Nigerian words and their stories:
By Obo Effanga
Meet Ibidun Allison. Does that name ring a bell? Definitely not to our millennials and even most under 40s. But hold on and hear her fantastic story.
By Obo Effanga
Meet Ibidun Allison. Does that name ring a bell? Definitely not to our millennials and even most under 40s. But hold on and hear her fantastic story.
Ehen, I gotcha. You like story too much. In fact e be like say you be amebo, correct one sef. Oya make I yarn you. But you no go tell anybody o.
This Madam wey you see so na original amebo she be... In fact she is your predecessor in the title of amebo. It is becuase of her that the name Amebo became synonymous with gossip. Come make I nack you 'gist' jor.
You see, Madam Ibidun Allison used to act in the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) soap, Village Headmaster in the role of Amebo, an Itsekiri name. But the role required her to be a village gossip who had a way of knowing secrets of people's private and personal dealings and sharing them 'ameboly'.
For her outstanding performance and role play, the name Amebo became a Nigerian word for gossips.
Last Sunday, she was interviewed on a Channels TV programme where she talked about her tv experiences. Oh, by the way, Madam Allison also informed us that Amebo originally is the name given to a beloved younger and preferred wife in a family.
Okay, now that I have told you, next time you go about your amebo business, be sure to pay respect to whom you should, the fantastic actress Ibidun Allison.
