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April 21st, 2010 | Africa

Being careful with Swahili…

Swahili is a language which came into use in order to make communication between the Bantu tribes of East Africa, and the Arab and Portuguese traders, easier…  (Just as Fanagalo was the common language developed to communicate with the various tribes of mine workers in South Africa…)

Swahili though, by all account is a rather complicated language to master, as there are often many meanings for the same word… I use only the most basic forms of greeting, and have not had the time to master much else… I do however listen to their conversations, to see if I can pick up any words which sound familiar, and might mean the same thing further south…

When I was stuck out in the bush with a puncture and a “dead” bike, the guy who cycled out of the dark to assist me with the puncture, used the term “washa patchie” often… I have since discovered that “washa” means “put on, or turn on , or even start up”…

The guy wanted to put a patch on the hole in the tyre or tube, in this instance…

A few days later, when we were sitting at the Coral Beach Hotel with Joe, he leaned over to the barmen and in a loud voice said,

“Washa fanni”…

There was a stunned silence from me, as I looked from Joe to the young lady who was placing clean glasses on the counter… Joe looked across at me, saw the confusion etched on my dial, and we immediately burst into uncontrollable laughter…

“I asked her to switch the fan on..!!”  Joe said, trying to compose himself….

“No problem,” I said, “If that’s your story, then stick to it…!!” More laughter and schoolboy-like sniggering….

I could just imagine the scene in a stuffy colonial home, somewhere in Dar or Nairobi…

An English gentleman and his wife, (newly arrived from Old England) are sitting out on the patio while he explains about life in the Colonies… The maid brings the afternoon tea out to where they are sitting… Noticing a thin sheen of perspiration building on his wife’s brow, he turns to the maid and says in a commanding voice,

“Washa fanni…”

I reckon that one would have taken some explaining, and would have had his wife wondering what her husband had been up to while she was away….

You gotta be careful with Swahili, Dudes….

4 comments to Being careful with Swahili…

  • Charmz

    LOL, I’m glad to see you have not lost your sense of humour…..that was very funny. Best you brush up on your Swahili before you land in a sticky situation! Thanks for keeping us posted on your travels Ron, I know it takes hours to do this, as I have witnessed it first hand (you sitting up till 2 in the morning), but know that we all appreciate your hard work, time and effort. Just make sure that you still grab some shut eye in order to be fresh and ready for the next day’s ride. Love and Miss you.

  • Tony Muirhead

    Hello Ronnie

    I am interested howcome you are running on Anakees rather than noblees. I am forwarding you blog on to our BMW Bike club here in Durban as it is such a good read I thought the rest of the guys must share it to. Look after yourself and looking very forward to the continued Journey.

    Regards

    Tony Muirhead

  • Be careful when you’re asking someone if they understand you – “Ume-elewa”, uncomfortably close to “Umelewa” meaning “Are you drunk?”!!!
    Fabulous spending time with you, Ronnie… Safari njema!
    Cheers, Dave Owens (Arusha)

  • Swazi Charl

    Very funny Ron – nothing like lost in translation!! Sounds like you had a great time in Dar. It’s always good to meet the local ex-pats and see what makes them tick in a place like that and what makes them stay. You would definately be left wondering if you didn’t see it through their eyes.

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