Amala, Nyash, Abeg – Oxford English Dictionary Adds New Nigerian Words To Latest Update

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has further enriched its collection by including new Nigerian and West African words in its latest update, released in December 2025 and extended into 2026. The announcement was made on Wednesday via X, highlighting terms drawn from everyday speech, food, music, markets, and pop culture, reflecting the growing global influence of African languages on English. The December 2025 update introduced over 500 new words, phrases, and senses, while revising more than 1,000 existing entries as part of the OED’s quarterly review process. Catherine Sangster, Author and Head of Pronunciations at the OED, said the update represents a significant step in documenting pronunciations across different English varieties. “With this update we introduce a new model for the transcription of Maltese English pronunciations; this is the nineteenth World English pronunciation model in our collection. We also celebrate a decade of OED having spoken pronunciations, first added in December 2015,” Sangster noted. She added that the update expanded audio pronunciation features, including multiple recordings where necessary, with several West African English terms receiving new pronunciations. Among the Nigerian entries added is abeg, which the OED defines as an interjection or adverb “to express a range of emotions, such as surprise, exasperation, disbelief, etc.” Another is amala, described as “a kind of dough made of yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, typically formed into a ball and served as an accompaniment to other dishes.” The dictionary also formally recognised Afrobeats, defined as “originally: a style of popular music incorporating elements of West African music and of jazz, soul, and funk.” Other Nigerian and West African terms added include Ghana Must Go, biko, Mammy Market, nyash, and Moi Moi, words widely used in daily conversation and cultural contexts in Nigeria and Ghana. Additional African entries include abrokyire, Adowa, ampesi, benachin, bichir, domoda, dumboy, hiplife, kpanlogo, light soup, nawetan, obroni, poda-poda, and yassa. This latest expansion follows a previous update in which the OED added 20 Nigerian words, including japa, agbero, eba, 419, and abi, reflecting Nigerian street language, food culture, migration discussions, and online slang. Other entries from that list included area boy, yahoo boy, yahoo, Naija, suya, kobo, Edo, Kanuri, jand, janded, cross-carpet, and cross-carpeting. The updates underscore the OED’s ongoing effort to capture the evolving English language and highlight the growing global impact of African words and expressions.

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Lagos Govt Denies Rift Between Sanwo-Olu And Ogun Governor Abiodun

The Lagos State Government has refuted reports claiming a fallout between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, insisting that the story is false and misleading. The denial was made in a statement released on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Lagos governor, Gboyega Akosile, in response to reports circulating on some blogs and online platforms. Akosile said the reports wrongly suggested tension between the two governors, stressing that such claims do not reflect the true nature of their relationship. He described the narrative as completely untrue, noting that Governors Sanwo-Olu and Abiodun maintain a cordial and productive relationship, with regular interactions and ongoing collaboration on issues affecting both states. “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Dapo Abiodun share a warm, brotherly relationship. They interact frequently and collaborate on matters that promote development in Lagos and Ogun states,” the statement read. Akosile added that the close bond between the two leaders is reinforced by the shared borders and strong socio-cultural ties between Lagos and Ogun states, making cooperation unavoidable. He warned those spreading the reports to stop pushing falsehoods capable of creating unnecessary tension, while emphasizing that both governors remain committed to a common goal of improving the welfare and quality of life of residents in their respective states.

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Annie Idibia Breaks Silence On 2025 Ordeals With Emotional New Year Reflection

Nollywood actress Annie Idibia has ushered in the New Year with a deeply personal reflection on the hardships she endured in 2025. Sharing a video of herself standing in front of a mirror, Annie poured out her emotions in a powerful caption that captured both pain and resilience: “#DESPITE All that 2025 threw at me AN EXTREMELY PAINFUL BLESSING.. #Despite it all, I STAND.” The post struck a chord with many, as 2025 marked one of the most difficult chapters of her life. During the year, Annie officially ended her marriage to music icon 2Baba, a union that had long played out in the public eye. The situation drew even more attention after the singer moved on and later married Natasha Osawaru. Despite the emotional toll of the divorce and the intense public scrutiny that followed, Annie maintained a quiet but visible journey of self-reflection and healing. Her New Year message suggests a woman choosing strength over bitterness, and growth over defeat. The post has since drawn an outpouring of support from fans and colleagues, many applauding her courage and ability to find meaning in pain as she steps into a new chapter of her life.

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Bolaji Ogunmola Blasts Airline After Flight Cancellations Leave Her Stranded, Film Production in Chaos

Nollywood actress and producer Bolaji Ogunmola has slammed an airline for repeated flight cancellations that left her stranded at Ekiti airport, disrupting a major film shoot and causing both financial and emotional strain. In an emotional Instagram live video, Ogunmola recounted how the airline’s repeated delays threatened her livelihood and forced her to consider travelling by road despite safety concerns. “I have cried my eyes out this morning. I am still in Ekiti,” she said. “I have actors on set, I have booked restaurants, and I am still here.” She was scheduled to fly from Ekiti to Lagos a day earlier to attend the first day of shooting for her new movie. However, the flight was initially delayed and later cancelled without explanation. “I was supposed to fly yesterday, but they said something happened and the flight was delayed. Later, they told me it was cancelled,” Ogunmola explained. She asked for alternative arrangements, and the airline assured her a flight at 8 a.m. the next day. When she arrived at the airport by 6:30 a.m., the flight was postponed multiple times—from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., then to 12 p.m., and finally 5 p.m. “This is very painful because they could have just sent a message,” she said. The delays have already caused significant losses, with Ogunmola revealing she has spent between 15 and 20 million naira on the production. “My crew and cast are already on set for the first day of shooting, and I am stuck here,” she added. Ogunmola also expressed concern for her safety, saying she might have to travel by road. “I am literally stuck in a state where I don’t know anybody,” she said. She accused the airline staff of showing no empathy or remorse. “They have toyed with my time and my livelihood. They are unfair and inhumane,” she said. Ogunmola revealed that she plans to take legal action and recorded the live video as evidence of her ordeal. “My lawyers are going to handle this. I made this video so I can have proof,” she said.   View this post on Instagram  

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Portable Insists N10 Million to Join Carter Efe’s Live Session

A conversation between Portable and comedian Carter Efe has gone viral online, drawing widespread attention. Carter Efe, a well-known Nigerian Twitch streamer, reached out to Portable via direct message, requesting that he appear on an upcoming live session. Portable responded, setting a fee of N10 million for the appearance. Carter Efe offered N9.9 million, but Portable stood firm, insisting on the original amount. He referenced previous appearances by celebrities like Davido, Ini Edo, Shallipopi, and Wale, noting the appreciation he received from them, often in the form of gifts. Portable emphasized his status, declaring, “Stars do not beg to shine,” and suggested that Carter Efe seek support from his audience if he wanted to secure his appearance. He refused to accept anything less than N10 million. The entertainer also explained that his fee was divinely inspired, quoting a message from God: “Do not give them the glory for free, collect money.” He maintained that Carter Efe would need to meet his terms if he wanted him to participate.   View this post on Instagram  

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Super Eagles Set to Receive Outstanding AFCON Match Bonuses

The Federal Government has confirmed that the Super Eagles’ match bonuses for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have cleared all necessary regulatory approvals. Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite said in a statement on Thursday that the payments would begin reflecting in the players’ domiciliary accounts “starting today or tomorrow.” The announcement comes after the Super Eagles threatened on Wednesday to boycott their travel to Marrakesh for their quarter-final match over unpaid allowances. Nigeria is set to face Algeria on Saturday in Marrakesh, about five hours from their base in Fez. Players and officials had insisted they would not make the trip until all outstanding bonuses were settled. The Eagles have yet to receive match allowances for the four games they have played so far in the tournament.

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Anthony Joshua Recalls Losing Two Close Friends in Fatal Lagos Car Crash

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has opened up about the heartbreaking deaths of two close friends in a car crash during an emotional chat with UFC star Kamaru Usman. The conversation, shared in a YouTube video by Usman on Wednesday, took place while Joshua was recovering from injuries sustained in the accident, ahead of an MMA event in Lagos on December 30. Joshua survived a crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on December 29 that claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. He was pulled from the wreckage and treated at Duchess International Hospital. In the video, Joshua is seen lying in a hospital treatment room with bandages on his head and torso as he spoke candidly to Usman about the tragedy. He admitted the loss had not fully sunk in. After his discharge, Joshua returned to the United Kingdom. When Usman asked if Ghami and Ayodele had been seated in the front of the black Lexus during the crash, Joshua responded, “One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet.” Usman expressed his sympathy: “I’m sorry for that, man. You scared the world, I’ll tell you that right now.” Joshua reflected, “Life is short, man. Life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time.” Usman replied, “I know. It’s a funny way of how things move, you know? We thank God.” “You scared the world. It’s crazy because, obviously, we deal with the haters and all the bull**** every time, and it sucks that it takes something serious like this to really see how many people have their eyes on you,” Usman added.

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Phyna Says She Will No Longer Encourage People To Audition For BBNaija, Calls Show Less Credible

Former Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Phyna has said she will no longer recommend people audition for the reality show, claiming it has lost its credibility. During a Twitch livestream, Phyna, whose real name is Ijeoma Otabor, explained that while the show can give contestants rapid fame inside the Big Brother house, the attention often disappears once they leave. She said fans quickly move on to new housemates, making it difficult for former contestants to maintain public interest. “The steeze housemates have while on the show doesn’t last afterward because the same fan base just shifts from one person to another. Nothing new comes with it,” she said. Phyna added that BBNaija no longer carries the same prestige it once did, saying, “When you tell someone now that you came out of BBNaija, they won’t rate you the way they used to.” She also warned that many people wrongly assume appearing on the show guarantees wealth or lasting fame, noting that former housemates often face the challenge of staying relevant and securing opportunities after leaving the house.

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