Glossary of terms

Askari – nightwatchman (Swahili)
Bakkie – pick-up or ute
Boda-boda – scooter or bicycle taxis for one passenger (Uganda)
Boerewors – farm sausage in South Africa (Afrikaans)
Boma – a fenced enclosure, usually for animals
Braai - barbecue
Canopy – hard top with glass sides and back door, on top of a bakkie
Dagga – dope, marijuana
Dalla-dalla _ a minibus taxi (Tanzania)
Doek – a scarf tied around the head, covering the hair
Donga – a dry river-bed
Duka – roadside stalls, kiosks
Fundi – an expert in an area or an artisan (mechanic, electrician etc.)
Ingwa – a small squash, like a patty pan
Karibu – Welcome (Swahili)
Kwaito – Township music (South Africa)
Lapa – a covered entertainment area, usually thatched
Madumbe – arum lily bulbs
Matatu – a minibus taxi (Kenya and Uganda)
Matoke – a stiff porridge of staple foods, usually bananas (Tanzania)
Mzungu – a white person (Swahili)
Mielie – corn, usually a corn-on-the-cob
Mielie-meal – maize, a staple, usually made into a stiff porridge
Mokoro (pl Mekoro) – dugout canoe (SeTswana)
Oke – a chap, a bloke (from Afrikaans)
Pili-pili – Peri-peri, a hot-chilli flavour or sauce (Swahili)
Potjie – cast-iron three-legged pot
Rondavel – a round hut
Sangoma – witch-doctor
Sheba – a tomato, pepper, onion (and often chilli) sauce served with mielie-meal (SA)
Sjambok – a leather whip (from Afrikaans)