‘Everywhere stew’, ‘small girl big God’… top trending slangs of 2018

Nothing describes 2018 as to how a random, completely harmless phrase, meme or video clip acquires a life of its own on the internet, becoming part of the conversation on and offline, and a part of the pop culture.

Here are the top seven phrases and slangs that defined the year.

Assurance

In May 2018, Davido debuted a new single, ‘Assurance’, which was a display of his love for his girlfriend, Chioma. The feel-good song soon became an important part of pop-culture conversation, especially when Davido purchased a N45 million car gift to Chioma, with the plate number: Assurance.

It broke the internet. And everyone woman wanted her own ‘Assurance.’

Everywhere stew

No one knows its actual origin, but ‘Everywhere Stew’, a deliciously inane phrase, means something or anything that is masterfully prepared and of high quality.

It owes its relevance to Wizkid, who adopted it after it was made popular by Instagram comedian, Mr Jollof.

The popularity of ‘Everywhere Stew’ later piggybacked off the Wizkid song, ‘Fever’, which featured Tiwa Savage as a video vixen/love interest.

Small Girl, Big God

When we talk about owning and changing a narrative, the internet phrase: ‘Small Girl, Big God’, comes to mind.

Originally, the phrase was used as a form of God-appreciation term by women.

However, it soon became a weapon in the never-ending internet gender wars, with some men claiming that the phrase referred to women with ‘sugar daddies’ hence the ‘big god’.

The narrative was later flipped on its head as women, despite the negative connotation, owned the phrase, with some men even going as far as coining ‘Small Boy, Big God’.

My Yé is different to your Yé

British musician, Osh This Side, released a video on Twitter wherein he was singing over Burna Boy’s, Ye, with the lyrics: “My yè is different to your yè. Dripping in sauce, the drip-dripping so saucy.”

My Yé is different to your Yé immediately became a thing, thanks to the confusion generated by the similar names shared by Burna Boy’s song and Kanye West 2018 album.

Sho mo age mi ni

Because one isn’t fully Nigerian if the age card hasn’t been pulled in any given situation…

Credited to the Yoruba actor, Kazeem ‘Jigan Babaoja’ Abimbola, who used it in a skit, the phrase translates to: ‘Do you know my age?’ and it is the perfect encapsulation of how age is used to demand for respect.

Na Dem Dey Rush Us

“Fine boys like us, we no dey too follow women like that. Na dem dey rush us”

At the 2018 AMVCAs, actor and perpetual meme-muncher, Charles Onojie, reenacted his ‘na dem dey rush us’ act which was part of a scene he had used originally in an old film.

But long before the AMVCAs held, the phrase found its way to the internet after clips of the scene was released.

Sweet Boys Association (SBA)

Weeks before he dropped his single, ‘Sweet Boy’, Falz created the trend Sweet Boys Association, alongside a manifesto, website and other accoutrement.

The trend, which Falz had hoped to use as empowerment for men and to celebrate other successful young men, also landed in the social media gender-war.

But it was fun while it lasted.

What top internet phrase/trend of 2018 did we leave out? Comment below.