Wazobia () is a term that means "come" in three major

Nigerian languages There are over 525 native languages spoken in Nigeria. The Nigerian official language is English, the language of former colonial British Nigeria. As reported in 2003, Nigerian Pidgin was spoken as a second language by 60 million people in Nige ...

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

(''wa''),

Hausa Hausa may refer to: * Hausa people, an ethnic group of West Africa * Hausa language, spoken in West Africa * Hausa Kingdoms, a historical collection of Hausa city-states * Hausa (horse) or Dongola horse, an African breed of riding horse See also ...

(''zo''), and

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a ...

(''bia''). It is often used as a symbol of unity, diversity, and inclusion in Nigeria, a country with over 250 ethnic groups and languages. The term is also used as a name for various media outlets, cultural events, and social movements in Nigeria.

Etymology

The term Wazobia was coined by combining the words ''wa'', ''zo'', and ''bia'', which all mean "come" in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo respectively. These are the three largest ethnic groups and languages in Nigeria, accounting for about 60% of the population. The term was first used in the 1970s by Nigerian radio broadcasters to appeal to listeners from different regions and backgrounds. It later became popularized by various media outlets, such as Wazobia FM, Wazobia TV, and Wazobia Magazine.

Usage

Wazobia is used as a term of greeting, invitation, or solidarity among Nigerians of different ethnicities. It is also used as a slogan for promoting national unity, cultural diversity, and social inclusion in Nigeria. Wazobia is also used as a name for various media outlets, cultural events, and social movements in Nigeria that aim to reach out to a wide audience and address various issues affecting the country. Some examples are Wazobia FM, a radio station that broadcasts in Pidgin English, Wazobia TV, a television station that also broadcasts in Pidgin English.

References

{{reflist Languages of Nigeria Nigerian culture Mass media in Nigeria