Raise your hand if you grew up in the good ol’ ’90s…
Growing up in the ’90s was surely fun for children born then. Before the advancement in technology and a customised and polished way of saying things, kids back then had own very methods of talking down at their mates and made them cry. This was very common especially amongst children who lived in neighbourhoods that had lots of children, children who attended public schools, children who could speak vernacular and pidgin English very well and children who just loved to play with words.
And yes, the thrash talk caused a few laughs and tears even as some bullies used them as a medium to oppress their mates while calling themselves champion.
However, often time the thrash talking, or yabbing as it is colloquially referred to as, is a form of entertainment among kids as they compete amongst themselves for the person with the best ‘yabs’. Sometimes, the competition could be among kids living within a particular compound or it could be kids from a particular compound versus their mates in another compound on the same street. The competition could even be street versus street. In most cases, it was just for fun although it was not unknown for some bullies to hurtful ‘yab’ their victims to tears. And, of course, some kids diligently prepared for the assaults they would unleash. These children would write down all the ‘yabs’ to take to school the next day just to impress the other kids, but it was also their very own way of having fun.
What with no modern digital games to keep them occupied, ’90s kids had to devise their unique special form of entertainment. Something very much different from that of today’s case. It’s up for debate whose childhood was more interesting, ’90s kids or millennial kids? The jury is out on that one.
Looking back at all of those things right now, we can confidently see the humour in it all. Yes, it was hilarious reflecting from the comfort of hindsight but back then, it was very painful to the child at the receiving end, who certainly did not find it funny.
If you were a 90’s kid, here are some trash talks to help you remember your childhood. Whether you were on the receiving or giving end, just have fun remembering the things that both gave you joy and made you cry. If you feel we missed anyone, remind us in the comment section and invite your victims and supporters to read also.
- Your turn turn bele like seven days eba.
- your black nyash like devil bible.
- your flat head like igbogbi signboard.
- Dem say tall or short, u no gree, naso you be like Ojukwu walking stick.
- The strongest man for una village dey use match stick carry weight.
- The richest man for una village dey use wheelbarrow go work.
- U mess akpu fly gate.
- U mess Babaginda repeat primary 1.
- U mess akara wear coat.
- U shit here shit here dey find the L.C.M.
- Dem tell u make u spell maggi u say na M A jigi jigi 1.
- Your head like opioro mango.
- U mess all the fish inside river say ‘are we safe’.
- Your water water shit like Hausa pepper soup.
If you think we did not write your favourite ‘yab’, drop yours in the comment section and don’t forget to tell your friends!
