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Cultural Assimilation

Tue, 04/01/2008 - 14:39 — Greg Gunn

The time I have spent in rural Nigeria has taught me 3 things:

  1. There is an art to washing yourself with a bucket of water.
  2. Only eating instant noodles (a.k.a. Indomie) and beans for 12 straight days will make you slightly crazy.
  3. Life is A LOT easier if you take the time to learn a few simple phrases in the local dialect...

 Before I came here the only Igbo I knew was from Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls

Wachootoo Medicine Man: [upon seeing Ace] Equinsu... ocha!
Ace Ventura: [to Ouda] ...What does equinsu ocha mean?
Ouda: "White Devil."
Ace Ventura: Well, tell him I'm not.
Ouda: I only met you. How do I know?

Igbo is a language that is spoken by 30 million people in the southeast of Nigeria. I visit this region on a  regular basis and it has provided me with the opportunity to pick up a few more Igbo words.

Here are the most important ones I have learned so far...

Igbo English
"Biaa biko" Please come.
"Nde wo" Hello, how you?
"N’choro Star Beer por favor" I want Star Beer…por favor

 
Hasta la vista,
-greg.

Comments

Thu, 05/01/2008 - 02:33 — Mikel (not verified)

Corrections...

Wachootoo Medicine Man: [upon seeing Ace] ekwnsu ocha!Ace Ventura: [to Ouda] ...What does ekwnsu ocha mean?Ouda: "White Devil."Ace Ventura: Well, tell him I'm not.Ouda: I only met you. How do I know?Igbo is a language that is spoken by 30 million people in the southeast of Nigeria. I visit this region on a  regular basis and it has provided me with the opportunity to pick up a few more Igbo words.Here are the most important ones I have learned so far...IgboEnglish"Bia biko"Please come."Kedu ko di"Hello, how you?Nde woYou are welcome(when someone enters your home)"a choro'm Star Beer, por favor"I want Star Beer…por favor