I hear the word Bwana a lot on this forum and decided to look up the definition. I assumed it was an African word for hunter as that was how I always heard it, but upon doing a search for the definition, I found it means Master, Boss, etc. This makes slight sense to me as the hunter is the leader of the safari, the boss, but which is it, hunter or boss? I'm trying to make sense of the word, might be good to know how to use it correctly.

Sevens

Mr.

From what I've been told it means nothing more that Mr.

It means Boss, or as I like to say....Will

A respectful term of address.

1. Mr.
2. Sir
3. Father of Many Sons

I have seen those 3 definitions of the term.

Sevens,
Here in Zambia, it normally is used for a boss.
It is only used for a man and generally for a non black boss.
Bwana is normally used with the surname for the man of the household and the kids first names are used.

Just reading Capstick's "Warrior -- The Legend of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen". In it he mentions that Arthur Neumann, the professional ivory hunter, was known as "Bwana Nyama, or the Lord of Meat".

I wonder how they figured that out, or made that up, as Neumann hunted over a hundred years ago and makes no mention of it in his book.

"Bwana Nyama" is commonly used in Tz to address a District Game Officer. "Bwana" simply means "Mr."

Its use has been "broadened" to mean "Boss and Sir". "Bwana Nyama" literally means "Mr. Meat" or "Mr. Game" as "Nyama" is also used to mean "Game" as in wildlife.

I am so glad you are back.

Sir, Mr., Father of many Illegitimate Offspring....what are these? The PC version of Boss?

How about Dude, Cool Guy, some Geiser with a Limp, or an Ethnic and Culturally Diversified Acquaintance?

On my first hunt I ask Mark what is this Bwana and said it ment sir, which makes good sense. If they call the hunters Bwana it saves the embaressment of calling the hunter by the wrong name. After a while when they have you name in the proper place in the memory bank you will hear your name more often.

Internet Living Swahili Dictionary

http://www.yale.edu/swahili/

I feel "Bwana" goes well with leopard skin hat bands.

Well, it means nothing, but do any of you remember the old, bad 3-D movie "Bwana Devil"? I always thought that was among the worst titles ever.