Shallipopi is a fast rising Nigerian artiste with a unique sound and a place in the hearts of many in Nigeria and abroad. His music is recognized by smooth, melodic afrobeats and layered in chants and lyrics that can easily be overlooked because of the catchy beats.
A lot of the time, Shallipopi sings in pidgin, and his words can easily be misunderstood. In this article, we will explain five of the pidgin slangs he used as adlibs in his new track ObaPluto, so you always know the meaning of the words you sing.
“Nor go dey”
The literal meaning of this is “Don’t try it.” The logic behind the phrase is that if you are going to try something daring, you should at least know that it will work. It is a very open sentence that denotes more of a warning. Like “nor go dey try yourself” which would translate to “don’t give yourself more than you can handle.”
“Clear road! Nor go dey…
“Confam”
Confam is the vernacular word for “Confirmed.” It is mostly used when something has been confirmed. Alternatively, Confam is also often used in a more positive light, to agree with the quality of something. If it were a person and they were reliable or good looking, they can be “confam.”
At 0:26 into his hit song Oba Pluto, we hear him use Confam in response/agreement with a line spoken in Bini.
“Clear road”
This is more of a declaration of power in street slang. It is used mainly in confrontational situations where one person who has more power than the other asks them to “clear road” or to move out of their way.
At the beginning of Oba Pluto, Shallipopi said “clear road, nor go dey” which was used as a declaration of his arrival.
“Sharp”
Sharp is another pidgin term used in a positive light. It is either a compliment that friends use with each other when they look good or do something commendable, or agreement and confirmation.
“Wahala”
Wahala means trouble, problem, issue, dilemma, quandary, etc. In every sense of the word. It is a popular Nigerian Pidgin word that has been adopted in various West African countries, and it’s also sometimes used in informal English in those regions.
This word is often used to describe a situation or person causing difficulties, complications, or conflicts. It can refer to a wide range of problems or troubles, from minor inconveniences to serious issues. For example, if someone says, “This matter get wahala,” they are indicating that the situation is problematic or troublesome.
“Evian Dey”
Evian is a spiritual term in Bini for a walking stick or totem to see into a world beyond the physical. It is native to Edo state and while a lot of people see these things as evil or not of God, it is not necessarily that.
It basically stands for support outside of the physical. For some, it can mean their relationship with God or a god, and for others it’s their coping mechanism. It is an interestingly diverse term.