Nigeria, Sept. 13 -- That day, all I wanted was a quick dash to Chicken Republic. The mission was simple: rice, chicken, and maybe a few slices of yam with stew to top up the reserves. But in the restless belly of Lasgidi, nothing is ever truly simple. A short trip can easily turn into a full cultural immersion. The moment I hopped into a korope, that miniature bus that looks like it was designed by someone who thought humans were made of rubber, I realized good food wasn't the only thing on the menu. What I got instead was a buffet of fresh street lingo, served hot and unfiltered.

The conductor, tattered jeans, no shirt, and a voice louder than an "I Pass My Neighbor" generator, bellowed:

"Owa o! E still get space, shift abeg!"

"Shift...