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Showing posts with label traditional African languages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traditional African languages. Show all posts

Monday, May 4, 2026

May The Force Be With You: What The Yoruba Word "Àṣẹ" (Aché, Axé, Ashe) REALLY Means (complete reprint)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about the Yoruba (Nigerian) word "Àṣẹ" (also given as "aché", "axé", or "ashe").

Part I presents several online excerpts about the word "Àṣẹ".

This is a complete reprint with the addition of two YouTube videos of the March 2, 2020 pancocojams post with a similar title. That post is still available on this blog.

The Addendum to this post presents a reprint from the only two comments for that March 2020 post. The comment section for that post is still open and comments are welcome for this 2026 post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/videos-that-include-yoruba-word-ase.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents several YouTube videos that include the Yoruba word "Àṣẹ".

The content of this post is provided for cultural and linguistic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

May the Force be with you.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #1


AfrikCosmos, Nov 7, 2025

Unlock the ancient power of Àṣẹ and Ịse — the sacred science of vibration in Yoruba and Igbo thought. Discover how the spoken word creates worlds, and learn how to use these forces for manifestation, authority, and spiritual power.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 --  Àṣẹ àti Orí: What Do 'Ase' and 'Ori' Mean? | The Physical & Spiritual Aspects and Connections


Yorùbá Lessons with Adérónkẹ́, Jul 5, 2019

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE WORD "ÀSE" (ALSO GIVEN AS ACHE, AXE, AND ASHE)

(These excerpts are given in no particular order.)

Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orisha#Ashe
"Ashe is the life-force that runs through all things, living and inanimate. It is described as the power to make things happen. It is an affirmation that is used in greetings and prayers, as well as a concept of spiritual growth. Orìṣà devotees strive to obtain Ashe through iwa-pele, gentle and good character, and in turn they experience alignment with the ori, what others might call inner peace and satisfaction with life. Ashe is divine energy that comes from Olodumare, the creator deity, and is manifested through Olorun, who rules the heavens and is associated with the sun. Without the sun, no life could exist, just as life cannot exist without some degree of ashe. Ashe is sometimes associated with Eshu, the messenger òrìṣà.[6] For practitioners, ashe represents a link to the eternal presence of the supreme deity, the orishas, and the ancestors.[7]

The concept is regularly referenced in Brazilian capoeira. Axé in this context is used as a greeting or farewell, in songs and as a form of praise. Saying that someone "has axé" in capoeira is complimenting their energy, fighting spirit, and attitude.[1]"

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.orishaimage.com/blog-gallery/ashe
" "Ashe" is a very central word and concept for Orisha-worship. On the one hand it is used often at the end of prayers. It means "may our prayers become reality, may we receive the blessing by the Orisha, short: may it manifest!"

On the other hand "Ashe" more generally also stands for the eternal energy that fills the cosmos. It is the abstract power and principle of Olodumare, God. Calling for "Ashe" is calling for what lies beyond our human reality, that God’s will manifests on earth, where we live at the moment, and that we can experience Olodumare’s power.

It is written in the four main languages of Orisha-worship worldwide, from Nigeria to the diaspora of slavery and from there to the rest of the world: Yoruba, Spanish/Lukumi, Portuguese/Nago and English."

****
Excerpt #3
From https://science.jrank.org/pages/11051/Religion-African-Diaspora-Spiritual-Assets-Ase-Konesans.html
"Religion
African Diaspora Spiritual Assets: Ase And Konesans

Two central concepts in some African-derived religions are ase (or axe) and konesans (connaissance). Ase is the divine force, energy, and power incarnate in the world. Olodumare gives ase to everything, including inanimate objects. Ashe is the power behind all things in the universe. It enables people to find balance in life. The orishas are bearers of asheSanteros (Santerían priests) use ase to provide blessing and healing to devotees. "Ashe is a current or flow, a groove that initiates can channel so that it carries them along their road in life. The prayers, rhythms, offerings, taboos of Santería tune initiates into this flow" (Murphy, 1993, p. 131). In Santería, herbs are impregnated with ashe. The color of the Obatala conducts ashe. Part of the Vodun initiation ceremonies gives the priest intuitive knowledge, or konesans, enabling him to understand people, diagnose problems, and perform healing."...

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Excerpt #4
From http://capoeira-connection.com/capoeira/2011/10/what-is-axe/
"What is axé?

[...]

The term axé (also spelled aché or ashé – all pronounced ah-SHEH) comes from the Yoruba peoples of Western Africa. It is the name they gave to the life force; the concept is similar to the Eastern idea of qi.

In capoeira today, axé has come to mean something like “energy.” If a roda has a lot of axé, it means it has good vibes, powerful energy. Some groups use the word as a greeting.

Some references to axé in capoeira songs:
Axé, axé / Capoeira tem muito axé
Axé, axé / Capoeira has lots of axé

Dos velhos Mestres que viveram na Bahia,
Manda todo o seu axé e também sua magia
Bahia manda seu axé pra mim

From the old Mestres who lived in Bahia,
Send all your axé and also your magic
Bahia send your axé to me

Axé also refers to a style of popular music (not related to capoeira) that originated in Salvador, Bahia.

There is also a capoeira group called Axé Capoeira that was founded by Mestre Barrão."
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ax%C3%A9_(music) for information about the genre of Brazilian music called "Axé".

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Excerpt #5
From http://capoeiraucainla.com/home-capoeira-losangeles/2010/12/13/capoeira-wiki-word-of-the-week-axe-updated.html
Excerpts from the website CANDOMBLE - Uma Religião sem Mistérios a Serviço do Povo.

Translated by yours truly Guatambu (any improvements to the translation contact me)
"O Axé

A magical energy, the universal sacred of the orixá. A powerful energy that is always neutral. Manipulated and directed by men through the orixás and their symbols and/or elements. "

The most precious of Ilê*, axé is the force that ensures dynamic existence.It is transmitted, should be maintained and developed, as all forces may increase or decrease; and this variation is related to the activity and conduct of the ritual.The conduct is determined by the scrupulous observance of the duties and obligations of each holder of axé, yourself, orixá, and Ilê.The development of individual and group axé affects the axé of the Ilê.

* - Ilê requires its own definition here. Ilê is basically synonymous with terreiro. A terreiro is a temple or house of candomblê. Think of it like you would your local church, synagogue, mosque, or buddhist temple. Each of these types of houses of worship have their unique characteristics in terms of symbols, architecture, look, and feel, and the same is true for a terreiro. - Guatambu

"The axé is connected to the initiated, and directly proportional to its ritual conduct - the relationship with his deity, his community, his duties and his babalorixá (priest of candomblé)."

The strength of the axé is contained and transmitted by certain elements and material substances, is transmitted to humans and objects, maintaining and renewing the powers of accomplishment.The axé is contained in a variety of representative elements of the kingdoms: animal, vegetable and mineral, water (fresh and salt), earth, and forest (untamed vegetation or urban space).It is contained in the natural and essential substances of each being whether simple or complex, living or dead, that make up the universe.

There are places, sounds, objects and body parts (especially animal) impregnated with axé. For example, the heart, liver, lungs, gizzard, kidney, feet, hands, tail, bones, teeth, ivory, genitals, roots, leaves , river water, sea, rain, lake, pool, waterfall, orô (prayer), Adja (sort of bell), illus (drums) ...

Every ritual act and offering involves the transmission and revitalization of axé.To be truly active, these ritual acts and offerings must come from the combination of those elements that allow for a specific result or achievement. To receive axé means to incorporate the symbolic elements that represent the vital and essential principles of all that exists.

Xerife pointed out Mestre Acordeon's song "Pedir o Axé", and added the lyrics with translation below...

Vamos pedir o axé

(Lets ask Axé)

Pressa roda começar

(So this round can begin)

De conforme os fundamentos

(Within the fundations)

Capoeira e candomblé

(Capoeira and candomblé)

Axé Babá

(Axé Babá)

Oh ie viva Meu Deus! AXÉ BABÁ

(Oh yea viva my god! Axé Babá)

Oh Ie viva Seu Bimba! MEU CAMARÁ

(Oh yea viva my Bimba! My friend)

Oh ie é mestre meu! SEMPRE SERÁ

(Oh yea you are my master! ALWAYS WILL BE)

Oh ie volta do mundo! QUE O MUNDO DÁ

(Oh yeaa the world spins! That the world does)

Vamos pedir o axé, meu pai! MEU PAI XANGô

(Lets ask axé, my father! My father Xangô)

Vamos pedir o axé, minha mãe! IEMANJÁ

(Lets ask axé, my mother! IEMANJA)

Vamos pedir o axé, meu rei! REI OXALÁ

(Lets ask Axé, my king! KING OXALÁ)

Vamos pedir o axé, meu pai MEU PAI XANGÔ

(Lets ask Axé, my father MY FATHER XANGÔ)

Reparado added from Mestre Acordeon's book...

"Aché (Axé, Asé) is the magic force that moves all things in the universe according to the African religions in Brazil. It exists in all realms of nature and can be transmitted through specific rituals. Although Capoeira has no direct connection with religion, the capoeiristas, as the majority of Brazilians, are related one way or another with Afro-Brazilian rituals. Aché in Capoeira means the connection with the roots, a special energy to be developed by any capoeirista. To wish aché to someone means to wish good luck. For those who believe, some special people transmit aché through their wishes."

p.6 Almeida, Bira(Mestre Acordeon). Capoeira: A Brazilian Art Form. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 1986. Print.

Espantalho added...

“At the heart of this Yoruba religion is the concept of àse, an individual’s personal spiritual power, which grows throughout life through a person’s diligent application to doing good deeds, coupled with appropriate and calm behavior and with service to the gods in the form of sacrifice. The reciprocity of service between gods and humans is essentially the giving of strength, the renewal of àse to the orisa through blood sacrifice of animals designated as belonging to a specific deity. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive worshipers with added ase. The rules of this loving support between humans and gods are all known to that father-of-all-knowledge, the babalawo”

~The Way of the Orisa by Philip Neimark p. XII

Babalawo is a priest of Yoruba religion.

“The orisa are energy that, for the most part, represent aspects of nature. Osun (pronounced O-SHUN) represents sweet waters, love, money, conception; Sango (pronounced Zhan-GO) represents thunder and lightning, strategy, and he is the warrior; Esu (pronounced A-shew), messenger to Oludumare (the single God), owner of roads and opportunities, owner of ase (spiritual energy)"...

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Excerpt #6
From http://www.orishanet.org/vocab.html
"Lucumí Vocabulary

Lucumí or Lacumí is the Yoruba language as it is spoken in Cuba and the United States. Yoruba is a tonal language like Chinese. The accents serve to approximate the tones for those of us who aren't familiar with tonal language. Also, some of the difficult sounds like the african "p" sound which is pronounced as kind of a "kp" sound is approximated using "kp" or "cu". This vocabulary follows the Spanish orthography with a few exceptions to help English speakers:

The "ch" in Spanish is used simply because there is no "sh" in Spanish. We use "sh" here.

The "y" in Spanish often has an edge to it that approximates the English (and Yoruba) "j" sound. I have taken the liberty of using "j" here where applicable.

The "ñ" sound is used very sparingly here and is usually substituted here with "y".

As in Spanish, the accent is on the second to last syllable unless there is an accent mark over another syllable.

I should note here that Lacumí is an oral tradition and that the written versions were meant to be more "cheat sheets" than anything else and should not be used as "proof" of the decomposition of the language. Lakumí speakers in Matanzas and other areas speak very much as any Yoruba speaker would. I have spoken with Nigerian born Yoruba speakers in Lacumí without any difficulty whatsoever. In fact, on one occasion I was greeted with a very surprised "you speak Yoruba!!!" from the astonished Yoruba man I was speaking with.

Here are a few words in Lucumí to get you started:

[...]

Ashé: So Be It, The Spiritual Power of the Universe, Talent”...

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Excerpt #7
From https://www.spanishdict.com/answers/39/ritmo-con-ach Ritmo Con Aché

[...]

a) "Aché does not mean ache. Ache is dolor, or achaques. The letter H is hache in Spanish. According to the Diccionario de la lengua española, of the Real Academia Española, aché is not a word in the Spanish language. However, looking up the song, if found a page on the song stating that aché is an african word that means a divine life force (in the santeria religion). Aché is a word in the West African Yoruba language."

updated Apr 20, 2011
posted by manutd

**
b) "I suppose that you are talking about a brasilean music. It's pronounced "Aché" is Spanish but is written "Axé" in portuguese.

Please, look at this place*."
updated Dec 26, 2009
posted by Carlos-F
-snip-
*That commenter gives the link to the Wikipedia page for Axe music that is given after Excerpt #4.

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ADDENDUM- COMMENTS FROM THE 2020 PANCOCOJAMS POST' DISCUSSION THREAD

Thank you very much for sharing!! I feel very related to this! I'm a Latina from Venezuela! And we Latinos from the Caribean and other Countries have a lot of African influence!! And we Love it! Most of our salsa songs have the word ache! We sing to chango, yemaya and so on! It is beautiful! It feels like home 🤗 Thank you 💖

ReplyDelete
Replies
  1. Your welcome,Keyla.

    I know so very little about Salsa. .

    I didn't know that the word "ache" was in most salsa songs.
    I also didn't know that people in Venezula sung to the orishas.

    There's so much that I don't know. :o(

    Best wishes. from your sister in the United States.

    Delete
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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are w
elcome.

Monday, October 31, 2022

"Jumbie Jamboree" ("Zombie Jamboree"; "Back To Back, Belly To Belly") YouTube examples, information, lyrics, & comments



Grovetownyute74, March 10, 2013
-snip-
This version of "Jumbie Jamboree" was released in 1962

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases two sound files of the song "Jumbie Jamboree" or "Zombie Jamboree" (also known as "Back to Back, Belly to Belly".

Information about the song "Jumbie Jamboree" ("Zombie Jamboree") is also included in this post.

This post also includes the lyrics to "Jumbie Jamboree" as sung by 
Laurel Aitken and the  lyrics of this song by The Wailers (also given as the Skatalites/Wailers").

This pancocojams post also includes a few comments about this song from the discussion threads of several YouTube sound files of "Jumbie Jamboree" ("Zombie Jamboree".) 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to  Conrad Eugene Mauge, Jr. (Lord Intruder), the composer of "Jumbie Jamboree" and thanks to all the performing artists who are showcased in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/seven-examples-of-jumbie-jamboree-also.html for a 2015 pancocojams post entitled Seven Examples Of "Jumbie Jamboree" (also known as "Zombie Jamboree" & "Back To Back, Belly To Belly")

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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLE #2: Jumbee Jamboree


Laurel Atkins, September 4, 2020

℗ 1965 Pressure Drop/Cherry Red Records

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "JUMBIE JAMBOREE"
From  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumbie_Jamberee
"Jumbie Jamberee" is a calypso song credited to Conrad Eugene Mauge, Jr.[1] In 1953 Lord Intruder released the song as the B-side to "Disaster With Police".[2] The song is also known as "Zombie Jamboree" and "Back to Back". In the introduction to the Kingston Trio's version "Lord Invader and his Twelve Penetrators" are incorrectly credited with the song instead of Lord Intruder.

The oldest versions of the song refer to a jumbee jamboree. Jumbies are evil spirits who were thought to cause wild dancing in their victims. The song's references to Carnival also suggest a connection to the Moko jumbie, a protecting spirit figure represented during Carnival on Trinidad by stilt walkers and dancers. The switch to "Zombie Jamboree" occurred very early with King Flash's version with those lyrics coming out in 1956, only three years after "Jumbie Jamboree" first appeared."...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight the fact that in Caribbean culture "jumbies" are quite different from "zombies". In contrast, a "zombie" is a corpse that has been reanimated, especially by means of a supernatural power or spell.

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SONG LYRICS: JUMBIE JAMBOREE
(as sung by Laurel Aitken)

Oh what a jumbie jamboree took place in a Kingston cemetry
Oh what a jumbie jamboree took place in a Kingston cemetry
Jumbies from up north of the island
Some of them are great calypsonians
Since the season was carnival
They ska together in Bakanal
And what they singing
And what they singing

Back to back, belly to belly. I dont care a damn
I dun dead already
Back to back, belly to belly that a jumbie jamboree

One female jumbie wouldn't behave
Look how she jumping on the grave
In one hand'e holding a qwart of rum
The next hand shes beating congo drum
The lead singer starts to make his rhyme
while othe jambies rock their bones in time
One bystander started to say
It was a sight to see jumbie break away

And what they singing

Back to back...

Left to right things was getting sweet
A bystander mash a jumbie feet
One jumbie raise his finger to one
He said mister take care you mashing me corn
The funniest thing I have ever seen
To see jumbie eating salt fish and ackee
I never see more marpy or gingerbeer
That took place at a jumbie parade last year

What they singing

Back to back...


Source: http://www.ska-talk.org/forum/index.php?topic=12714.0;wap2

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SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SONG FROM SEVERAL YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREADS
The sources for these comments are given in no particular order. The comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREAD SOURCE #1 
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFytKAzLDlE  Peter Tosh - Jumbie Jamboree, published by nina lolitax, May 23, 2014 Peter Tosh (1944 - 1987)


**
2. diego hiraldo, 2019
"Lyrics please"

**
Reply
3. Charlie Parker, 2019
"Oh what a jumbie jamboree to take place in the palace x2

They nearly mash up the theater

Because electricity had a failure

But when the hooligans them start to shout he said people?? I'll make them shut up their mouth

Everybody go why yo why why why yo and I hope you come out?

Some slip some may run some may duck some may fly

Some lick even more some lick up the eye

Grab a piece of broad board oh grab a piece of broad board oh grab a piece of broad board and cover me head

Yes sir me glad you come out deh

Woah yo me glad you come out deh

Yes sir me glad you come out deh

(Repeat entire thing)

 

That's the best I can make out the lyrics. Hope they help"

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YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREAD SOURCE #2

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tzukOqoQ5Y "Lord Jellicoe & His Calypso Monarchs - Zombie Jamboree" published by Steve, Nov. 9, 2009

1. W
arren Anderson, 2014
"I like this better than the Harry Belafonte version."

**
Reply
2. Battle Of Trenton, 2021
"Belafonte's version falls apart in later verses discussing unrelated topics of Bridget Bardot and nuclear war."

**
3. M. H. Nude, 2016
"This is THE version for sure/  This is what Lord Jellicoe and his Monarchs sang at the Jamaican hotels for the tourists.  Anyone know what the lyrics are in the verse that goes, "The funniest thing I ever did see, a zombie  ____ salt fish without a key(?) ."  I got the rest but I can't make that one out// Oh,oh, this recording was cut short and is incomplete.  too bad.

**
Reply
4. AmbassadorsOfSorrow, 2016
"@ M H Nude -- it's "a zombie nyam a salt fish without ackee" -- Ackee & salt fish is a Jamaican dish -- 'nyam' means 'eat' X"
-snip-
 https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nyam#Etymology has an entry for the word nyam under the section for the etymology of that Jamaican Creole word. 
That entry begins by stating that that Jamaican Creole word is "Borrowed from Wolof nyam, nyami, nyamnyam (“food; to eat”), or from Fula nyama, nyami, nyamgo (“to eat”). Possibly via Ghanaian Pidgin English."

That entry then notes that "Many other West African languages use similar terms for "flesh" or "meat", such as: Chichewa nyama, Efik unam, Esimbi ɛnyimi, Hausa nama, Lingala nyama, Swahili nyama, and Zulu inyama. Also compare Hausa nyamnyam, yamyam (“cannibal”) and Luba-Kasai nyama (“animal”)."

The word "West" in that wiktionary.org sentence is (hopefully) a typographical error since - except for Efik and Hausa and possibly Esimbi*- the other languages that are listed in that sentence aren't from West Africa. ( *I don't know where Esimbi is spoken). Excluding those languages, that sentence would be correct if it indicated that "Many other African languages use similar terms for "flesh: or "meat".

Here's the geographical locations for those other languages that are included in that passage:
Chichewa is from Southern, Southeast and East Africa, Lingala is from Central Africa, Swahilis is from East Africa and Central Africa, Zulu is from South Africa, and Luba-Kasai is from Central Africa. 
  

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YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREAD SOURCE #3

From  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RixHMMTM0dQ   Harry Belafonte - Zombie Jamboree (Back to Back), published by Jose Alfonso Del Rio

1. TheJonaco, 2019
"I just heard the Kingston Trio's live recording of this calypso classic (1959). I believe Belafonte recorded it a couple of years later. The Trio's version was very funny, but Belafonte- ever the peacenik- added a little message at the end. Still, both honored the calypsonian tradition by making up new words on the spot. It was Rockapella who introduced me to this song years later on "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego"- the best kids' quiz show ever."

**
Reply
2. Tawananyasha Mutekwe, 2021
"The original version was by Trinidadian calypsonian Lord Intruder who also wrote it. Belafonte just like The Kingstone Trio adapted it as cruise-ship calypso."

**
3. Jacob Short, 2021
"Back in the early 1990s I was a teenager watching Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego? And the music for this children's gameshow was provided by the  acapella group Rockapella. They sang this song and provided their own vocal musical accompaniment. They changed the words just a little: Back to back, belly to belly. I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone-dead alread-eee!!! Back to back, belly to belly, it's a zombie jamboree!"

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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.


Monday, September 19, 2022

"O" At The End Of Sentences In Yoruba, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin English & Various Other African Languages (Online Excerpts)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on "o" at the end of sentences in v arious African languages. 

This post presents several online excerpts about "o" at the end of sentences in Yoruba, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin English and various other African languages.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/09/o-at-end-of-sentences-in-yoruba-igbo_78.html  for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents selected YouTube discussion thread comments that are examples of "o" at the end of sentences in various African languages. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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EXCERPTS FROM ONLINE SOURCES
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From  https://journals.openedition.org/linx/8350 The sentence final particle o in Ikwere
Sylvester N. OSU, « The sentence final particle o in Ikwere », Linx [En ligne], 83 | 2021, mis en ligne le 30 décembre 2021
"Introduction

1 Sentence-final particle (SFP) is used here in place of utterance-final particle (UFP) just as sente (...)

1 The sentence final particle (henceforth SFP)1 o has been identified in several Nigerian languages (e.g., Igbo, Yoruba, Ikwere) extending to the Nigerian Pidgin English. According to Williamson (1972: 350), it is used at the end of sentences in Igbo (Benue-Congo, Igboid, Nigeria) when speaking to someone at a distance; it is also used as a sign of affirmation, or assent to a salutation. Sachnine (1997: 200) reports that it has a slight emphatic function in Yoruba (Benue-Congo, Yoruboid, Nigeria). Faraclas (1996: 116) finds that it has an emphatic marking function and adds meanings of empathy, solidarity and realis modality to the assertion in the Nigerian Pidgin English. Interestingly, the SFP o does exist in other languages outside Nigeria. For instance, Helmlinger (1972: 387) states that it is used in Duala (Benue-Congo, Bantu, Cameroon) for questions or calls at a distance. Furthermore, Singler (1988: 123) suggests that “the sentence-final particle o is a real feature par excellence, extending along the West African coast from Sierra Leone to Nigeria. English-and French-lexifier pidgins and creoles display it as well, not only in West Africa but also in the Caribbean”. To buttress this point, Singler (1988: 123-125) draws examples from Klao, Bassa, Kroumen, Wobe (Kru); Nkonya, Twi (Kwa); Mende, Kpelle, Mano (Mande); Kisi (West Atlantic); as well as Ibibio (Benue-Congo).

 2. Aim

I do not intend to study this particle in all of the languages mentioned above whether individually or cross-linguistically. This article focuses on the SFP o in the Ikwere language2. First, it intends to make a contribution towards addressing the dearth of work on this topic as reported by Singler (1988). He writes (p. 123): “Despite the breadth of o's distribution and despite the frequency of its occurrence within particular languages, its functions have gone largely unexamined”. The investigation in the present article, however, will go beyond the functions of this particle. Second, the SFP o in Ikwere belongs to a subset of nonderived particles that occur in sentence final position in Ikwere. This subset of particles includes kɔ3, o, ʔɔ, nu, ta̰ and we. However, o, we, ta̰ and ʔɔ consistently occur in the sentence final position while the others can occur elsewhere. All these particles in turn can be subsumed under a much larger class that is often referred to as discourse markers in the linguistic literature (see, inter alia, Schiffrin 1987, Hartmann 1994: 2957, Schourup 1999, Paillard 2002)4. See also Ameka (1990) and Dimmendaal (1996) for the study of similar units in some African languages spoken outside Nigeria.5

[…]

Different uses of the SFP o and analysis

4.1. Affirmative sentences

4.2. Negative sentences

4.3. Injunctive sentences

4.4. Interrogative sentences

4.4.1. Yes-no questions

4.4.2. Interro-negative questions

4.4.3. Rhetorical questions"...

****
EXCERPT #2
From https://www.hawaii.edu/satocenter/langnet/definitions/cameroon.html Kamtok (Cameroon Pidgin)
written by Loreto Todd (with help from Martin Jumbam and Herbert Wamey)  [no date cited; retrieved on Septembe 19, 2022]
"Introduction

Kamtok is the pidginised English of Cameroon. This English-related language has been a lingua franca in the country since at least the 1880s. The 35-year period since 1966 has seen dramatic changes in the attitude of speakers towards the language. Speakers have always recognised the usefulness of the language but, in early writings, it was frequently referred to as "Bad English", "Broken English" and "Bush English". Today, due mainly to its extended use in Churches and on Radio and Television, it is becoming known as Kamtok from Cameroon Talk, and is taking its place as a recognised medium of interaction.

It is difficult to distinguish between a widely-used pidgin and a creole. The sociological differentiation, often cited, is that a creole is a mother tongue whereas a pidgin is not. However, this distinction is overly simplistic in West Africa where multilingualism is the norm and where the same language can, at any one time, be a mother tongue, a language of wider communication and a first, second, third, fourth or foreign language. This is the case with Kamtok. It is acquired by many in infancy at the same time as their other mother tongue(s) and spoken at a similar speed and with similar flexibility. Many, including clergymen, traders, travellers, gendarmes, soldiers and prisoners utilise it as the most viable means of communication in a country with two official languages, French and English, and a minimum of two hundred mutually unintelligible vernaculars. Other people, including immigrants and expatriates, learn it with varying degrees of proficiency and a few, albeit a diminishing number, still refuse to speak it because they believe it incapable of civilised discourse.

[…]

Worksong in Kamtok

masa, a wan wohk o!-  Master, I want work.'

na wohk dis o! - This is work.'

masa, yu wan wohk o!- Master, you want work.'

na wohk dis o! This is work.'

o ya ya!

soso dai wohk o! Always killing work.'

mohni no dei o! There's no money.'

o ya ya!

mohni no dei o! There's no money.'

wuman no dei o! 'There are no women.'

o ya ya!

daso dai wohk o! Only killing work.'

na wohk dis o! This is work.'

o ya ya!”
-snip-
I added italics to the English translations for these Kamtok lyrics

****
EXCERPT #3
From https://dailytrust.com/broken-english-pidgin-english-and-nigerian-english Broken English, Pidgin English, And Nigerian English
By Webmaster, Sun, 20 Nov 2011 
"In African languages, it is usual to end sentences with what grammarians call terminal intensifiers. An intensifier is a word that has little meaning except to accentuate the meaning of the word or phrase it modifies.

A “terminal intensifier” is therefore an intensifier that appears at the end of a sentence. Words like “o” in “E don taya me o,” [I’m fed up], “na” in “wia you deyna?” [Where are you?], and “sha” in “Di ting get as e be sha” [That’s really unusual] are terminal intensifiers because they appear at the end of sentences and merely heighten the meanings of the phrases that preceded them. With a few exceptions, intensifiers appear either at the beginning or in the middle of sentences in English. E.g., “Honestly” in “Honestly, this doesn’t make sense to me,” “really” in “I’m really tired.”

Another structural characteristic in Nigerian Pidgin English, which is derived from indigenous Nigerian languages, is “reduplication.” Linguists use this term to describe the deliberate repetition of a word to create plurals or for emphasis. Examples: “Abeg come here quick quick [Please come here quickly], “The omoge fine well well” [The girl is very beautiful], “Di ting deyyanfuyanfu” [There is plenty of it], “Di kontri don jagajaga” [The country is terribly ruined].

[…]

Now, in Nigeria, it is customary to use “Pidgin English” and “broken English” interchangeably. But Pidgin English isn’t broken English because it does not attempt to approximate the linguistic conventions of Standard English. In other words, it isn’t the product of an incompetent attempt to speak or write Standard English; it’s the product of a historically specific, socio-linguistic alchemy of Nigerian languages and English. Additionally, it seems to me that broken English, deformed as it is, is often comparatively more intelligible to monolingual native English speakers than Pidgin English.

Interestingly, Nigerian Pidgin English is now increasingly being creolized especially in Nigeria’s deep south and in such cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic urban centers as Lagos and Abuja. It’s anybody’s guess where this will all end.”…

****
EXCERPT #4
From https://www.legit.ng/534689-why-nigerians-say-o-in-every-conversation.html Why Nigerians Overuse 'O'
August 31, 2015 by Onyinye Muomah
...‘O’; a simple word– rather, letter, with a simple sound. Its usage is so ubiquitous in the speech of an average Nigerian – especially those living in the city – that it is almost always the first thing most expatriates I have known learn when trying to take on the Nigerian swag. When speaking with an average Nigerian, especially in Nigeria, if you don’t hear at least one ‘O’ in a conversation of five short sentences, then be sure you are not speaking to a Nigerian. Take this conversation between two Nigerians for example:

"Good morning o."
"Yes o.
Who is there o?"
"It is me o. Is your husband at home?"
"No o."
"Haba! Where did he go now?" (Now is another overused word I may discuss someday.)
"I don’t know o. Since morning o."
"Ha. That’s not good o. Sha, tell him when he comes back that I came o."
"Ok o. I will o."
"Oya now, bye-bye o."
"O, bye-bye." 

[...]

If you paid attention, you'd notice, that like most Nigerian exclamatory words, "O" connotes more than one idea/reaction. It can be an answer to a call, It can be used in agreement. It can be used to reiterate a point.

As for why Nigerians overuse it, to tell the truth, me,  I don't know o. All I know is that me sef, I use it a lot o, and e tire me too o! 
-snip-
The words given in italics were written that way in this article. 

****
EXCERPT #5

https://www.rogerblench.info/Language/English/Nigerian%20English%20Dictionary.pdf A DICTIONARY OF NIGERIAN

ENGLISH

DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT]

Roger Blench, Mallam Dendo

Cambridge, Sunday, 07 August 2005

[…]

Nigerian /Ghanaian/ West African English

One of the more surprising things about Nigerian English is the extent to which it has a common lexicon and

grammar with other West African Englishes, notably Ghanaian. A guide to Ghanaian English (Kirby 1998)

provides an interesting comparison with the present document and parallel forms are noted2

. I have less

information about Cameroun, Sierra Leone and Gambia and would welcome further insights. However, the

puzzle is the history of some of these forms. Do they go back to the early days of colonial presence on the

coast or are they more recent products of the massive migration of Ghanaians to Nigeria during the oil-boom

era of the 1970s and 1980s? Probably both, but only a detailed scanning of earlier sources will provide

answers.

[…]
O
oo s.t. tag placed at the end of sentences, to soften

the statement or give it slight emphasis I

think I would do it, oo! Go register now, oo [ID
Card poster, March 2003]"
-snip-
The sentence in italics was written this way in that dictionary.

****
EXCERPT #6
From http://bwari.tripod.com/FGGCABUJA/id18.html FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS' COLLEGE BWARI ABUJA PIDGIN DICTIONARY

"Babawilly's Dictionary of Pidgin English Words and Phrases.
...“O!: Placed at the end of sentences for emphasis and effect E.g. I go broke bottle for yua head O!”

****
EXCERPT #7 
From https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/15-nigerian-pidgin-english-phrases-you-need-to-know/ 15 Nigerian Pidgin English Phrases You Need to Know
by Fareeda Abdulkareem, Updated: 21 February 2017
….“Nawa oh!

This is an expression of surprise, similar to ‘wow’. The ‘oh’ ending is a kind of conversational tick that gets added to lots of words and phrases to add emphasis.”
-snip-
Notice that "o" at the end of sentences is sometimes written as "oh". Also, since at least the early 21st century [?], "o" at the end of sentences is sometimes elongated with added "o"s [for example: "oo", "oooo". These elongations strengthen the meaning of "o" at the end of a sentence.

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

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Monday, March 2, 2020

Videos That Include The Yoruba Word "Ase" (also given as Aché, Axé, Ashe)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about the Yoruba (Nigerian) word "Àṣẹ" (also given as "aché", "axé", or "ashe").

Part II presents several YouTube videos that include the Yoruba word "Àṣẹ".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/what-yoruba-word-ase-ache-axe-ashe.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents several excerpts about the word "Àṣẹ".

The content of this post is provided for cultural and linguistic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Às̩e̩ | What Does 'Ase' Mean? | The Physical and Spiritual Aspects



Yorùbá Lessons with Adérónké̩, Jul 5, 2019
-snip-
This video is given with captions. However, some of the captions are incorrect. For example, the Yoruba word “Às̩e̩” is incorrectly given as “a shake” or “share”. Those captions sometimes also uses the word “ashay” for “Às̩e̩” and that’s a closer transcription of that word.

Here's one comment exchange from that video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. claude reed, 2019
"thanks for the explanation. there maybe another confusion what are the tonal usage with asheh and the difference between ashay and asheh. some i fear don't know the difference."

**
REPLY
2. Asabi Fatosin, 2019
"claude reed the diacritical marks give the correct pronunciation."

**
REPLY
3. Beats Boy,2019
"Ashay isn't a thing, it's a mispronunciation. It is pronounced 'Asheh'."

**
REPLY
4. Yorùbá Lessons with Adérónké̩
"Like Beats Boy mentioned earlier, those are incorrect ways of pronouncing 'às̩e̩'. 😃 Everyone who pronounces the word incorrectly is trying their best, at least. God bless everyone. ❤️"

**
5. yaya centella, 2019
"thank you very much for sharing this with the world. many blessings and blessings of peace on earth. ase"
-snip-
Ase" (or "Axé'", "ashe") written at the end of a sentence, or the only word in a sentence is similar to or the same as the English use of the word "Amen" and/or the English saying "So be it" or "More power to you".

****
Video #2: Àdúrà àti Gbólóhùn Àṣẹ. Oração vinculado com ọfọ̀.



Ayokunle Omisakin Obalúfè, Apr 2, 2019

"Osun Itaguaí Festival", Rio de Janeiro 2019
-snip-
This video is an example of the call & response use of “Axé” (people saying "Axé" as the response to a “call” [other words].

Here's a comment from that video's discussion thread:
Fabio Sousa, 2019
"Axé!"

****
Video #3: Nana Malaya - "Funga Alafia"



The Kennedy Center, Oct 9, 2013

The Millennium Stage partners with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to present some of the best D.C. area street performers in a MetroPerforms! Showcase.

The Millennium Stage is a FREE performance series and part of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It features a broad spectrum of national and international performing arts companies, from dance and jazz, to chamber music and folk, comedy, storytelling and theater, every day of the year. Performances always begin at 6pm.
-snip-
Here are some comments from that video's discussion thread (including two comments that I wrote)

1. Azizi Powell, 2016
"Alafia, Nana Malaya!

I'm glad that I happened upon this video of your and your drummers' performance of "Funga Alafia".

I'm proud to know you.

Here's some information about this multifaceted dancer, choreographer, speaker, teacher, and entrepreneur:

Nana Malaya is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of her children is movie and television actor Lamman Rucker.

The poem "I Am the Original Dance Machine" (3:20 in this video) was written by New York City dancer/choreographer Bob Johnson, who also lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and in 1969/1970 was the founder of the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble. Nana Malaya was a member of this esteemed dance company.

Ase, Nana Malaya!"

**
2. Stephan and Ashae Lyles, 2017
"My name... Same pronunciation but different spelling Ashae💙💜💚💛"
-snip-
Nigerians don't use "Ase" as a name. That said, this variant spelling of that word is a powerful name that Ashae Lyles (or anyone else with that name) can be proud of.

**
3. okallixti, 2017
"what's the origin of this song? is it in Yoruba? thank you"

**
REPLY
4. Angie, 2018
"okallixti Nigerian origin."

**
REPLY
5. Azizi Powell, 2020
"@Angie & @okallixti, The song that is known as "Funga Alafia" isn't a Nigerian song. Here's some basic information about the song "Funga Alafia":
1. The song "Funga Alafia" was composed by African American drummer and dancer LaRocque Bey in Harlem (New York City) in 1959 or 1960.

2. The word "funga" is a folk processed form of the Vai (Liberia, West Africa) word "fanga".

3. The words "alafia" and "ashe" are from the Yoruba (Nigeria, West Africa) language.

4. The tune for the song "Funga Alafia" is from the American folk song "Little Liza Jane".

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELNIe_D79xs for a sound file of Nina Simone singing "Little Liza Jane"

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-real-origin-of-song-funga-alafia.html "The REAL Origin Of The Song "Funga Alafia" - Hint It Isn't A Liberian Song, Or A Nigerian Song, Or A Traditional African Song" for more information about this song.

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

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

What The Yoruba Word "Àṣẹ" (Aché, Axé, Ashe) REALLY Means

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about the Yoruba (Nigerian) word "Àṣẹ" (also given as "aché", "axé", or "ashe").

Part I presents several excerpts about the word "Àṣẹ".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/videos-that-include-yoruba-word-ase.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents several YouTube videos that include the Yoruba word "Àṣẹ".

The content of this post is provided for cultural and linguistic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE WORD "ÀSE" (ALSO GIVEN AS ACHE, AXE, AND ASHE)

(These excerpts are given in no particular order.)

Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orisha#Ashe
"Ashe is the life-force that runs through all things, living and inanimate. It is described as the power to make things happen. It is an affirmation that is used in greetings and prayers, as well as a concept of spiritual growth. Orìṣà devotees strive to obtain Ashe through iwa-pele, gentle and good character, and in turn they experience alignment with the ori, what others might call inner peace and satisfaction with life. Ashe is divine energy that comes from Olodumare, the creator deity, and is manifested through Olorun, who rules the heavens and is associated with the sun. Without the sun, no life could exist, just as life cannot exist without some degree of ashe. Ashe is sometimes associated with Eshu, the messenger òrìṣà.[6] For practitioners, ashe represents a link to the eternal presence of the supreme deity, the orishas, and the ancestors.[7]

The concept is regularly referenced in Brazilian capoeira. Axé in this context is used as a greeting or farewell, in songs and as a form of praise. Saying that someone "has axé" in capoeira is complimenting their energy, fighting spirit, and attitude.[1]"

****
Excerpt #2
From https://www.orishaimage.com/blog-gallery/ashe
" "Ashe" is a very central word and concept for Orisha-worship. On the one hand it is used often at the end of prayers. It means "may our prayers become reality, may we receive the blessing by the Orisha, short: may it manifest!"

On the other hand "Ashe" more generally also stands for the eternal energy that fills the cosmos. It is the abstract power and principle of Olodumare, God. Calling for "Ashe" is calling for what lies beyond our human reality, that God’s will manifests on earth, where we live at the moment, and that we can experience Olodumare’s power.

It is written in the four main languages of Orisha-worship worldwide, from Nigeria to the diaspora of slavery and from there to the rest of the world: Yoruba, Spanish/Lukumi, Portuguese/Nago and English."

****
Excerpt #3
From https://science.jrank.org/pages/11051/Religion-African-Diaspora-Spiritual-Assets-Ase-Konesans.html
"Religion
African Diaspora Spiritual Assets: Ase And Konesans

Two central concepts in some African-derived religions are ase (or axe) and konesans (connaissance). Ase is the divine force, energy, and power incarnate in the world. Olodumare gives ase to everything, including inanimate objects. Ashe is the power behind all things in the universe. It enables people to find balance in life. The orishas are bearers of ashe. Santeros (Santerían priests) use ase to provide blessing and healing to devotees. "Ashe is a current or flow, a groove that initiates can channel so that it carries them along their road in life. The prayers, rhythms, offerings, taboos of Santería tune initiates into this flow" (Murphy, 1993, p. 131). In Santería, herbs are impregnated with ashe. The color of the Obatala conducts ashe. Part of the Vodun initiation ceremonies gives the priest intuitive knowledge, or konesans, enabling him to understand people, diagnose problems, and perform healing."...

****
Excerpt #4
From http://capoeira-connection.com/capoeira/2011/10/what-is-axe/
"What is axé?

[...]

The term axé (also spelled aché or ashé – all pronounced ah-SHEH) comes from the Yoruba peoples of Western Africa. It is the name they gave to the life force; the concept is similar to the Eastern idea of qi.

In capoeira today, axé has come to mean something like “energy.” If a roda has a lot of axé, it means it has good vibes, powerful energy. Some groups use the word as a greeting.

Some references to axé in capoeira songs:
Axé, axé / Capoeira tem muito axé
Axé, axé / Capoeira has lots of axé

Dos velhos Mestres que viveram na Bahia,
Manda todo o seu axé e também sua magia
Bahia manda seu axé pra mim

From the old Mestres who lived in Bahia,
Send all your axé and also your magic
Bahia send your axé to me

Axé also refers to a style of popular music (not related to capoeira) that originated in Salvador, Bahia.

There is also a capoeira group called Axé Capoeira that was founded by Mestre Barrão."
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ax%C3%A9_(music) for information about the genre of Brazilian music called "Axé".

****
Excerpt #5
From http://capoeiraucainla.com/home-capoeira-losangeles/2010/12/13/capoeira-wiki-word-of-the-week-axe-updated.html
Excerpts from the website CANDOMBLE - Uma Religião sem Mistérios a Serviço do Povo.

Translated by yours truly Guatambu (any improvements to the translation contact me)
"O Axé

A magical energy, the universal sacred of the orixá. A powerful energy that is always neutral. Manipulated and directed by men through the orixás and their symbols and/or elements. "

The most precious of Ilê*, axé is the force that ensures dynamic existence.It is transmitted, should be maintained and developed, as all forces may increase or decrease; and this variation is related to the activity and conduct of the ritual.The conduct is determined by the scrupulous observance of the duties and obligations of each holder of axé, yourself, orixá, and Ilê.The development of individual and group axé affects the axé of the Ilê.

* - Ilê requires its own definition here. Ilê is basically synonymous with terreiro. A terreiro is a temple or house of candomblê. Think of it like you would your local church, synagogue, mosque, or buddhist temple. Each of these types of houses of worship have their unique characteristics in terms of symbols, architecture, look, and feel, and the same is true for a terreiro. - Guatambu

"The axé is connected to the initiated, and directly proportional to its ritual conduct - the relationship with his deity, his community, his duties and his babalorixá (priest of candomblé)."

The strength of the axé is contained and transmitted by certain elements and material substances, is transmitted to humans and objects, maintaining and renewing the powers of accomplishment.The axé is contained in a variety of representative elements of the kingdoms: animal, vegetable and mineral, water (fresh and salt), earth, and forest (untamed vegetation or urban space).It is contained in the natural and essential substances of each being whether simple or complex, living or dead, that make up the universe.

There are places, sounds, objects and body parts (especially animal) impregnated with axé. For example, the heart, liver, lungs, gizzard, kidney, feet, hands, tail, bones, teeth, ivory, genitals, roots, leaves , river water, sea, rain, lake, pool, waterfall, orô (prayer), Adja (sort of bell), illus (drums) ...

Every ritual act and offering involves the transmission and revitalization of axé.To be truly active, these ritual acts and offerings must come from the combination of those elements that allow for a specific result or achievement. To receive axé means to incorporate the symbolic elements that represent the vital and essential principles of all that exists.

Xerife pointed out Mestre Acordeon's song "Pedir o Axé", and added the lyrics with translation below...

Vamos pedir o axé

(Lets ask Axé)

Pressa roda começar

(So this round can begin)

De conforme os fundamentos

(Within the fundations)

Capoeira e candomblé

(Capoeira and candomblé)

Axé Babá

(Axé Babá)

Oh ie viva Meu Deus! AXÉ BABÁ

(Oh yea viva my god! Axé Babá)

Oh Ie viva Seu Bimba! MEU CAMARÁ

(Oh yea viva my Bimba! My friend)

Oh ie é mestre meu! SEMPRE SERÁ

(Oh yea you are my master! ALWAYS WILL BE)

Oh ie volta do mundo! QUE O MUNDO DÁ

(Oh yeaa the world spins! That the world does)

Vamos pedir o axé, meu pai! MEU PAI XANGô

(Lets ask axé, my father! My father Xangô)

Vamos pedir o axé, minha mãe! IEMANJÁ

(Lets ask axé, my mother! IEMANJA)

Vamos pedir o axé, meu rei! REI OXALÁ

(Lets ask Axé, my king! KING OXALÁ)

Vamos pedir o axé, meu pai MEU PAI XANGÔ

(Lets ask Axé, my father MY FATHER XANGÔ)

Reparado added from Mestre Acordeon's book...

"Aché (Axé, Asé) is the magic force that moves all things in the universe according to the African religions in Brazil. It exists in all realms of nature and can be transmitted through specific rituals. Although Capoeira has no direct connection with religion, the capoeiristas, as the majority of Brazilians, are related one way or another with Afro-Brazilian rituals. Aché in Capoeira means the connection with the roots, a special energy to be developed by any capoeirista. To wish aché to someone means to wish good luck. For those who believe, some special people transmit aché through their wishes."

p.6 Almeida, Bira(Mestre Acordeon). Capoeira: A Brazilian Art Form. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 1986. Print.

Espantalho added...

“At the heart of this Yoruba religion is the concept of àse, an individual’s personal spiritual power, which grows throughout life through a person’s diligent application to doing good deeds, coupled with appropriate and calm behavior and with service to the gods in the form of sacrifice. The reciprocity of service between gods and humans is essentially the giving of strength, the renewal of àse to the orisa through blood sacrifice of animals designated as belonging to a specific deity. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive worshipers with added ase. The rules of this loving support between humans and gods are all known to that father-of-all-knowledge, the babalawo”

~The Way of the Orisa by Philip Neimark p. XII

Babalawo is a priest of Yoruba religion.

“The orisa are energy that, for the most part, represent aspects of nature. Osun (pronounced O-SHUN) represents sweet waters, love, money, conception; Sango (pronounced Zhan-GO) represents thunder and lightning, strategy, and he is the warrior; Esu (pronounced A-shew), messenger to Oludumare (the single God), owner of roads and opportunities, owner of ase (spiritual energy)"...

****
Excerpt #6
From http://www.orishanet.org/vocab.html
"Lucumí Vocabulary

Lucumí or Lacumí is the Yoruba language as it is spoken in Cuba and the United States. Yoruba is a tonal language like Chinese. The accents serve to approximate the tones for those of us who aren't familiar with tonal language. Also, some of the difficult sounds like the african "p" sound which is pronounced as kind of a "kp" sound is approximated using "kp" or "cu". This vocabulary follows the Spanish orthography with a few exceptions to help English speakers:

The "ch" in Spanish is used simply because there is no "sh" in Spanish. We use "sh" here.

The "y" in Spanish often has an edge to it that approximates the English (and Yoruba) "j" sound. I have taken the liberty of using "j" here where applicable.

The "ñ" sound is used very sparingly here and is usually substituted here with "y".

As in Spanish, the accent is on the second to last syllable unless there is an accent mark over another syllable.

I should note here that Lacumí is an oral tradition and that the written versions were meant to be more "cheat sheets" than anything else and should not be used as "proof" of the decomposition of the language. Lakumí speakers in Matanzas and other areas speak very much as any Yoruba speaker would. I have spoken with Nigerian born Yoruba speakers in Lacumí without any difficulty whatsoever. In fact, on one occasion I was greeted with a very surprised "you speak Yoruba!!!" from the astonished Yoruba man I was speaking with.

Here are a few words in Lucumí to get you started:

[...]

Ashé: So Be It, The Spiritual Power of the Universe, Talent”...

****
Excerpt #7
From https://www.spanishdict.com/answers/39/ritmo-con-ach Ritmo Con Aché

[...]

a) "Aché does not mean ache. Ache is dolor, or achaques. The letter H is hache in Spanish. According to the Diccionario de la lengua española, of the Real Academia Española, aché is not a word in the Spanish language. However, looking up the song, if found a page on the song stating that aché is an african word that means a divine life force (in the santeria religion). Aché is a word in the West African Yoruba language."

updated Apr 20, 2011
posted by manutd

**
b) "I suppose that you are talking about a brasilean music. It's pronounced "Aché" is Spanish but is written "Axé" in portuguese.

Please, look at this place*."
updated Dec 26, 2009
posted by Carlos-F
-snip-
*That commenter gives the link to the Wikipedia page for Axe music that is given after Excerpt #4.

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

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Two Pancocojams African Language Quizzes (with links to information about these languages)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents two African language quizzes. The words that are featured in these quizzes are from the following traditional African languages (given in alphabetical order) Akan, Chichewa (Chewa, Nyanja), Igbo, Kinyarwanda, KiSwahili (Swahili), Lingala, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu.

This post also includes statements about the country/countries where these languages originate and links to online information about these languages.

The content of this post is presented for to increase information in the United States and in other non-African nations about traditional African languages.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/five-name-quizzes-from-my-no-longer.html "Five Name Quizzes From My No Longer Active "Alafia Names" Website" for another pancocojams post on Black culture quizzes.
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PANCOCOJAMS AFRICAN LANGUAGES QUIZZES

Instructions: Select the best answer that completes these statements.

The answer code is given below.

Pancocojams African Quiz #001 Words from traditional African languages
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1. "Ase (ashe)" is a Yoruba word that means
a) aches and pains
b) ashes
c) Africa
d) spiritual force that flows through everything/power

2. "Harambe" is a Swahili language word that means
a)harems
b) All pull together
c) hello
d) celebrate

3. “Waaw” is a Wolof word that means
a) wait
b) yes
c) where
d) when

4. "Kente" is an Akan language word that refers to
a) the name Kenneth
b) a man's religious hat or cap
c) type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips
d) ancient African writing

5. In the Igbo language, “chi” means
a) birth
b) teeth
c) long life
d) a guardian angel

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Pancocojams African Quiz #002 Words from traditional African languages

1. "Indaba" is a Zulu word that means
a) beauty
b) Come in
c) a gathering (meeting), business/matter
d) home

2. "Sankofa" is an Akan word that means
a) Come and sing with me
b) it’s never to late to go back and claim it
c) Eat healthy food.
d) Love is the most important thing in life

3. “Ndimakukonda” is a Chichewa word that means
a) I love you
b) What is your name?
c) This is my country
d) Help me please.

4. “Imana” is a Kinyarwanda word that means
a) I’m not
b). God
c) a girl's name that means "faith"
d) food

5. "Tokomonana" is a Lingala word that means
a) You’re welcome
b) tomorrow
c) grandother
d) good bye

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ANSWER CODE FOR #001
1. d
2. b.
3. b.
4. c
5. d

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ANSWER CODE FOR #002
1. c
2. b
3. a
4. b
5. d

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INFORMATION LINKS FOR #001
{Pancocojams Editor: Unless otherwise noted, the pronunciations that are given are how I believe these words are pronounced. Corrections are appreciated.

1.From https://www.omniglot.com/writing/yoruba.htm
"Yoruba (Èdè Yorùbá)
Yoruba is a member of the Volta-Niger branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. It is spoken by about 28 million people in southwest Nigeria, Benin, Togo, the UK, Brazil and the USA. It is one of the four official languages of Nigeria, along with English, Hausa and Igbo."...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ase_(Yoruba) for information about the Yoruba word "ase". "Ase" is often written as "ashe" in the United States and is pronounced "ah-SHAY". Among afrocentric Black people in the United States, ashe is an exclamation that has a similar meaning as "Amen!" For example, the words "ashe ashe" are part of the lyrics for the African American originated "African" song "Funga Alafia". CLick http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/real-history-of-funga-alafia-fanga-song.html for a pancocojams post entitled "The Funga Alafia (Fanga) Song - Part 1"

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2.From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language
"Swahili, also known as Kiswahili (translation: coast language[7]), is a Bantu language and the first language of the Swahili people. It is a lingua franca of the African Great Lakes region and other parts of eastern and south-eastern Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[8] Comorian, spoken in the Comoros Islands is sometimes considered to be a dialect of Swahili, though other authorities consider it a distinct language.[9]"..

Click https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Harambe for information about the Swahili word "harambe".

Also, click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee for more information. Note that the correct Swahili spelling for this word is "harambe".[pronunciation hah-RAHM-bay]

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3. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolof_language
"Wolof is a language of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the Niger–Congo language family. Unlike most other languages of the Niger-Congo family, Wolof is not a tonal language."...

Also, click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_of_Niger-Congo_origin for a list of English words that originated in Niger-Congo languages or other African languages.

Here's information about the Wolof word "waaw" from https://jangawolof.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/basic-phrases/
"Yes. [English]
Waaw. / Oui. [Wolof/French]
[pronounciation] wow / wee"
-snip-
Note: I added the words in brackets to this quote.

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4.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_language
"Akan is a Central Tano language that is the principal native language of the Akan people of Ghana, spoken over much of the southern half of that country, by about 58% of the population, and among 30% of the population of Ivory Coast....

Three dialects have been developed as literary standards with distinct orthographies: Asante, Akuapem (together called Twi), and Fante, which, despite being mutually intelligible, were inaccessible in written form to speakers of the other standards....

The language came to the Caribbean and South America, notably in Suriname spoken by the Ndyuka and in Jamaica by the Jamaican Maroons known as Coromantee, with enslaved people from the region. The descendants of escaped slaves in the interior of Suriname and the Maroons in Jamaica still use a form of this language, including Akan names: children are named after the day of the week on which they are born, e.g. Akwasi/Kwasi (for a boy) or Akosua (girl) born on a Sunday. In Jamaica and Suriname the Anansi spider stories are well known."...

Also, click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kente_cloth for information about "Kente". Here's a brief excerpt from that website:
""Kente, known as nwentom in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan ethnic group of South Ghana. Kente is made in Akan lands such as Ashanti Kingdom, (Bonwire, Adanwomase, Sakora Wonoo, Ntonso in the Kwabre areas of the Ashanti Region) It is also worn by many other groups who have been influenced by Akans. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket in Akan dialect Asante. Akans refer to kente as nwentoma, meaning woven cloth. It is an Akan royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance and was the cloth of kings. Over time, the use of kente became more widespread. However, its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem with Akans. The Ewe people especially those from Agortime-Kpetoe of Ghana also claim that, Kente which they also refer to as Agbamevor has always been their traditional cloth."...

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5. From http://aboutworldlanguages.com/igbo
Igbo (Asụsụ Igbo), or Ibo , one of the largest languages of West Africa, is spoken by 18 million people in Nigeria. It belongs to the Benue-Congo group of the Niger-Congo language family. The language is thought to have originated around the 9th century AD in the area near the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, and then spread over a wide area of southeastern Nigeria.

Status
Igbo is one of the official languages of Nigeria. It is spoken in the Southern Delta states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, as well as in the northeast of the Delta state and in the southeast of the Rivers state. In the states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, Igbo is the main language of trade and commerce. It is used in mass media communication such as radio and television in the southern Delta region.

Although Igbo is taught at all levels in eastern Nigerian schools, English remains the principal literary language of the country while remains a spoken and colloquial language. Reading and writing in Igbo is not very widespread. In many urban areas, Igbo is often replaced by Nigerian Pidgin English. Igbo speakers are typically bilingual in English."...
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Click http://www.nairaland.com/1501884/what-does-igbo-notion-personal "What Does The Igbo Notion Of "Your Personal CHI" Represent? - Culture - Nairaland" for a Nigerian discussion thread about the Igbo philosophical concept "chi".
-snip-
Note: I believe that the Igbo word "chi" is pronounced the same as or very similar to the English word "she".

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INFORMATION LINKS FOR #002
{Pancocojams Editor: Unless otherwise noted, the pronunciations that are given are how I believe these words are pronounced. Corrections are appreciated.

1. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_language
"Zulu (Zulu: isiZulu) is the language of the Zulu people, with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority (over 95%) of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa (24% of the population), and it is understood by over 50% of its population.[5] It became one of South Africa's 11 official languages in 1994.

According to Ethnologue,[6][not in citation given (See discussion.)] it is the second most widely spoken of the Bantu languages, after Shona. Like many other Bantu languages, it is written with the Latin alphabet.

In South African English, the language is often referred to by using its native form, isiZulu."...
-snip-
Click http://1000mostcommonwords.com/1000-most-common-zulu-words/ [#234] for the definition for the Zulu word "indaba".
-snip-
Here's information about the Zulu word "indaba":
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indaba
"An indaba (pronounced in-dah-bah[missing stress][1]) is an important conference held by the izinDuna (principal men) of the Zulu or Xhosa peoples of South Africa.[2] (Such meetings are also practiced by the Swazi, who refer to them using the close cognate indzaba.) Indabas may include only the izinDuna of a particular community, or they may be held with representatives of other communities.[2]

The term comes from a Zulu language word meaning "business" or "matter".[3]

Current usage
The term has found widespread use throughout Southern Africa and often simply means gathering or meeting. It is also used in the Scouting movement. The World Scout Indaba was a gathering of Scout leaders."...
-snip-
I think "indaba" is pronounced in-DAH-bah.

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2. "Sankofa" [san-KOH-fah] is an Akan word. Read #4 in the Information links section for #001 for information about the Akan language.

Here's information about Sankofa from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankofa
"Sankofa is a word in the Twi language of Ghana that translates to "Go back and get it" (san - to return; ko - to go; fa - to fetch, to seek and take) and also refers to the Asante Adinkra symbol represented either with a stylized heart shape or by a bird with its head turned backwards carrying a precious egg in its mouth. Sankofa is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates as: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten."[1]

In addition to being used on adinkra cloth in Ghana, the Sankofa heart is a common design on gates in the United States, particularly New York City. In Brooklyn, the Sankofa heart is commonly upside down on gates to Brownstone residential buildings.

The sankofa bird appears frequently in traditional Akan art, and has also been adopted as an important symbol in an African-American and African Diaspora context to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future. It is one of the most widely dispersed adinkra symbols, appearing in modern jewelry, tattoos, and clothing."...

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3. Here's information about the Chichewa language:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewa_language
"Chewa, also known as Nyanja, is a language of the Bantu language family. The noun class prefix chi- is used for languages,[4] so the language is usually called Chichewa and Chinyanja (spelled Cinyanja in Zambia, and Cinianja in Mozambique). In Malawi, the name was officially changed from Chinyanja to Chichewa in 1968 at the insistence of President Hastings Kamuzu Banda (himself of the Chewa tribe), and this is still the name most commonly used in Malawi today.[5] In Zambia, Chewa is spoken by other people like the Ngoni and the Kunda, so a more neutral name, Chinyanja '(language) of the lake' (referring to Lake Malawi), is used instead of Chichewa."...
-snip-
Click https://www.tripsavvy.com/say-i-love-you-in-africa-1454071 for the meaning of the Chichewa word “Ndimakukonda”.
-snip-
I don't know how "Ndimakukonda" is pronounced.

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4. Here's information about the Kinyarwanda langauge:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinyarwanda
"Kinyarwanda is one of the four official languages of Rwanda (along with English, French and Kiswahili) and is spoken by almost all of the native population. That contrasts with most modern African states, whose borders were drawn by colonial powers and do not correspond to ethnic boundaries or precolonial kingdoms.[5]....
-snip-
Also, click http://gordanondera.wikispaces.com/Kinyarwanda+phrases for a list of Kinyarwanda words including the word "Imana".
-snip-
I believe that "Imana" is pronounced E-MAN-ah.

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5. Here's information about the Lingala:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingala
"Lingala (Ngala) is a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a large part of the Republic of the Congo, as well as to some degree in Angola and the Central African Republic. It has over 10 million speakers."...
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Click http://www.17-minute-world-languages.com/en/lingala/ for a list of Lingala words including
-snip-
I'm not sure how "tokomonana" is pronounced, but if you use the most common way that words are pronounced in English (with the stress on the next to the last syllable), that Lingala word be pronounced "toh-koh-moh-NAH-nah".

Note that the Lingala word "tokomonana" is very similar to the Swahili word "tutaonana" which also means "goodbye".
http://swahili_english.enacademic.com/15049/tutaonana

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