Street
japa
What does japa mean?
Originally meant fleeing or escaping quickly, and has become the standard word for emigrating from Nigeria, especially among young professionals seeking opportunities overseas.
"My guy don japa go Canada last year, e dey do well."
Origin
From Yoruba, meaning to flee/escape quickly, as documented in the Wikipedia "Nigerian Pidgin" article; the emigration sense is now dominant in everyday use, per Pulse.ng.
Frequently asked questions
What does "japa" mean?
It means to flee or escape quickly — today it's used mainly to mean emigrating abroad for better opportunities.
Where does the word come from?
It comes from Yoruba, where it originally meant to flee or escape.
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