Mzungu
Mzungu ([ m̩ˈzuŋɡu ]) is a word from the Bantu languages and is used in the area of the African Great Lakes to denote people of European descent. The term has been widely used by Bantu in Kenya , Tanzania , Malawi , Rwanda , Burundi , Uganda , the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Comoros , Mayotte, and Zambia since the 18th century . Literally translated it means "someone who wanders around aimlessly" or "wanderer"
Origin and use
The term originally comes from the region of the Great African Lakes and described European researchers of the 18th century, obviously because they were constantly on the move on their research trips. The word mzungu comes from Swahili , where zungu or zunguka means "to turn on the spot". Kizunguzungu means "dizzy" or " tumbled " in Swahili. Nowadays it stands for “someone with white skin” or “fair skinned”.
The possessive kizungu (or chizungu ) is used in some areas in the sense of "appearing weighty", in some areas such as Rwanda and Burundi it is also used regardless of skin color. Originally, Europeans were seen as wealthy and influential, but the meaning of the word has now changed to "wealthy person", regardless of ethnicity. It is therefore not uncommon to refer to any form of employer as a mzungu . In Swahili the plural is wazungu . The possessive kizungu (or chizungu ) literally means "by the hikers" and is used in the sense of "the language of the hikers" or in general English because this is the most widely used language of the wazungu . But it is also used for other European languages. Wachizungu, bachizungu etc. - literally “wandering people” - has become more and more a term for people who have adopted western culture, cuisine and lifestyle.
The word mzungu can be used in a loving or insulting way. Often it is shouted by children who want to attract the attention of a passerby.
Regional variants
| language | Singular | Plural | Possessive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swahili in the African Great Lakes area | Mzungu | Wazungu | Kizungu |
| Comorian language in the Comoros | Mzungu | Wazungu | Chizungu |
| Luganda in Uganda | Muzungu | Bazungu | Kizungu |
| Chichewa in Malawi | Muzungu | Azungu | Chizungu |
| Chinyanja in Zambia | Muzungu | Bazungu | Chizungu |
| Kinyarwanda in Rwanda / Kirundi in Burundi | Umuzungu | Abazungu | ikizungu |
| Bemba in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Musungu | Basungu | Chisungu |
| Kisii in Kenya | Omusongo | Abasongo | Ebisongo |
| Sena in Mozambique | Muzungu | Azungu | |
| Shona in Zimbabwe | Murungu | Varungu | |
| isiZulu in South Africa | Umlungu | Abelungu |
In Kinyarwanda and Kirundi , Europeans are also called rutuku . The word means “red”, the connotation is “ aggressor ”, with reference to colonialism and the exploitation of the country.
Web links
- Ian Anderson: Mzungu! Mzungu! Muzungu! Hey mzungu! Retrieved July 15, 2017 .
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Chemi Che-Mponda: The Meaning of the Word Mzungu - Maana ya Mzungu. Swahili Time, accessed July 15, 2017 .
- ↑ What is a Muzungu? Retrieved July 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Ezekiel Gebissa: Etymology of the term muzungu. H-Net Discussion Networks, September 19, 2002, accessed July 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Tom Griffith: The Wandering Wazungu. Travel Blog, October 20, 2007, accessed July 15, 2017 .
- ^ Notes on the Songs & Instruments. THE JANISSARY STOMP, accessed July 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Rwanda: A Mzungu's Thoughts On Justine Sacco. allAfrica.com, December 25, 2013, accessed July 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Mary Walker: Mary Walker: Christmas in Kenya. Steamboat Today, December 27, 2013, accessed July 15, 2017 .
- ^ Bill Bryson: The rough guide to Tanzania. Google Books, accessed July 15, 2017 .