Most Kenyans nowadays, with the advent of the Jamaican contemporary music known as “Riddim”, have borrowed words used in the music in their day to day talk. This, however, is popular among the youth, reggae lovers.
The main three words popularly used and or misused in Kenya by radio presenters, and the youth includes “Wah gwaan”, “Wollan”, and “Pumpum”.
Most of the time, when these words are used here, the users place them in a completely out of context position. Some even think that they are speaking Jamaican Patois (Patwa) but on the contrary, they are not. Let us discuss each of the words carefully.
Wah gwaan
Most of the Kenyan Rastafarians (Waras/mras), when they say wagwan, most of the time they say it not to mean anything, for example, “Ahh, nakwambia iyo show ilikua wagwan..” (Ahh I tell you the show was wagwan), which literally has no meaning.
Wallan
This word, in Kenya, goes hand in hand with “Wah gwaan” you may hear a Kenyan starting a conversation with “Wah gwaan” and the other party (ies) will respond by “Wallan Shutter”. To them, it meant greetings and response respectively.
Pumpum
Though not commonly used, when used in Kenya, it means absolutely different from the original source. Here, it is used to describe a fat person. Those who now “Pumpum” meaning, do not use it often than not especially publicly because it is vulgar.
The real meaning of the three Jamaican words are as shown below: