Lagos Slang Glossary for Lagos Life

Lagos Life borrows the way Lagos people actually talk. Here are the words you will meet, in our own plain English.

Danfo. The yellow minibuses that carry most Lagos commuters. Loud, cheap and always full. In the game: A Bus Co. app exists on the in-game phone.

Buka. A casual roadside canteen serving local meals at low prices. In the game: Food spot companies are described as buka, suya and small chops.

Mama put. A woman who runs a small food stall, and by extension the stall itself. People say 'let's go to mama put' for a cheap, filling meal.

Owambe. A big, colourful party, usually a wedding or celebration, with matching outfits and plenty of food and music. In the game: The game advertises 'Owambe at home, real guests'.

NEPA. Old name for the national power company. People still say 'NEPA don take light' when the power goes off. In the game: Generators are one of the company upgrades (₦9,000).

Japa. To run away, especially to leave Nigeria for a life abroad.

Keke. A three-wheeled motorised tricycle taxi. In the game: Keke Riding is a job in Abuja.

Oga. Boss. Used for anyone in charge, and sometimes jokingly. In the game: The Trading career climbs toward Market Oga.

Nepo. Short for nepotism baby. In the game's class meme it describes players who seem to have it easy. In the game: See our Nepo vs Lapo guide.

Lapo. The cheerful opposite of nepo. Someone starting from nothing and making do. In the game: See our Nepo vs Lapo guide.

Suya. Spiced, skewered grilled meat, usually sold at night with sliced onions and pepper. In the game: Suya & drinks is one of the Stadium activities.

Hustle. The daily effort of making money, often from several small sources. In the game: Hustle is one of the game's skills and also an app.

Missing a word? Send it through the corrections link on the About page.