/ˈkɛ.kɛ/
Definition:
KEKE is the widely used Nigerian name for a three-wheeled motorized taxi, also known globally as an auto-rickshaw or tuk-tuk. In Nigeria, it serves as a popular and affordable means of public transportation, especially in densely populated urban and semi-urban areas. It’s officially referred to in many places as “KEKE NAPEP”, a reference to a Nigerian poverty alleviation program (National Poverty Eradication Programme) that introduced the vehicles in the early 2000s.
A KEKE usually carries up to three passengers and one driver, weaving through traffic faster than conventional cars, and often providing last-mile connectivity. It’s more maneuverable and fuel-efficient than taxis or buses, making it a practical option for commuters on a budget.
In daily speech, “KEKE” is used casually and sometimes humorously. For example:
“Na KEKE I take waka come here.” (Translation: I came here with a tricycle taxi.)
“Omo that KEKE driver no get chill at all!” (That KEKE driver was reckless!)
- Synonyms: “Tricycle”, “Auto-rickshaw”, “Tuk-tuk”, “Keke NAPEP”
- Antonyms: “Car”, “Bus”, “Motorcycle”, “Taxi (in the traditional 4-wheel sense)”
Listen to how KEKE is pronounced in this short video below.
Usage Examples:
- Informal: “I go enter KEKE go market.”
- Formal: “The KEKE operator was fined for violating traffic rules.”
- Idiomatic: “No be every KEKE dey go your direction.” (Not all opportunities are for you.)
Cultural Context:
Origin:
The term “KEKE” is believed to come from the Yoruba word for a “Bicycle”. It is also a simplified, onomatopoeic word believed to mimic the chugging or sputtering sound made by early models of these tricycles. While the vehicles themselves were imported from Asia—primarily India and China—the Nigerian name “KEKE” became locally adopted due to ease of pronunciation and cultural fit.
It gained widespread use in the early 2000s when the Nigerian government introduced the “KEKE NAPEP” scheme as part of an initiative to reduce unemployment and improve public transportation. The word “NAPEP” refers to the National Poverty Eradication Programme, which subsidized the cost of the tricycles and offered them to unemployed youth.
The name stuck and eventually became synonymous with the tricycle itself, shedding the bureaucratic association and becoming a street name recognized nationwide. Today, the word “KEKE” stands as a powerful symbol of urban movement and survival in Nigeria.
Regional Usage:
“KEKE” is used across virtually all states in Southern and Northern Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. Despite the regional differences in language and dialect, the term “KEKE” is understood from the street corners of Aba to the highways of Kaduna.
In cities like Lagos, KEKE fills the gap left by limited bus access to inner streets. In Northern Nigeria, especially in places like Kano or Jos, it is a major mode of daily commuting. Some communities refer to it as “Adaidaita sahu”, particularly in Hausa-speaking areas, but “KEKE” remains the universally accepted Pidgin term.
Its usage is so popular that people have adapted the word into music lyrics, memes, and comedy. You might hear:
“If you no get KEKE for Lagos, you fit trek tire.”
Meaning: If you don’t find a tricycle in Lagos, you’ll walk long distances.
How do you use the word KEKE? Drop your best sentence in Pidgin using the word “KEKE” and let’s see who be true Lagos sharp guy!