I first came across the word as a Scrabble-loving kid. I could have been around 12 or 13 years. In those days, we would ‘challenge’ and search for words using the Chambers Dictionary. We also sort of built our vocabulary and I would play Scrabble in competitions at the University. I still do today even if I have to play with myself, just forming words and romancing the board. Nigeria actually emerged as the world’s best Scrabbling nation in 2025, and that is no mean feat. We have some of the craziest players in the Delta/Edo axis, but in the South-West and South-South, the game is also popular with very good players, even though it looks like the Gen Zs are not keen on it.
Etymology as hope for Nigeria: How we can establish unity through anthropology of language, By ‘Tope Fasua
