Where did Nigerian Pidgin come from, and what's the story behind it?

With over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, each speaking their own language, Pidgin has become that bridge that brings us closer together.

PULSE.NG

It came from the south south

The first Nigerians to have contact with the Europeans

We had pidgin Portuguese at first

Do u know that "Sabi" originated from Portuguese?

It means the same thing in Portuguese too

illicit:


It came from the south south

The first Nigerians to have contact with the Europeans

We had pidgin Portuguese at first

Do u know that "Sabi" originated from Portuguese?

It means the same thing in Portuguese too

What about Waffi? No be dem be the headquarters of pidgin?

OLAADEGBU:


What about Waffi? No be dem be the headquarters of pidgin?

Yeah sure

That's south south

Pidgin is from Edo and Delta, precisely Benin and Warri to begin with. They were the first to have Western/Portuguese education (obtained in Lisbon and Coimbra majorly) in Nigeria. Local merchants and some of the elite that were not necessarily that educated began mixing local dialects with Portuguese.

With time Dutch and French words came in too. Finally, English colonised the area (Niger Area) so that Portuguese, French, local dialects and other influences coalesced into pidgin of today.