And in this olodo discourse, I hope the take away for those of us who consider ourselves “intelligent” is that we must actively pursue knowledge and self improvement.
Because it’s starting to seem as though a superiority complex is entering 🥴
First thing we need to understand with figures of speech is that context matters a lot.
Let me explain.
This will be quite lengthy, so skip it if you have a short attention span.
Euphemism: A polite substitution used to soften meaning. It is the use of a mild, polite, or indirect expression instead of one that may sound harsh, unpleasant, or offensive.
Examples:
She passed away instead of She died.
They let him go instead of They fired him.
The purpose of a euphemism is to avoid causing discomfort or offense through one’s choice of words.
Dysphemism: A harsh substitution used to intensify meaning or express disapproval. It uses a harsh, blunt, or offensive expression instead of a neutral or polite one. (Opposite of Euphemism)
Examples:
He croaked instead of He died.
Calling a house a “shack” or an old car a “heap of junk.”
These two figures of speech are not the focus because he used Peller as an example to illustrate the decline of education and the glorification of mediocrity. The best expressions to examine here are synecdoche and metonymy, which are often confused with each other.
Moving on.
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something represents the whole, or the whole represents a part.
It is a special type of substitution. (Hold on don’t draw your conclusions yet.)
Examples (Part for the Whole):
All hands on deck. (Hands = sailors or crew members.)
There are many mouths to feed. (Mouths = people.)
Whole for Part:
Nigeria won three gold medals. (Nigeria = the Nigerian athletes.)
The school celebrated its success. (The school = the students and staff.)
Now for metonymy. It is a figure of speech in which you refer to something by the name of something else that is closely associated with it, rather than by its own name. Get it?
For example:
The White House announced a new policy.(The White House refers to the U.S. President or administration, not the building itself.)
The Crown will address the nation. (The Crown refers to the monarch.)
People confuse synecdoche and metonymy because they both involve substitution, but they work differently.
I’ve been seeing tweets saying it’s synecdoche and I don’t think some people understand the subtle difference. That’s where I come in.
The best way to understand them is this:
Synecdoche = inclusion (part–whole relationship).
Examples:
Hands = workers
Wheels = car
Heads = cattle or people
Metonymy = association (relationship by connection).
Examples:
Aso Rock = the Nigerian government
The Crown = the monarch
Nollywood = the Nigerian film industry
Synecdoche specifically depends on a part–whole relationship, whereas metonymy depends on any close association.
What do I mean?
Peller is known to be uneducated, so when ycee says “Peller culture,”
he is not saying Peller is literally a part of illiteracy as a whole. Instead, Peller has become associated with illiteracy because of his reputation as a known olodo.
That is metonymy.
It can only be synecdoche if Peller is presented as one member of a larger class, and the intention is for that member to stand for the entire class.
For example:
If he had said “Peller is the face of olodo culture in this country.”
Here, Peller is one individual standing for the larger group of illiterate people. Remember: part–whole representation.
So, in conclusion, “Peller culture” is best analyzed as metonymy because:
Peller’s name is being used because of its perceived association with the idea of illiteracy/glorification of mediocrity.
The name “Peller” becomes shorthand for the olodo uprising that ycee was criticizing.
He was not attacking Peller personally. Instead, he used Peller’s public image as a symbolic reference to a wider social issue. That is a metonymic use of the name.
You’re welcome.
An interesting point is that synecdoche is often treated as a subtype of metonymy because it is simply a more specific form of associative substitution.
Let me also add this to this whole 'Olodo' discourse. You see, even the ones who speak "Queen's English" aren't exempted.
And yes, the fact that you can 'spre spre' the English language like a wet tongue twirling around hot potatoes doesn't equate to you being intelligent.
I see some people narrowing this down to "English Accent". If you watch and listen to these men speak, they had accents, each depending on their ethnicity. But the key factor here is proper pronunciation and well-articulated speech.
In all this “Olodo uprising” conversation, I’ve realized my theory has been right all along.
Yes, olodo may literally mean “dumb” or “unintelligent,” but I honestly don’t think that’s what Ycee meant.
In today’s society, olodo has evolved to mean consciously stupid. That’s the real issue, and that’s exactly what the person Ycee mentioned seems to embody. Most times, it’s not even people’s fault for being naturally dull or unintelligent. Sometimes life is just unfair like that. But stupidity is different.
Stupidity takes effort. It takes a conscious decision to ignore sense, reject reasoning, and proudly display nonsense. That’s what a lot of these celebrities and influencers represent. Not a lack of intelligence, but a celebration of avoidable stupidity.
And the funniest part is the fans. Because if you keep platforming, defending, and worshipping people whose entire brand is acting foolish, then honestly, you’re operating on an even lower level than the people you’re defending.
This is why I will always be an advocate of intelligent people being outspoken and taking up spaces, because the more you say you don’t like the limelight, the more you keep giving room for the olodo uprisers to dominate. They have numbers.
I bookmarked this to respond later. Here you go.
I remember how I felt when I made my first 5K naira salary - it was the same feeling I had when I made my first 7 figure.
One of the first concepts I mastered was the art of "Joy Regardless".
I couldn't wait until everything makes sense, before I decided to be happy. That mindset have remained consistent throughout my journey.
And about your question? If I could have imagined my current reality then? Guy yes.
I always told my friends: "My chances of making it are higher than my chances of finding love"
I believe in myself die - and I don't allow the variable of brilliance delude me from the necessity of consistently deepening capacity.
Post NYSC, when I was struggling in the dirt of dirts. 20K teaching job with 3 tutorial hustles.
I would come back every evening, wear my nicest shirt and walk into a car shop - pockets empty.
"I like the rims on this one, do you have the color in black?"
"Hmmm. The price isn't bad. Can I see the BMW equivalent?"
I'd do this from car shop to car shop. Not because I wanted to waste their time, swimming in delusion or had nothing better to do with my time but I understood the power of visualization.
Sportsmen use it all the time.
You see bah, you stay long in a particular situation - your system starts to normalize it. You start to figure out how to "manage".
" 20K salary abi. Well, if I see like 50K own. I'll just try and walk 2km instead of entering bus"
This is worse than comfort zone because there's no iota of comfort and you're slowly conditioning yourself to optimize it as your new normal.
I found ways to constantly put fire in mybosom.
To make your dreams nightmares, and your living daylight daydreams. Visualization helps you to see what is possible.
It doesn't have to be with cars, but it has to be with variables incredibly beyond your reach at the moment.
You'll never be big. You'll never grow. You'll never breakforth - if your mind hasn't first conceived the possibility of that future.
Don't let your mind condition what's supposed to be a bus stop for you, become a final destination.
So about Olodo uprising...
Just so you know, it is intentional and properly structured.
First, they steal your best minds, ruin the system and dumb down the rest.
Same playbook🥂
Anyways...you owe it yourselves (and maybe your kids) to be different, IN WHATEVER WAY YOU CAN!
@UnkleAyo Music shapes culture, especially for primary and secondary school students who often absorb what they hear without questioning it. Calling out rubbish isn't being "old school", it's recognizing that entertainment has influence, and influence comes with responsibility.
"I imagined you'd be taller"
Eya, it's not your fault, it's mine. I mean it's me that did not give God enough sand to mould me. Or maybe the angels that went to bring my sand for God to use forgot about me and started looking at women.
Elenushipoti😒