What happens when South Africans start dropping “Mandem” and “calm” the moment they find out you’re from London? Join me as I recount my experiences navigating South African social scenes and how the rhythm, swagger, and vocabulary of Black British English have found a home far from the UK. More than just slang, BBE stands as a vibrant marker of Black Britishness, a language born of diaspora and now embraced, learned, and loved across the Black world. Through shared linguistic learning and deep cultural connection, we explore how BBE has become a powerful site of global production, shaping identity, belonging, and solidarity within the wider Black diaspora.