The beginning of every year holds a new promise and new trends for the new year.
Just as trends are ever-changing, so are phrases, a couple of years back, phrases and words such as ‘on fleek’ and ‘lit’ have become part of the local lingo and are widely used all over the world. With the advent of social media making everything a social phenomenon and trending topics each and every day, 2018 was no different for Kenyans.
Below are some of the ‘newly’ invented words and phrases that stood out.
1. Bora uhai/of importance is life
This was popularised mid-year when Kenyans were taking stock of the 2018 resolutions. Many had failed to even attempt and used this phrase(s) as consolation. They were glad to be alive.
2.Utajua haujui
The phrase was popularised by Hessy Wa Dandora, a phantom online police officer to warn criminals who were organizing and bragging about their criminal activities on Facebook. He would later post images of their lifeless bodies, having been felled by police bullets.
3.Utaambia watu nini?
This was used by people in embarrassing situations and were afraid of facing their friends. It can be traced to DJ Shiti of The Real Househelps of Kawangware. The phrase has made it to Startimes billboards this festive season.
4.Handshake
Created after the famous meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his political nemesis Raila Odinga, this was widely used even in social circles. It would mean a truce between warring parties.
5.I’m not boarding
These were the words used by feisty Lawyer and Political figure Miguna Miguna when security officers were forcing him to board a flight to Dubai for onward transfer to Canada when he was deported.Often used when they did not want to be party to something, the phrase has become hugely popular.
6.Hata sijaskia vibaya
Popularized by comedian Njugush, the phrase is used to express feelings of hurt but in a sarcastic way. While it means your feelings are not hurt, the phrase is actually used when those feelings are extremely hurt. Some may say it is the opposite of ‘catching feelings.’ Kenyan singer Fena went ahead and made a song titled ‘Sijaskia Vibaya’ which paid homage to the phrase and featured Njugush on the banger.
7.Lamba Lolo
Ever heard of those words that people really don’t know what it means only that it is provocative and people are using the phrase everywhere? Well, the genesis of this word came about when a song named Lamba Lolo by a group called Ethic went in 2018. Since then it has just stuck, Nigerian singer Mr. Eazi even used the phrase in one of his tracks called “Keys to the City”.
