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Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? - Politics - Nairaland

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Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by matrixx9(m): 6:33am On Oct 26, 2014
Here's my opinion

Las Gidi or simply Gidi is a name commonly
used to refer to the city of Lagos, Nigeria. You
can see it in the names of such organisations as
‘Gidi Lounge’, ‘Gidi Traffic’ and of course your
very own ‘Gidi Business’.
But why Gidi? And how did Lagos come to be
known as ‘Las Gidi’? Like anything historical
and undocumented, there are several
explanations depending on whom you ask.
However, there are two main widely expressed
sources of the name – one being more plausible
than the other.
1. Benin Origin.
It has been claimed that sometimes in the 1970’s
in Benin City, Nigeria, a slang was coined out
of ‘Lagos’ and ‘City’ to form ‘LasGity’. The term
then morphed to ‘Lasgidi’ over time. This is one
plausible explanation of how the term came to be
especially if you consider that most groups of
people and places where named by 3rd parties.
For example, it has been claimed that the
‘Yoruba’ were named such by the Hausa to their
north.
It is also plausible when you consider other
Benin origin slangs for places such as
‘Sapelociti/Sapelocity’ [Sapele], ‘Waffi’ [Warri],
and so on, some of which may or may not have
survived to the present day from the 70’s.
2. Indigenous Origin.
Lagos State, and Lagos city are located
geographically in the part of Nigeria that is
considered ‘Yorubaland’ even though the
population that make up the city, like any large
metropolitan city in the world, consists of persons
from all over the country, continent, and planet.
Therefore along with English and Pidgin
English, Yoruba is the predominant language in
Lagos.
There are at least two sub explanations of how
‘Lasgidi’ or ‘Las Gidi’ has become the nick name
for Lagos.
i. The concatenation of the words ‘Las’ from
‘Lagos’ and ‘Gidi’ the Yoruba word for ‘Real’. In
this case, Lasgidi or Las Gidi would mean
something like ‘the real Lagos’. To understand
the use of the term ‘gidi’ or ‘real’ in this way, a
deeper understanding of the local lingo is
required. The use of the word is similar to the
way it is used in ‘urban’ America in such
expressions as ‘keeping it real’.
ii. Another iteration of this is a bit of a tip of the
hat to Las Vegas. In Yoruba, one of the ways of
putting emphasis on a term is to say it twice. So
saying ‘gidi gidi’ would mean something like
‘Very real’. So life in Lagos is not just real, its very
real, as in, the City of ‘hard knocks’. A trendy
way of putting this then became Las gidi – ‘Las’
being the Spanish plural of ‘The’, such as in ‘Las
Vegas’ [The Vegas] or ‘Las Palmas’ [The palms],
and so on.
So what is the true origin of the term? Nobody
can say for sure, but it is a term that has
gained wide acceptance and is in general use
If you have any other views you can still comment
Source : http://..com.es/2014/10/why-lagos-is-probably-called-lasgidi.html
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Asoozy: 6:43am On Oct 26, 2014
The 'gidi' part going by pronounciation does not mean real in Yoruba. I think it means strong, tenacity, firm, boldness, braveness etc.

While Gidi does mean real in Yoruba, in a different Yoruba intonation, it could also mean all or more of those adjectives I listed above.

1 Like

Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Nobody: 6:46am On Oct 26, 2014
Op you are far from the truth undecided
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by asamaigho(m): 6:57am On Oct 26, 2014
op ur head no really correct,......*waffi* na benin slang? u really need to go oba zooo....
check fela and majek fashek songs u will hear dem mention lasgidi.
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Mendo007(m): 7:06am On Oct 26, 2014
asamaigho:
op ur head no really correct,......*waffi* na benin slang? u really need to go oba zooo....
check fela and majek fashek songs u will hear dem mention lasgidi.
its called 'Ogba Zoo' not 'Oba Zoo'.
FYI I'm not mocking ur mistake I'm just helping u get it rit incase of nxt tim. in advance...."u r welcome"
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by YungwizzzyPt7: 7:14am On Oct 26, 2014
matrixx9:
Here's my opinion

Las Gidi or simply Gidi is a name commonly
used to refer to the city of Lagos, Nigeria. You
can see it in the names of such organisations as
‘Gidi Lounge’, ‘Gidi Traffic’ and of course your
very own ‘Gidi Business’.
But why Gidi? And how did Lagos come to be
known as ‘Las Gidi’? Like anything historical
and undocumented, there are several
explanations depending on whom you ask.
However, there are two main widely expressed
sources of the name – one being more plausible
than the other.
1. Benin Origin.
It has been claimed that sometimes in the 1970’s
in Benin City, Nigeria, a slang was coined out
of ‘Lagos’ and ‘City’ to form ‘LasGity’. The term
then morphed to ‘Lasgidi’ over time. This is one
plausible explanation of how the term came to be
especially if you consider that most groups of
people and places where named by 3rd parties.
For example, it has been claimed that the
‘Yoruba’ were named such by the Hausa to their
north.
It is also plausible when you consider other
Benin origin slangs for places such as
‘Sapelociti/Sapelocity’ [Sapele], ‘Waffi’ [Warri],
and so on, some of which may or may not have
survived to the present day from the 70’s.
2. Indigenous Origin.
Lagos State, and Lagos city are located
geographically in the part of Nigeria that is
considered ‘Yorubaland’ even though the
population that make up the city, like any large
metropolitan city in the world, consists of persons
from all over the country, continent, and planet.
Therefore along with English and Pidgin
English, Yoruba is the predominant language in
Lagos.
There are at least two sub explanations of how
‘Lasgidi’ or ‘Las Gidi’ has become the nick name
for Lagos.
i. The concatenation of the words ‘Las’ from
‘Lagos’ and ‘Gidi’ the Yoruba word for ‘Real’. In
this case, Lasgidi or Las Gidi would mean
something like ‘the real Lagos’. To understand
the use of the term ‘gidi’ or ‘real’ in this way, a
deeper understanding of the local lingo is
required. The use of the word is similar to the
way it is used in ‘urban’ America in such
expressions as ‘keeping it real’.
ii. Another iteration of this is a bit of a tip of the
hat to Las Vegas. In Yoruba, one of the ways of
putting emphasis on a term is to say it twice. So
saying ‘gidi gidi’ would mean something like
‘Very real’. So life in Lagos is not just real, its very
real, as in, the City of ‘hard knocks’. A trendy
way of putting this then became Las gidi – ‘Las’
being the Spanish plural of ‘The’, such as in ‘Las
Vegas’ [The Vegas] or ‘Las Palmas’ [The palms],
and so on.
So what is the true origin of the term? Nobody
can say for sure, but it is a term that has
gained wide acceptance and is in general use
If you have any other views you can still comment
Source : http://..com.es/2014/10/why-lagos-is-probably-called-lasgidi.html

kkk
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Mention(m): 7:22am On Oct 26, 2014
Sorry OP.. But you are wrong!
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Nobody: 7:24am On Oct 26, 2014
I doubt the Benin origin cos it's a full yoruba word
I think GIDI means "REAL"
Which we would say REAL LAGOS
Coming from LAgoS....LAS
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by derrick333(m): 7:25am On Oct 26, 2014
Asoozy:
The 'gidi' part going by pronounciation does not mean real in Yoruba. I think it means strong, tenacity, firm, boldness, braveness etc.

While Gidi does mean real in Yoruba, in a different Yoruba intonation, it could also mean all or more of those adjectives I listed above.
Gidi means real,gidi gidi ,very real, gidi gon ,so real ,I tink op got d2nd 1 rite!
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Caseless: 7:42am On Oct 26, 2014
Mention:
Sorry OP.. But you are wrong!
give us what is right then.
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by matrixx9(m): 8:47am On Oct 26, 2014
I no be yoruba guy oh... Buh una never answer my question.. Una just dy say I'm wrong.. It's my opinion what's yours
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by SHOPPERS(m): 8:52am On Oct 26, 2014
Lasgidi is from LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT. LASG-IDI.
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by asamaigho(m): 10:39am On Oct 26, 2014
Mendo007:

its called 'Ogba Zoo' not 'Oba Zoo'.
FYI I'm not mocking ur mistake I'm just helping u get it rit incase of nxt tim. in advance...."u r welcome"


oba zoo in benin not *ogba*....get facts rite.
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Mendo007(m): 11:40am On Oct 26, 2014
asamaigho:



oba zoo in benin not *ogba*....get facts rite.
sorry oooo I was only trying 2 help u know d truth but sims u r so confident in wat u don't no. anyways sha na u sabi. don't care wat u call it bro
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by doctimi(m): 1:11pm On Oct 26, 2014
Hmmm

As a street boy, Let me clear the air

The slang had been on for a while. It originated from the code written on the yellow buses (Danfo) in Lagos defining the route the bus is confined to.

LASG (Lagos State Government)

IDI (Short form for Idimu)

LASGIDI was the code used by those area boys wayback then to track buses that haven't paid the daily ticket due and other

'agbero' fees.

1 Like

Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by asamaigho(m): 2:05pm On Oct 26, 2014
Mendo007:

sorry oooo I was only trying 2 help u know d truth but sims u r so confident in wat u don't no. anyways sha na u sabi. don't care wat u call it bro


kkk i don hear my bad,guess its d way edo boys pronuonced it...OGBA ZOO,....u r corect.
Re: Why Do You Think Lagos Is Called Lasgidi? by Orjioorji(f): 4:23pm On Oct 26, 2014
doctimi:
Hmmm

As a street boy, Let me clear the air

The slang had been on for a while. It originated from the code written on the yellow buses (Danfo) in Lagos defining the route the bus is confined to.

LASG (Lagos State Government)

IDI (Short form for Idimu)

LASGIDI was the code used by those area boys wayback then to track buses that haven't paid the daily ticket due and other

'agbero' fees.
I believe your own hypothesis more than anybody here.

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