Glossary

Askari

Policeman, security guard

 

Banda

Any kind of hut, usually round and thatched

 

Boma

1. Native huts enclosed by a fence

2. Collection of administrative buildings and official's dwellings

 

Bwana

Mister, a common term of address

 

Chai

1. Tea

2. A small bribe or persuasion

3. A tip

 

Choo

Toilet (pronounced cho)

 

Duka

Shop, store

 

Duka La Dawa

Chemist

 

Fundi

Mechanic, craftsman, expert

 

Harambee

"Pull Together", the ideology of peacable community development espoused by Kenyatta. Harambee meetings are local fund-raising gatherings for schools, clinics etc but they've come in for some criticisms in recent years as politicians vie to contribute the most money.

 

Hoteli

Small restaurant, chai shop, cafe

 

Jua Kali

"Hot Sun", open air car repairer's yard or small workshop

 

Kanisa

Church

 

Laibon

A sorcerer

 

Lugga

Seasonal dry watercourse

 

Mama

Common term of address for married women

 

Manamba

Matutu tout, "turnboy"

 

Manyatta

Temporary Masai encampment, often formed of thorn branches

 

Matutu

Pick-up taxi

 

Mkenya

Kenyan citizen (pl. wakenya)

 

Moran

Man in the warrior age group of Masai or Samburu (pl. morani)

 

Msikiti

Mosque

 

Mtali

Tourist (pl. watali)

 

Mungi

God

 

Murram

Red or black clay soil, usually referring to a road

 

Mwananchi

Person, peasant, worker (pl. wananchi, the people)

 

Mzee

Old man. "The Mzee" is Kenyatta

 

Mzungu

White person (pl. wazungo)

 

Ngoma

Dancing, drumming, party, celebration

 

Njia

Road, path

 

Panga

Multi-purpose short machette carried everywhere in the countryside

 

Safari

A journey of any kind

 

Shamba

Small farm, plot

 

Shifta

Widely used Amharic term for bandits

 

Uhuru

Freedom, independance

Revised: 23/06/07 13:27