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One of Us |
Can anyone tell me about the word "shenzi?" I just read William Buckley's book, and the forward referred to him as "that crazy shenzi Buckley." In the text he referred to his black safari crew as "the shenzis." The Shona pediatrician at my hospital didn't know the word, it's apparantly not Shona. Anyone? | ||
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It might have other meanings but in Ki-Swahili it means mongrel or native dog etc. | |||
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What? (I am assuming that you addressed this thread to me, obviously. ) Loosely translated, shenzi is a Swahili word meaning crazy or wild man. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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I just checked. Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanis FWIW, I've also heard people refer to African wild dog as shenzi but don't think it was really correct/accurate. | |||
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That's correct. basically means an uncivilized person. | |||
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The Ki-Swahili words I've heard for crazy/loopy etc is majanuni (Sp?) or a bit crazy would be kitcha (again, sp?) Not always an easy language as the same word can often have different meanings depending on context. A good example is moja ka moja which can mean straight on, dead right or I agree etc. And that coming from an Englishman! | |||
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I've seen it quite a bit in literature refering to "heathens". Brett DRSS Life Member SCI Life Member NRA Life Member WSF Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick. And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too. May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep. May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip. -Seth Peterson | |||
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Haven't read Buckley for a fair while but seem to remember he may well have used the word in reference to the Africans...... So perhaps he meant a combination of all of the meanings mentioned..... as in of unknown parentage. | |||
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Thanks. I'll now be trying to work it into conversation, I suppose. It looks like a good general purpose word. | |||
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When I was in SA last year my PH had a dog with that name. He said it meant "Trouble". Hunting is not a matter of life or death....It's much more important | |||
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I have the word yzumu used for crazy as In yzumu muzungu or at least Thats what I was told it meant | |||
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Hook, Now who would they have been referring to?? Steve "He wins the most, who honour saves. Success is not the test." Ryan "Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything." Stalin Tanzania 06 Argentina08 Argentina Australia06 Argentina 07 Namibia Arnhemland10 Belize2011 Moz04 Moz 09 | |||
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One of Us |
Having spent time in Kenya, and with long time friends in East Africa, let me attempt the intended use of "shenzi". It implies a bit of the following: shiftless, untrustworthy, backwards yet still a part of the mix / community vs. unwanted, outcast Reference Ruark's writing where a PWH describes himself deprecatingly to his client as himself being "simply shenzi shanty Irish" (instead of proper British colonial planter / sahib /etc.) Perhaps as Brian Dermot or Peter Mackenzie (Uhuru, Something of Value). _______________________ | |||
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One of Us |
Being considerably well-versed with a language that I acquired during my early childhood from my nanny and mastered in the later years of my life, can confirm that the word "shenzi" is more inclined to mean 'bastard' in a derogatory way - whilst it may be used in a descriptive way to portray the uselessness of something, one should be a little cautious before addressing an indigenous Swahili speaking African as a "Mshenzi" - it does not mean 'trouble' it invites trouble | |||
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DOC, I'll give you two guesses but I know you will only need one | |||
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With a handle like fujotupu...I would take his word on the meaning and use of the word "shenzi". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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"With a handle like fujotupu...I would take his word on the meaning and use of the word "shenzi". " + 1 | |||
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One of Us |
Is there a word, name, title etc, in Sindebele, or Mashona or Shangaani which sounds something like "godzilla"? (obviously not the Japanese 'godzilla" just sounded like it) Might also be the name of a terrorist during the bush war. I believe it meant something like terrorist when applied to the individual. | |||
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