OYA AND SEBI ORIGINAL
So what are the popular sentences you know that Nigerians make/say with the words “oya” and “sebi”, oya (LOL, I am also guilty of this) drop it in the comment box and let us get your view. Also, what words should be used in place of “Oya” and “Sebi”
The popular sentences I know are…
“Oya, come here”.
“Sebi I told you not to go to that place”.
“Oya, bring it”.
“Sebi you promised to give me your phone so I can play a game”.
“Oya sit down now”
“Sebi you said”
“Oya give me now”
“Sebi you didnt give me what I asked for the other day”
I can go on and on with sentences a typical Nigerian makes adding the phrase “Oya and Sebi”.
No doubt, the Yoruba words “Oya” and “Sebi” are currently the most used words in Nigeria, especially in Lagos. These words are not only used/spoken by people who are from Yoruba ethnic group, they are also used/spoken by people from other ethnic groups in the country as well.
So, what is the meaning of “Oya”
Means “a call to quick action”. That is you should do something immediately without wasting time. Now or quickly should be used in place of “Oya”
So, what is the meaning of Sebi
May be, “Didnt I, Didn’t you”. Like a reminder of an what you promised to do. Didn’t you or Didn’t I, should be used in place of “Sebi”
Having defined “Oya and Sebi”, so, I have wondered why most Nigerians can’t compose a sentence without making use of those phrases. The below are the reasons I feel we cant do without them…
• The environment
• People are just used to saying those words
• When people at times do not know/ have an English word for what they want to say, they just end up using an ethnic language to fill up the missing word, hence the popular use of Oya and Sebi
ARTICLE BY OGEFASH’S STYL MEDIA HOUSE, PLEASE, NO PLAGIARISM, IF YOU MUST LIFT, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE!