Timileyin Akinkahunsi; [email protected]; Instagram: demie.o; Twitter: @aoloniluapunch       08116759809 (SMS only)

Viral Sensation: ‘Stew’ becomes more than a sauce on lips of Nigerians

Stew is the latest slang on social media at the moment and it became a viral sensation when Nigerian music star, Wizkid, released his latest hit song titled ‘Fever’, in which he featured Tiwa Savage in the video.

The song video got a lot of Nigerians talking and speculating that the two artistes were dating. Wizkid had used ‘stew’ to promote his first 2018 single ‘Fever’, tweeting that ‘stew’ was coming soon.

He had also tweeted ‘Friday! New Stew’ and ‘Fever video, Monday stew’ in the days leading to the release of ‘Fever’ video.

Stew slang is generally believed to mean something that is nice, hot and spicy like Yoruba stew.

So after the release of the video, the slang – stew – became more popular. Celebrities like D’banj and Don Jazzy have latched onto the trend by using the slang to talk about their songs and activities.

For instance, D’banj announced his latest song titled ‘Shake it’, featuring Tiwa Savage with the caption: ‘Bread and Stew plus Ewa goyin for breakfast.’ In the same vein, Tiwa Savage recently posted a sexy picture of herself with the caption: ‘Everywhere stew’. She later announced her position as the first lady of the Pepper Stew Association.

However, the person believed to be the pioneer of the slang ‘stew’; Freedom Atsepoyi, popularly known as Mr. Jollof, expressed how elated he felt after Wizkid used the slang as the mantra for his new hit.

Speaking to Saturday Beats, the entertainer, who hails from Warri in Delta State, said he felt on top of the world when the slang became a viral sensation. He however noted that he never expected the slang to become very popular as it only started as a joke.

“It is just a slang that came out of the blues; I have been using it for a while. When I was growing up, my friends and I planned to form a company. Anytime we had a meeting, we would use the slang to hail ourselves.

“Stew is a sauce that can be used to eat anything; it can be eaten with bread, yam and dodo. Stew to me, is a natural resource in Nigeria. Nigeria is the case study; every state has its own natural resource. If we try to utilise our resources, our country will be better economically. ‘Everywhere stew’ means we should restructure the country.