woLOLo = A funky Twitterverse conflation of the slang LOL [= Laugh(ing) Out Loud] with the exclamation 'Wololo!' LOL is an acronym, as pointed out. Wololo is a vernacular (DhoLuo) interjection traditionally used in East Africa's lake region -- with reference to an ongoing event or narrative, or in routine conversation -- to capture an inflection point, a great spectacle or a sudden turn; or to mark a moment of great surprise, amusement or even shock.
The word Wololo has more recently featured in several Nigerian songs, and many fans -- East, West, South and Central -- now probably take it as a part of distinctly Nigerian vocabulary, with practically the same connotation as above. Deep Nigerian roots, which I imagine exist, would of course raise the intriguing question as to where and when, exactly, the 'Twain' did meet -- or split. The first question, then, is: In which region(s) of Nigeria is Wololo most deeply rooted?
Wololo, or #woLOLo, is now obviously an expanding meme -- of undeniable linguistic, cultural and historical interest.
PS: A check on my early tweets will show that I began using #woLOLo instead of (indeed, as a pun on) LOL pretty early in my Twitter journey -- long before stars like Mr. Flavour began inserting it in some of their popular songs.
Updated: July 19, 2015
