~ Take "nyamiri," which the Hausa used as a
derogatory name for Ndiigbo (People of Igbo).
Well, there is nothing derogatory about "(Biko)
Nye m mmiri" [(Please) Give me water)]. Every healthy Igbo would unabashedly request water
from a total stranger, never food; to beg for
food would be an exhibition of cheapness and
bad upbringing. The pride of a man is hurt
when he begs for food, not water. The term
showed its sharpest sting during the Pogrom -- a sad chapter in our constructive coexistence
that remains an open sore, but it has come to
mean something else in today's northern
Nigeria.
Source: http://www.kwenu.com/moesmemo/
nigerian_natives.htm by Wole from Lagos, Nigeria on Jun 24, 2012

The starving children of Biafrans were asking the conquerors of their parents for water as they were dying!

abdelrahman:
~ Take "nyamiri," which the Hausa used as a
derogatory name for Ndiigbo (People of Igbo).
Well, there is nothing derogatory about "(Biko)
Nye m mmiri" [(Please) Give me water)]. Every healthy Igbo would unabashedly request water
from a total stranger, never food; to beg for
food would be an exhibition of cheapness and
bad upbringing. The pride of a man is hurt
when he begs for food, not water. The term
showed its sharpest sting during the Pogrom -- a sad chapter in our constructive coexistence
that remains an open sore, but it has come to
mean something else in today's northern
Nigeria.
Source: http://www.kwenu.com/moesmemo/
nigerian_natives.htm by Wole from Lagos, Nigeria on Jun 24, 2012

And why do u guys feel insulted being called abboki? last time i checked it means "my friend"

Nwodosis:
The starving children of Biafrans were asking the conquerors of their parents for water as they were dying!

so sad,crime against humanity,those who drive nigeria have judgement to face on the day of judgement.

zionmde:

And why do u guys feel insulted being called abboki? last time i checked it means "my friend"

yes Aboki mean friend,mallam mean a teacher,mallam was coined from arab word "Mualim".

abdelrahman:
yes Aboki mean friend,mallam mean a teacher,mallam was coined from arab word "Mualim".

can u tell that to mynd44. So that he doesn't come deleting my post wen i use the word.

zionmde:

can u tell that to mynd44. So that he doesn't come deleting my post wen i use the word.

tell that to the hausa,but i think most of all those who you called aboki aren't hausa,they might be kanuri,jukun,nupe,suwa and so on.

abdelrahman:
tell that to the hausa,but i think most of all those who you called aboki aren't hausa,they might be kanuri,jukun,nupe,suwa and so on.

No matter who i call it though, it doesn't change the meaning of the word

zionmde:

No matter who i call it though, it doesn't change the meaning of the word

Lol

NO NO NO NO NO!!! WHY ARE YOU LOT HELL BENT ON SPREADING LIES??

just like we call yorubas yarbawa, inyamiri is not a derogatory word but just the hausa word for an igbo person and inyamiranci the language. I dont know where you people get these lies from!

zionmde:

And why do u guys feel insulted being called abboki? last time i checked it means "my friend"

LOL! We are actually not offended, its you guys who think we are especially those who dont know the meaning of the word but trust me, we laugh at your lack of creativity.

Ersan:
NO NO NO NO NO!!! WHY ARE YOU LOT HELL BENT ON SPREADING LIES??

just like we call yorubas yarbawa, inyamiri is not a derogatory word but just the hausa word for an igbo person and inyamiranci the language. I dont know where you people get these lies from!

i have say the truth,that is all.

abdelrahman:
i have say the truth,that is all.

But thats NOT the truth. Just a lie, there is no malicious intent behind that word. Go and ask any hausa person what we call igbos and he will innocently reply with that word. Its not meant to be derogatory or pejorative in any way!

Ersan:


But thats NOT the truth. Just a lie, there is no malicious intent behind that word. Go and ask any hausa person what we call igbos and he will innocently reply with that word. Its not meant to be derogatory or pejorative in any way!

ok tell me it's meaning and meaning of yorubawa.

abdelrahman:
ok tell me it's meaning and meaning of yorubawa.

Dont know, dont care. Just that thats the word we call yorubas and theres no malicious intent behind it, all that matters.

Ersan:


Dont know, dont care. Just that thats the word we call yorubas and theres no malicious intent behind it, all that matters.

yorubawa mean a yorubalander,is like saying kanawi.but the meaning of Nnyamiri is pls give me water.

abdelrahman:
yorubawa mean a yorubalander,is like saying kanawi.but the meaning of Nnyamiri is pls give me water.

Wtf is "kanawi"? My point is the name means no offense like you're trying to claim!

Ersan:


Wtf is "kanawi"? My point is the name means no offense like you're trying to claim!

haaa no offence,kanawi mean a kano man,if im not mistaken.

abdelrahman:
haaa no offence,kanawi mean a kano man,if im not mistaken.

singular-bakano
plural-kanawa

Ersan:

singular-bakano plural-kanawa

ok plural mean Kanawa in english?

abdelrahman:
ok plural mean Kanawa in english?

singular for someone from kano is bakano, plural is kanawa. you werent entirely wrong but your spelling was.

VomeSchakleton:


singular for someone from kano is bakano, plural is kanawa. you werent entirely wrong but your spelling was.

hehehehe thank you!

I don't find this 'nye m mmiri' theory convincing. It sounds too much like folklore.

I have reasons to suspect that the word 'nyamiri' has an ugly history, even if present-day Hausa people are not aware of it and do not consider the word derogatory.

Wulfruna:
I don't find this 'nye m mmiri' theory convincing. It sounds too much like folklore.

I have reasons to suspect that the word 'nyamiri' has an ugly history, even if present-day Hausa people are not aware of it and do not consider the word derogatory.

And whats your theory as to the "ugly" history of this word?