Praise singing topics can range from the formal to the informal. As long as they serve to entice, excite, tease and flatter the subject being praised, anything is fair game. The simplest and most common praising techniques, call attention to the obvious positive aspects of the patron in question. The singer might comment on their elegant or outrageous outfit, their stature (tall, short, narrow or wide), or the sheen of their skin, from dark to light. Here are some examples of these simple forms of praise:

E wo geele ya ya  - See the owner of this wild head wrapper

E wa woo          -          Come and see (this would be followed someons names and praise of their physical attributes)

At a deeper level, the praise singer may draw upon the achievements of the patron or their immediate family. Whether in business, political or traditional achievement, they can be praised directly.

“Bibi ire ko se f’owo ra oti daju   - You can never buy being born into greatness (the right circumstance)  

Ki a bi ni ko to ka tuntun ara eni bi    - Being born to greatness is nothing compared to what you have done with the opportunity - - -<insert name of patron here>”

Or in praise of physical beauty (whether handsome or not, the praise is an effective tactic)

B mba j’obinrin ni Mii ba fi ka e mole – If I was a woman I would have forced myself on you in the house

Aii j’obinrin o dun mi Mii ba fi ka e lodede - It pains me that I am not a woman or I would have molested you in the compound.

Kin tete ja b amo Kin le bimo to jo e – So that I could quickly become a mother and have a child that looks like you <insert patron’s name here>

Or they can be praised by recounting the general character of their family name or town.

At their deepest level, Nigerian praise singers draw upon folklore, oral history, and poetry to raise the profile of the person who is spraying them with money. This is done through elaborate knowledge of family names, towns and regions, and tribal history. For instance, among the Yoruba, each person, family and town has what is known as “Oriki” or praise poems. These praise poems say simple yet deeply meaningful things about people and the things they are socially bound to (families, towns and ethnicities for example). Since Nigeria is not a nation of immigrants like America, but a nation of Indigenes, people have strong cultural ties to the town their forebears come from, even though they themselves may never have lived there.

The master praise singer has the knowledge and the good social sense to draw from each of these realms to provide a constantly changing and entertaining mix of narrative, praise and humor which keeps his audience engaged, watching the show and chomping at the bit for their chance to spray and be praised in the public eye. Like the Deejay at an American dance party, the praise singer has to constantly assess his audience and lead his ensemble nimbly in whatever direction is going to keep the party bubbling, the audience engaged and the money flowing.

Additional Info
The Art of Praise Singing and Grass-Roots Patronage:King Sunny ...
The Beginner's Guide to African Late-Night Parties
Examples of Praise Singing Topics
Beginner's Guide to Spraying
Glossary of terms you may hear in praise singing

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