Nigerian English words added to the Oxford Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added 29 uniquely Nigerian English expressions in its January 2020 update. The addition of Nigerian in the renown dictionary follows the adoption of Nigerian English on other online platforms. In 2019, Google introduced Nigerian English maps that feature a Nigerian voice accent. Prior to that, the BBC had launched its Pidgin site that offers news in West African pidgin.

The Nigerian culture has rapidly spread through the Internet and media over the last decade. Last year, four of Nigeria’s most listen to pop artists featured in the soundtrack for the Lion King. However, a Nollywood (Nigerian) Film Lionheart, was disqualified from global film awards, Oscars, for falling short of English language requirements. The film was a Netflix original, and among the online streaming site’s first African commissions.