Glossary
GLOSSARY
Kedu ka i mere ? - How are you?
Adi m mma - I’m fine
Ezigbo m- my dear
Eish - A South African exclamation used to express surprise, pain, annoyance, agreement, disapproval, etc.
Gele - A traditional head tie that comes in different shapes and designs. It is native to Nigerian women of the Yoruba ethnic group.
Amala - A staple swallow food originating from the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria and it is made with yam flour.
Ewedu - A green slimy Nigerian soup of the Yoruba ethnic group made from cooking jute leaves.
Ggbegiri - A bright yellow Nigerian soup of the Yoruba ethnic group made with peeled honey beans.
Buka stew - A popular Nigerian stew made with assorted meat cooked in a tomato base and palm oil.
Eii - A Ghanaian slang used when surprised or in awe.
Herh - A Ghanaian term usually used as a preceding word in a sentence to give more emphasis.
D ? n na ? regye wo bere tenten saa? - What is taking you so long?
Waakye - A Ghanaian dish made of cooked rice and beans.
Shito - A Ghanaian sauce made of blended fish, ginger, prawns, dried fish, peppers, spices, fried in vegetable oil.
Gari - Granular flour made from cassava flakes.
Nyame boa y ? n o - God help us o.
Aseda nka onyame - Thanks to God.
Jollof rice - A spicy rice dish from west Africa typically made from long grain rice, tomatoes, chillies, onions, spices, vegetables and/or meat in a single pot.
Wow ? awer ? hyem? - Are you sure?
Onyankop ? n renhy ? wo aniwu da - God will never let you down.
Woate me as?m anaa? - Have you heard me?
So wo ho ye? - Are you okay?
D ? n na ? y ? b ? ne, me ba? - What’s wrong, my son?
Worentie me - You won’t listen to me.
D?n na ?haw wo? - What’s wrong with you?
Akwaaba - Welcome
Charley - A Ghanaian slang which means ‘friend’ or ‘buddy’ or ‘dude’ or ‘bro’
Borga - A Ghanaian slang used to refer to people who have come from abroad.
Dier - No direct translation but it is a Ghanaian slang mainly used to give more emphasis to statements.
Mema wo akye - Good morning.
Andinkra symbols - Symbols from Ghana which represent proverbs, concepts and aphorisms.
Naija - Nigeria
Kente - A Ghanaian textile which is made of hand-woven strips of silk and cotton.
Ankara - African fabric made of vibrant pattern and colours
Hw ? abarimaa yi - Look at this boy
Isi Agu - A vibrant and colourful traditional outfit worn by the Igbo people of Nigeria, so called because of the lion head pattern on the fabric. It is usually worn on special occasions like weddings.
Shakara - In this context, it means playing hard to get. It also means to show off.
Wo ho te s?n, me ba? - How are you, my son?
Me ho at? me k?se- I’m feeling much better.
Banku- A swallow food from Ghana made from fermented corn, cassava dough, salt and water.
Agbada - A free flowing robe traditionally worn by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
Omo - It means child but when used as a slang it is used to express shock or stress or as a precursor to the beginning of a conversation with a friend.
Gizdodo- A Nigerian dish made from fried gizzard and fried plantain mixed in spicy pepper sauce.
Ayamase stew- A Nigerian dish made with green bell peppers, onions, chillies, assorted meat, boiled eggs and palm oil.
Egusi soup- A west African soup made from ground melon seeds, assorted meat and palm oil and spices.
Eforiro- A vegetable soup native to the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It is made from two main vegetables– Celosia argentea and Amaranthus hybridus.
Moin moin- Steamed bean pudding eaten across west Africa.
Naija no dey carry last- It means Nigerians do not easily give up.
No gree for anybody- A popular slang in Nigeria which means to stand up for oneself and not to give in to opposition or pressure.