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Shenzi?
11 December 2010, 23:48
MartyShenzi?
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?
11 December 2010, 23:53
shakariIt might have other meanings but in Ki-Swahili it means mongrel or native dog etc.
11 December 2010, 23:53
Michael RobinsonWhat?
(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.
12 December 2010, 00:08
shakariI just checked. Here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AfricanisFWIW, I've also heard people refer to African wild dog as shenzi but don't think it was really correct/accurate.
12 December 2010, 00:09
TANZ-PHquote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
What?
(I am assuming that you addressed this thread to me, obviously.
)
Loosely translated, shenzi is a Swahili word meaning crazy or wild man.
That's correct. basically means an uncivilized person.
12 December 2010, 00:17
shakariThe 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!
12 December 2010, 00:21
BrettAKSCII've seen it quite a bit in literature refering to "heathens".
Brett
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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
12 December 2010, 00:36
shakariHaven'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.
12 December 2010, 01:06
MartyThanks. I'll now be trying to work it into conversation, I suppose. It looks like a good general purpose word.
12 December 2010, 02:07
1/2 slamWhen 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
12 December 2010, 03:23
ddrhookI have the word yzumu used for crazy as In yzumu muzungu or at least Thats what I was told it meant
12 December 2010, 05:51
SGraves155quote:
Originally posted by ddrhook:
I have the word yzumu used for crazy as In yzumu muzungu or at least Thats what I was told it meant
Hook,
Now who would they have been referring to??
12 December 2010, 15:50
BNagelHaving 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).
_______________________
12 December 2010, 17:58
fujotupuBeing 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
12 December 2010, 17:58
ddrhookDOC,
I'll give you two guesses but I know you will only need one
12 December 2010, 21:41
ledvmquote:
Originally posted by fujotupu:
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
With a handle like fujotupu...I would take his word on the meaning and use of the word "shenzi".
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09 January 2011, 18:53
tanz2007"With a handle like fujotupu...I would take his word on the meaning and use of the word "shenzi".
"
+ 1
21 January 2011, 19:12
NitroXIs 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.
..