This makes the language the vehicle for the elaboration of themes within the songs. Our findings reveal that while most code-switching is done in three languages - English, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba - Yoruba plays a prominent role.

The objectives are to examine the nature of the phenomenon of code-switching, to examine the reasons for code-switching, to discuss the stylistic effects of this trend, and to examine the implications of this practice for communication through music. We present code-switching in the lyrics of five Nigerian hip-hop musicians: Sunny Nneji, Weird MC, D'Banj, P Square and Styl Plus. In spite of the fact that most Nigerian hip-hop singers use English, they still try to identify with their roots by mixing English with their indigenous languages.

While Nigerian scholars have examined code-switching in conversation and in literary language (Akere, 1980 Amuda, 1986, 1994 Goke-Pariola, 1983 O'Mole, 1987 Lamidi, 2004 Ayeomoni, 2006) this study presents a critical examination of code-switching in contemporary Nigerian hip-hop music.

West african pidgin