10/05/2026
Just like that this morning it crossed my mind to ask meta the meaning of the popular slang . See meaning and usage:
is Nigerian political slang that started as a slip of the tongue by President Bola Tinubu in late 2022.
Where it came from
During an APC town hall meeting in Owerri, Imo State in Nov 2022, Tinubu said:
_A town hall, different from blu bulaba
His campaign team initially said the video was doctored, but fact-checks by the Centre for Democracy and Development confirmed he said it live on TVC.
What it means
1. Literal intent: Tinubu’s team said he meant balabala - a Yoruba word for gibberish, nonsense, or empty talk. He was trying to say his town hall was different from the "gibberish" of other politicians.
2. How Nigerians use it: It became shorthand for nonsense, incoherent talk, or hullabaloo. People use it to mock speeches or policies that don’t make sense.
- Example: "This policy na pure balablu" = "This policy is nonsense."
3. Meme status: The phrase went viral on TikTok, Twitter, and Nairaland. It’s now used generically like blablabla in English.
Other uses
- Some artists have even released songs titled since then, using it more as a catchy, meaningless hook.
So in short: Balablu = gibberish/nonsense, born from a Tinubu gaffe and adopted by Nigerians as slang for empty talk.
😂
