Trends
“No gree for anybody”: Meaning, Origin and Viral Success
What is the meaning of “No gree for anybody” and how did we all agree for it to be the theme of the year 2024?
Towards the end of 2023, Nigerians in all spheres of the internet and social media, unanimously agreed that the theme for the 2024 year would be “No gree for anybody” which can be loosely translated as standing your ground and for yourself, irrespective of the person in Opposition. What is the meaning of this slang, how did it originate and how did we all agree for it to be the theme of the year 2024?
Before answering the questions, it is imperative to note that occasionally one or two slangs pop up and dominate the Nigerian internet space for the year. In 2022, we had the term “Sapa” which denotes extreme poverty and lack of funds. In 2023, we had the term “Idan”, a Yoruba word commonly used to describe someone highly respected because of their influence, wealth, and power.
These slangs dominated the Nigerian internet space for a while before they were displaced by another trend. Now we have the term “No Gree For Anybody”, read on to find out its meaning and origin and the reason behind its viral success.
No gree for anybody: Meaning
As earlier stated the term ” No gree for anybody” is a pidgin phrase that can loosely translated to mean standing your ground and for yourself, irrespective of the person or thing in opposition.
According to Tribune online, The term is more, than a phrase; it represents a declaration of importance and a willingness to stand up for oneself. According to the publication, slang serves as a tool to challenge misunderstood viewpoints demonstrating unwavering dedication to expressing one’s own perspective.
"No gree for anybody" includes yourself btw.
No gree for your unhealthy habits, insecurities, and self sabotaging patterns.
— Timi Adetayo (@timi_adetayo) January 3, 2024
Going further, Aliyu Abulkareem, the Tribune writer noted that the term“No gree for anybody” also encompasses the idea of refuting misconceptions. It’s a verbal stance against anyone prostrating or presenting a skewed view, a commitment to setting the record straight anytime, anywhere.
According to him, The usage of this slang is not limited to the primary parties involved; third-party observers often join the fray, injecting an element of amusement they refer to as “Cruise.” In doing so, they actively contribute to the playful and dynamic nature of Nigerian linguistic culture.
Origin of “No gree for anybody”
The origin of the slang “No gree for anybody” has been hard to decipher, but an advanced search on Twitter shows that the slang has been used on the platform as far back as April 2023. It is often accompanied by a meme or video, showing two unequal elements in conflict. For example a soldier and a civilian in physical combat.
No gree for anybody this week pic.twitter.com/LfYSwE2PLb
— 𝘓𝘖𝘚𝘌𝘠𝘐𝘐💙🦅🫵😹 (@seyimoney001) April 10, 2023
According to a recently published punch report, The origin of “No Gree for Anybody” as an internet slang can be traced back to a gospel song titled, ‘I No Go Gree’, by Sister Agatha Moses in her album entitled, ‘Thank You’. It is imperative to note that the validity of this claim is highly reputable.
While the origin of the term is still unknown it is imperative to note that the whole concept began to gain momentum on Twitter now known as X, before becoming a thing on other platforms.
“No gree for anybody”: Viral Success
No gree for anybody began to become prominent online towards November 2023, as many people used the slang to announce their 2024 resolution of standing their ground against any opposition. The term became of form of cruise of Twitter, as many people began to post several memes and posts to emphasise the slang on social media, including pictures of a tricycle dragging the right of way with a heavy-duty vehicle; and one purportedly showing a student pointing to a particular answer on the board, while the lecturer pointed at another answer
@wonderdtalk No gree for anybody this new year o 😂
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram were also not left out on the fun, as many influencers and social media content creators began to create and post content that emphasized the meaning of the slang. Mainstream celebrities in the music and movie industry also made use of the slang to express their thought and even caption their photos and videos on the picture and video-sharing platform, Instagram.
Conclusively, The term “No gree for any Body” will join the list of Hall of Fame slang such as “Dey Play”, “No Evidence”, “E don Cast”, “Sapa”, “Idan” “E Choke”, and “Japa”, among others, that attained national prominence and have been widely on and off the Nigerian Internet space.