The Biafran
The sultry Igbo jam is an anthem only bested by
No doubt it's been the year of the Igbo boys, with Tekno and Phyno dominating the music scene while Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho banging in goals in England.
In a year that has undoubtedly favoured our Eastern brothers, Tekno's single 'Pana' is more than just a hot song from a singer whose time is now. 'Pana' is a four-minute song that sums up the Naija version of love, a bullet point description. Let's look at the first verse.
The song starts with the unforgettable opening line " gimme love o, na you dey catch my shot o (shot o)." On the surface, this line seems like Tekno begging for love but the deeper meaning hints at a lover asking for another round of love making. You know how it is- when you have to beg bae for sex. Nigerian guys know what I am talking about.
ALSO READ: Tekno gives women controversial relationship advice
Within the Nigerian context, love and sex go together. There is no sex without love and there is no love without sex depending on the guy and babe. Tekno lays down the premise of Nigerian love in the opening lines of his hit song.
"For your sake, I go go church o, eh.. we go drive around for my Porsche o" sings Tekno in the next line. I know several guys who say when they are toasting babes they go to their church just to make the toasting process a lot smoother and more authentic.
Sharp men know that when you get to a babe's church, you are letting her know that you mean business. On 'Pana' Tekno is letting you know that his relationship with the fictional Folake is serious. After the spirituality comes the materialism with the mention of the Porsche. After going to her church, take her around time in your hot car. This is the parole for many guys on Sunday.
From Tekno's description, it seems Folake is one of those crazy girls who pose as savages/Rihanna worshippers online. "Baby pana, dem say you like wahala (I get wahala)." We all know that hot chick who has a lot of trouble dating that guy who is nothing but trouble also. They fight a lot, but they never break up. Tekno portrays the turbulent relationships of such people in one line.
Then comes the infamous line, "Baby pana, dem say you like cassava (I get e big cassava)." Tekno dumps the tiring use of banana as a metaphor and uses something bigger instead- a cassava. Banana is a popular word and emoji when Nigerian couples sext. Now, Tekno has put the word cassava is the Nigerian sexting dictionary.
And what is it with Nigerian guys using food items as love lines. 'Tomato', 'Jollof rice', 'banana' and 'cassava' are used by men to describe their feelings to women. In Nigerian terms food=love. Maybe, that is why there is so much fuss about cooking on Twitter.
With this hit song, Tekno has shown the various ingredients of Nigerian love- sex, love, corny phrases, religion and a little bit of the Chris Brown/Rihanna dynamic. Apart from its addictive melody, 'Pana', the relatable lines help make the song stick.
'Pana' is the manuscript you need to understand in 21st-century Nigerian quickie love relationships.