BRAND NAMES CALLING IN NIGERIA: The Naija Way Of Knowing A Product.
Out here, you may know what you are saying but if you don’t say it the NAIJA way, you may sound like you are stuttering.
This is most especially common with groceries and other household items. You know what you want to buy, and you are saying the right thing. But if you don’t call it the Nigerian way, you will only be confusing the seller.
The thing is, once an item or a product becomes popular and the most famous in the country, the brand name becomes the permanent name for that item of it’s kind by Nigerians.
I mean, it is a common thing for entertainers/celebrities to become so famous to the point of becoming a household names here and abroad.
The logic is, build your brand and let it get so loud and be in everyone’s face and watch it become a household name. And, you know once it’s popular here it can become a giant anywhere else.
There are various products in Nigeria that are popularly called their brand’s name, not the product. Likewise, every other similar product. They are; Indomie, Omo/Klean, MacLean/Close-up, Pampers etc which are actually Noodles, Detergent/Powder soap, Toothpaste and Diapers respectively.
Perhaps it’s just taking a shortcut and going straight to the point instead of the back and forth of calling the general name. It also helps in quickly promoting, making a brand legendary with extra value which eventually gives them the liberty of making their products even more superior.
Moreover, Nigerians are the real kings when it comes to name calling. They give the most hilarious nicknames, ones that can make you cry. When I was in secondary school, we were reading this literature called “Kojo, The Pride Of His Parents“. Believe me when I say, my classmates got tired of reading this book and started calling the Literature teacher “Baba Kojo”.
There are many others, and a lot more which comes from the cruise business in the country. You can read more about it in our NAIJA GOOD: Series 1, Typical Comment Section in Nigeria.
I’ll remind us again, the nation is pretty good with name calling. So, if you don’t call it or do it the NAIJA way you might need a compass.
NAIJA GOOD.
Every detergent is called OMO in Nigeria