Five Slangs Only Lagosians Can Understand
Lagos is the centre of Nigeria’s economic and social activities. From the comical to the
puzzling and the most shocking experiences, Lagos is an interesting place to be. Lagos
welcomes people from different tribes, culture and beliefs. Due to the complexities that
make Lagos unique, people have created different ways to communicate, interact and pass
information. If you are visiting Lagos for the first time, knowing these slangs may be
essential.
Johnny Just Come – JJC
Popularly called JJC, this is a slang used to refer to a newbie in Lagos. If you are discovered as a JJC in Lagos, people might want to exploit you especially when you want to buy goods from the market or board a bus. A suitable advice is not to behave like a JJC when you want to board a bus or buy something from the market.
Owambe
Owambe is a popular slang among the Yoruba people living in Lagos. It is however now a
universal expression for partying which may include weddings, birthday parties, naming
ceremonies, to name a few. Every Saturday, it is not uncommon to see Lagosians all dressed up for an owambe event.
Shine Your Eyes
Shine your eyes simply implies that you have to be very watchful. This is because Lagos is
usually bustling with both genuine and fake business persons and one may likely fall into the hands of a fraudster, popularly called 419. Whatever the case, you should always shine your eyes.
On You Own – OYO
While Oyo is a state in the western part of Nigeria, Lagosians do not usually refer to it as a
state. It simply means that you are On Your Own. A perfect example is if you want to visit a particular location in Lagos and someone tells you that you are on your own, it means the
place might be too far, dangerous or expensive.
Akube
Akube is popularly used amongst Igbo traders in Lagos. Akube refers to goods or products
that have been fairly used. The interesting thing is most Lagosians have now come to be
identified with many akube products including clothes, shoes, and kitchen wares, especially
because of its affordability and durability.
Which of these slangs are you most familiar with?
