional posts on comments from that discussion threads. These posts can be found by clicking the Davido Aye video tag that is found below.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/07/information-about-brazils-axe-music.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Information About Brazil's Axé Music & Three Videos Of Brazil's Ilê Aiyê Band".
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INFORMATION ABOUT DAVIDO AND THE SONG "AYE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davido
"David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992),[1][2] better known by his stage name Davido, is an American-born Nigerian recording artist, performer and record producer...
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Davido relocated to Lagos at a young age. His debut album Omo Baba Olowo, released in 2012....
On February 2, 2014, Davido released "Aye" as the fourth single from the upcoming album. The song was produced by T Spice.[46] The music video for "Aye" was released on February 7, 2014, and was directed by Clarence Peters. According to the music video's synopsis, "Davido plays a poor farmer who falls in love with the prince’s love interest.”...
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DIFFERENCES IN MEANINGS AND PRONUNCIATION FOR SIMILARLY SPELLED YORUBA WORD "AYE" ("AIYE") AND THE AMERICAN ENGLISH ORIGINATED WORDS "AYEE" ("AYY" AND SIMILARLY SPELLED WORDS)
Given my theory* that the American originated word "ayee" ("ayy") that is currently relatively widely used on social media may have its source in an adapted form of the nickname "A" for Atlanta, Georgia, it's remarkable that Nigerian Afrobeat star Davido who had a hit song entitled "Aye" was born in Atlanta and lived there for a short time. However, I think that is a coincidence.
Both the American English term "ayee" and the word "ayy" in "ayy lmao" (an extension of the social media use of "ayee") have different meanings than the Yoruba word "Aiye" (also given as "Aye"). Furthermore, both of those American originated words are pronounced differently than the traditional Yoruba word "Aiye" and its contemporary adaptation "Aye". (Read below.)
That said, I wonder if any of the comments which included the word "Aye" in the discussion thread for Davido's song "Aye" were influenced by the way that the American English word "Aye" is used in online social media and elsewhere.
For example, both of those words are often elongated (for instance "Ayeeeee!"), but, unlike American discussion centered threads, that word is sometimes found at the end of sentences in Davido's video's discussion thread.
*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/07/theories-about-african-american-uses-if.html for a pancocojams post about the English words "Ayee" ("Ayy" and similarly spelled words).
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PRONUNCIATIONS:
The Yoruba word "Aiye" and its contemporary form "Aye" appear to be pronounced ah-yeh (with the "yeh" pronounced like the English word "yeah".
In contrast, the contemporary American English originated word "ayye" (also given as "ayy", "aaaaa", and other similarly spelled words) is pronounced like an elongated English letter "a". But the word "ayy" in the contemporary phrase/meme "ayy lmao" appears to usually be pronounced like the English letter "i" (and the English word "eye") and the letters for the internet acronym "lmao" ("laughing my ass off") may be pronounced separately or "lmao" may be pronounced like the Portuguese word that translates to the word "lemon" in English.
The Yoruba word "Aiye" (and its contemporary form "Aye") and the American English words "ayee" ("ayy" and similar spellings) demonstrates the fact that words from different languages that are spelled the same or similarly may have completely different pronunciations and completely different meanings. That said, there's no way to know how each commenter in online discussion threads actually pronounced these words. For that reason, people familiar with the American English originated word "ayee" might pronounce the Yoruba word "Aye" the same way that they pronounce the American English word "ayee".
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THE MEANINGS OF THE YORUBA WORD "AIYE" ("AYE")
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8
Jewel Love, 2016
"What does Aye mean?"
**
Reply
Tayo Awoniyi, 2016
"It means Mother earth in Yoruba. Though he has misspelled it. It should be spelt Aiye."
***
From https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.brazil/shYXj3B59mw
Pancocojams Editor:
These comments are from a page for a 1996- 2015 Google group discussion on the meaning of "ile aye". I'm quoting in its entirety for folkloric purposes (except for some quotes of preceding comments and some commenters names that include email addresses).
I've numbered these comments for referencing purposes only.
1. tobod, 9/4/96
"The Yoruba invocation "ile aye" is often used in Brazilian songs I have heard. Can anyone out there offer me an insight on exactly what it means? Why is it so significant?"
**
2. Ayodele Ayetigbo , 9/5/96
"Ile Aye, by its Yoruba literary translation, means the house of the world. Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin, Sierra-Leone and other countries along the coast of West Africa believe that Aye (world) is one kind of a giant market hall where each human visits to hawk or practise what he believes. At the end of this market activities, Yoruba religion says all humans then return to our original home - heaven (orun) to give account. It is thus said in Yoruba:"
Aye loja, orun ni'le
This means in English: The world is a market while heaven is home. We are all visitors to the world and must at the end return home.
Ile in Yoruba = house
Aye = the world
Ayetigbo - my last name, for a quintessence, means the world has heard. Yoruba believe there is literary and spiritual meanings to names and words. That Ayetigbo, as a character, practises a profession such as communication is therefore not surprising to a Yoruba scholar. The Yoruba carry no social security numbers or cards as practised here in the US. Your name tells all about you.
Ile Aye is significant to us cos that's the only playhouse we can grasp as living beings. The other world, that is, heaven - the real home - is way beyond our physical comprehension This can only be felt or imagined in dreams and other ritualistic engagements. The intrigues, lies, dysinformation, misinformation, thievery, slavery, racism, ethnocentrism and all other bad stuffs humans engage in while on earth, as in a market place, makes "Ile aye" all the more so significant to the followers of Yoruba religion. Yoruba as a religion is being practised in Brazil, Cuba, the US and other parts of the world where people trace their ancestry to the Yoruba of West Africa.
Enough and I hope I have been helpful."
**
3. Adey™ , 9/6/96
“Hello,
"Ile Aye" simply means--This World!!"
Peace bro,
Adey”
**
4. Steve Enzer, 9/12/96
Ayodele Ayetigbo wrote:
"Ile Aye, by its Yoruba literary translation, means the house of the world. Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin,
Sierra-Leone and other countries along the coast of West (lots of good info. deleted)
"Not to try to contradict someone who obviously has much more information on the topic than this gringo does, I would just pass on that I do have a CD with a Clara Nunes recording of a song called Ilu Aye, which may or
may not be the same Yoruba phrase, translated (as the title of the song) as "Terra da Vida" - or "Land of Life."
I don't know how that fits in with the rest of the discussion, but I wanted to pass it on.
The recording, by the way, is the MPB disk from the series "Brasil: A Century Of Song" on Blue Jackel (sic) records, which is a great compilation if you happen to see it around. Picked it up last night and I've already played it 3 times... que saudades do Brasil!!!
Steve Enzer
Cambridge
**
5. Akua Ofeibea Abotare
9/24/96
[regarding Steve Enzer's comment]
"makes perfect sense that the brazilian singer would use a phrase like "ile aye" in her record. Many of the captives brought here the African continent were Yoruba. (some say the Yorubas are the most represented African culture in the New World, and that most African descended peoples here in the West are of Yoruba origin or have Yoruba roots. I'm not an expert, I just pass it on). Mostly in Cuban, but there were some Yorubas in Brazil as well. Many of the African influenced religions of the "New world" are of Yoruba origin or have
very complimentary components to the Yoruba cosmogony. These included Santaria of Cuba, and Condomble of Brazil. Brazil seeoms [sic] to have a very large Congo population as well. hope it helps.
Akua"
**
6. ruben.l...[email address deleted], 10/10/13
“I am of Spanish origin living in the US but have lived in Brazil for many years and attended carnivals in Rio, Salvador, Canoa Quebrada, Recife, Aracati, Paracuru, Fortaleza, etc... I am a big fan of Axe Bahia and understand perfectly your question.
All explanations here are correct, however they are too technical and don't answer your question: "why in music". Today in Brazilian pop culture "Ile Aye" means "big party (festa) where everyone (the world if you like) participates and everybody is welcome". Like a carnival of life.
So, when, for example, you hear "ile aye", "foi for amor ao ile" or "estava atras do ile" in songs from Daniela Mercury, the meaning is something like "big party", "it was becaused I loved to party" and "i was looking for a big party", in same sense as we use "fiesta" in Spanish or like a big "spring break party" in US culture.
Hope I answered your question."
**
7. thesmal...[email address deleted
3/19/15
"I am surprised to see that no one has mentioned that Ile Aiye is a samba afro/samba reggae group based out of Bahia. they go way back, and many if not most of their songs use the term in the lyrics. Check it; http://www.ileaiyeoficial.com/
**
8. ipenko...[email address deleted] 8/1/15
"Ile aye means; The World"
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Aye - Davido (Official Music Video)
DMW HQ, Published on Feb 7, 2014
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PARTIAL LYRICS FOR DAVIDO'S SONG "AYE" (CHORUS)
[Chorus:]
Aa yeee
(Alelelele)
Aaa yeee
Cause you want my love o
Aa yee
(Oya shekele mama)
Aaa yee
Cause you want my love o
She no want designer
She no want Ferarri
She say na my love o
You belong to meee
And I belong to her o
babyyy
You go killie somebody
They say love is blind
but I dey see am for your eyes o
Aa for your eyes o
They say love is blind
but I dey see am for your eyes o o o o
for your eyes o
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM DAVIDO'S AYE (OFFICIAL VIDEO) THAT INCLUDE THE WORD "AYE" OR SIMILARLY SPELLED WORDS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8
[Revised July 14, 2017]
These comments are given in chronological order, with the exception of responses, with the oldest comments given first. I've assigned numbers for referencing purposes only.
These are all of the comments with the word "Aye" that I was able to read in that video's discussion thread*. Some of these comments clearly refer to the title of Davido's song. However, the meaning of the elongated form of the word "Aye" and especially those words that are followed by are exclamation points are less clear. Are those comments praising that song (or the earth orisa)?
*After multiple page uploads, my computer stopped loading comment pages. Consequently, I wasn't able to read all of the comments on this discussion thread.
The word "Aiye" wasn't included in any comment that I was able to read.
2014
Michelle Tshimanga
"Oya shake up your assets! Make your man no go forget! Ehhhh AYYYEEE!"
-snip-
"Shake your assets" [meaning "shake your butt"] is a line in this song.
**
2016
2. Siham Somali
"nobody listens to this song like I do aye 😂👏"
**
3. Abel First-Quao
"'Nobody can love you, Lakadu!
Nobody can touch you, Lakadu!'
And so, Lakadu was forever alone. Aye!
-snip-
This comment is part of a running (ongoing) joke that was first posted in 2015 and includes a number of commenters. The joke is that in the song Davido sings "No one can love you like I do". However, he speaks English with a very thick Yoruba accent, and English speakers might think that the words "like I do" were a (made up, non-existent) African name "Lakadu".
**
4. kstarBAM
"Dancing to this in my room alone in USA! It's spectacular! Ayyyyyyeeeeeee!!!"
**
5. Joy Osas
"wow still in love with this track aye eeeeee"
**
6. Christian Byiringiro
"good aye"
**
7. Adeiza Ozigi
"Aye!!! So African. So Nigerian! 2016!"
**
8. adozuka izzati
"aye miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"
****
2017
9. Belinda Antoine
"lovelygirl2u I am from Haiti too. I do love that song. there's something in it that makes me dance like crazy. ayeeeee ayeeeee"
**
10. Vincypearl
"Ayeeeeee, Ayeeeeee 💃"
**
11.Thomasina
"aiyeeee! 🌄"
**
12. Connie Tee
"haha thanks sweetheart... my boo dedicated this song to
me... love you ARNOLD... ayyyyyeeeeeee"
**
13. Tendai Murwisi
"There is no one life on earth that surpasses a pure African life.Proud to be black African.Aye"
**
14. kiara walker
"Aye!!"
****
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