TYPICAL GAMBIAN VOCABULARY
Afra :
grilled meat or chicken or the place it is sold.
Bantaba: a gathering of people mostly under a big shady tree
where they while away the time chatting, drinking china green tea or simply watching passers-by. This has become, a
small outdoor construction for shade, where we share meal or take a drink
Bolong: river in Mandinka; it also means a creek, a tributary
or a much smaller river.
Boubou: the gown-like dress worn by both men and women. The
sewing differs according to the sex.
Chop: carries a different meaning from English as it refers to
ones share of the local meal.
Chop shop: a small restaurant where local meals are
sold.
Griot: a traditional musician and praise-singer. Historically
a griot sang the praises of the African king, advices him and was then preserver of the oral traditions.
Grigri: pronounced greegree, it is a charm or amulet worn
above the arm, across the chess, around the waist or on the head. It is meant to ward off evil, provide strength
and good luck or virility.
Groundnut: peanut
Harmattan: a dry wind that blows between December and
February. It blows from the north and sometimes carries small particles of sand from the dessert and creates a hazy
atmosphere. It also dries the skin by exatracting the moisture from it.
Insha’Allah: an Arabic word meaning, "if it pleases
Allah"
Marabout: a Muslim holy man who could have spiritual powers to
heal. it can also be a spiritual leader.
Toubab: a white person. Once a white woman or man meets
children in the streets, she or he is greeted with "Toubab! Toubab!"
Bumster: lesser in number than the previous years due the
security put in place, they sometimes molest you. Most of whom are unemployed or school drop-outs, these youth do
anything to survive.
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