Ẹ kú ìkàlẹ̀,
That greeting
in Yorùbá that has no English equivalent! Let me give a scenario that can best
describe when to greet in this manner; if you are walking pass an elderly
person who is sitting down and you want to exchange pleasantries that is when
you say such. Some make jest of us that there is greetings for everything in my
mother tongue but I am delighted; I have a topic in my mother tongue for the 93rd
edition of Versus Series.
For us who
heard stories from our parents of the types of stores that existed while they
were young; ‘Kingsway’ was the name that comes to mind. In our days, Shoprite
would be the name that comes to the mind. The question is why are some brands
‘àbíkú’ meaning stillbirth while some are ‘àlọ́yè’ meaning
‘flourishing’?
