Bringing Freshers Up to Speed: Decoding Danfodiyo Slangs

By: Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen

After completing the due process as a newly admitted student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Here is a tip on how to familiarize yourself with the common jargon among the students of UDUS.

You might be willing to ask, Slang? What does that mean? And why should it matter to me? Well, I would advise you to keep calm and take a chill pill as I enlighten you about the code words on campus. And trust me you will be fascinated when you get to know about these concise words.

Among the various intriguing code names on campus the word ’Jambito’ is the most common and important to you as a new student. Why is it important? The term implies someone who just wrote a jamb or a new university student who just arrived on campus. In simple terms, it implies the general name that Danfodites call freshmen. What goes around, they say, comes around. Every final year student was once a jambito (fresher) and every Jambito, if he is well reserved and serious with his studies, will surely stand a chance to be a final year student someday.

Secondly, the importance of “yaro” boys and “yarinya” girls in the lives of Danfodites cannot be over-emphasized. Who are these people? The term “yaro” means boy, while the term “yarinya” translates to a girl in Hausa. “yaro” boy and “yarinya” girl would ordinarily mean small boy and small girl respectively. But technically, in Suncity, these names denote the workforce behind different chores that students found too hectic to execute or errands that they cannot run themselves. “yaro” boys and “yarinya” girls work for students living at the Hall of residence in exchange for food or monetary considerations. You get to see them the moment you descend from your bus. They might call you Jambito too. Don’t mind them, UDUS is just a lively place to live.

Note that, as a Danfodite, “Morocco” means more than an African country. In UDUS it connotes the meeting of two lovers. Which might or might not earn you cooler. Morocco, as I said earlier, is not a country for students of UDUS, many regard it as an unregistered 4-unit course, and to some, it’s astray. You are heading to ’Anù’. (the Yoruba word for astray) The unholy art can happen at any time, albeit day or night, but it’s common during the night. Lovers perch under trees, classes, or anywhere. Sounds fun? As lively as it might sound, it is strongly advised that you don’t try it as the higher the “morocco”, the lower your CGPA may likely become.

Further, TDB means “Till day Break,” i.e. The art of reading from night till dawn. This is for scholars in the school, but everyone becomes an intellectual when exam time beacons. Don’t blame students for rumbling books because UDUS requires it.

Subsequently, we have the Wi-Fi Lords. These are the folks who have access to WiFi from dawn till dusk. They take immense pleasure from their demeanor, so whenever you confront them for being addicted to using wifi, they inundate you with their usual surging anthem, “Let me use my money since I paid for it.” WiFi will be available to everyone, however I hope you can use it positively.

Conclusively, what makes you jambito is not because you are a freshman, but rather because you tend to see Denkeli da awara (Fried Potato and soya beans cake) with carbage, groundnut oil, and dried ground pepper, as snacks, but since it’s ignorance that makes you a Jambito, this enlightenment should help. Denkeli da Awara is a saver, it goes beyond the snacking you are taking it for as a freshman. But I guess you will not understand now till Sapa hits you. Once again, you are welcome to the most peaceful University in Nigeria where leaders, scholars, writers, and readers are nurtured.