The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), described by some as “the last word on [English] words”, has been updated with 29 Nigerian English words and phrases. These include ‘severally’, as in “he reminded me severally about the issue”, ‘ember months’ (the final four months of the year), ‘next tomorrow’ (the day after tomorrow), ‘barbing salon’ (barber shop), ‘send-forth’ (an event to mark a person’s departure) and ‘to rub minds’ (to consult).

On hearing that words and phrases that had hitherto been Nigerian Pidgin English – a mix of local languages and English to facilitate easy communication in a country with more than 250 indigenous languages – were now acceptable English, Nduka Orjinmo, the BBC’s Lagos correspondent, quipped: “I wish I could show the new entries to my former boss!”

Orjinmo recounted how, when he was a radio presenter, his boss came rushing into the studio after he had used ‘severally’ on air. The boss proceeded to give the poor journo an earful and instructed him never to use the word again.

Following the OED’s latest intervention, it may soon be commonplace to hear conversations like this on Nigerian radio and televisions stations:

Chinedu: “We will be having a celebration to welcome the ember months; please come along.”

Chidozie: “Will let you know by next tomorrow. Speak to you later; I need to go to the barbing salon.”

The 29 new entries will indeed put Nigeria on the map of the English-speaking world. What’s more, further additions are under consideration, according to the Nigerian consultant who worked with the OED’s lexicographers on the 29 words and phrases.

But South Africa has contributed many more words and phrases to the English language. OED Online gives the number as 800, with some words, such as aandblom – any of several flowers related to the Iris – having found their way into English from as far back as 1822.

Many of the words and phrases that English-speaking South Africans use almost daily may actually cause utter confusion on other shores. Take robot, for example. It is quite common, when giving someone directions, to tell them to turn at the next robot. In a different geographical setting, the person asking for directions would not be sure if he or she should expect to see a humanlike machine walking past cars.

My favourite South Africanism is eish! With origins in Xhosa, it has now embedded itself in not only English but also some of the languages spoken in neighbouring countries. I find it fascinating in that it expresses not just surprise – it can also express excitement, disbelief, annoyance or resignation.

“Ach, shame!” (what a shame!) is also a favourite of mine. Whereas in other parts of the world “what a shame!” is uttered when something unfortunate happens, our “ach, shame!” applies to pretty much any situation: when giving thanks, shouting praise or mourning.

While I doff my hat to OED’s lexicographers for silencing the language police – like Orjinmo’s old boss – who take issue with how Africans speak English, they are taking too long to deal with the little matter of the singular they/their/them – as in “Someone has not closed their office door”. Two of the world’s most authoritative style manuals, the Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press Stylebook – used by many newsrooms worldwide – now accept the singular they. And the American Psychological Association has followed suit, having endorsed this new usage a few months back. Perhaps we need to rub minds on this matter with the fellows at the OED as soon as next tomorrow and come to a conclusion before the ember months of 2020.