Monthly Archives: February 2008

Diola

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The Diola people inhabit the Casamance region of Senegal, and also southwestern Gambia, where their name is spelt Jola. Their language is Diola or Jola, not to be confused with the Dioula or Dyola spoken in Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire. Diola society is segmented and very flexible, so several dialects have developed which may not be mutually intelligible between groups even though the area inhabited by the Diola is relatively small.

Hello/Welcome. – kah-sou-mai-kep
Greetings. (reply) – kah-sou-mai-kep
Goodbye. – ou-kah-to-rrah

Borrowed from Lonely Planet’s The Gambia & Senegal; 3rd Edition.

New Features

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All of these can be found in the side bar…

  • Tag Cloud; this is comprised of all the tags that have been used on this blog, the more a tag has been used the bigger it is. Click on tags to take you to posts with that tag.
  • Meebo Chat; with this feature you can chat with me directly if I’m online. This is more for fun as I don’t imagine I will be on it very often! However if I am online do not hesitate to contact me.

Joyeux anniversaire Mme Soukeyna Mbaye!

10 More Random Wolof Words

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Courtesy of Firicat.com.

  1. jula, , trader, peddler of foods, to trade
  2. teret, n , trading season
  3. daaj, , to nail (see pontu)
  4. digal, , to advise, caution, instruct
  5. jaaj, , large mound of cous in field
  6. garaw, , danger
  7. faas, , beard
  8. mbóótaay, n , to be last
  9. raakaaju, adj. , to get mad , be crazy
  10. gaanga, , wishing for s/o to go away

See original list.

Religious Terms 2

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Words & phrases with religious significance starting with the letter B.

Many of these terms may actually be Arabic or Wolofized Arabic. Many Wolof speakers practice Islam which uses the Arabic language.

baakaar, bakaar – sin, evil
baawaan – religious ceremony to pray for rain
Baay Faal - a type of Mourit (Mouride) follower, characterized by long hair (dreadlocks), etc.
baraka – blessing
baraka Alla, barak’Allah fik – with God’s blessing, may the blessings of Allah be upon you (used to thank someone)
barke – blessing
barkeel – to benefit from a blessing
bataaaxal, bataxel – letter, circular letter (generally prophesying the future)
bayere – a charm for happiness; to be popular
biddaa – belief, superstition
billaay, billaxi – by God
bisimilaay, bisimilayi, bisimilaahi – in the name of God
bismillah ar rahman ar rahim – in Allah’s name most gracious most merciful
bootal – man in charge of newly circumcised boys
boroom daara – head of a religious school
bu soobee Yalla – if it pleases God

See Religious Terms 1.

Sample Dialog

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Adopted from 101 Languages of the World. Please mouse over each word for a direct translation.

Mme Jóob: Naka suba ngi? Dégg nga Angale?
Good morning. Do you speak English?

M. Mbaye: Jéggël ma, déggu ma Angale.
I’m sorry, I do not speak English.

Mme Jóob: Lu ko yaq, tuuti Wolof rekk la dégg.
Unfortunately, I speak only a little Wolof.

M. Mbaye: Baax na. Xam naa li nga wax. Sa lammiñ setna lool.
That’s alright. I understand you. You speak very well.

Mme Jóob: Jëre-jëf.
Thank you.

M. Mbaye: Yendul ak jamm!
Have a nice day!

A note on the usage of ‘Mme’ and ‘M.’, Mme is the French abbreviation for Madame the English equivalent being Mrs., it is not followed by a period. M., is the French abbreviation for Monsieur the English equivalent being Mr., it is always followed by a period. Although I did not do it here last names usually have every letter capitalized when in print in Senegal. Although Mme/Madame and M./Monsieur is very common in Senegal you may want to use the Wolof equivalents which are Soxna si and Góor gi respectively.

If you live in the Portland, Or. area…

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Please visit my friend’s store:

Your African Community Market, Inc.

5516 16th Ave. (off Killingsworth), Portland, Or. 97211

Everyday, 11am to 7pm

Mr. Karifa Koroma, 503-841-2108

African films, music & video plus a whole lot more.

10 Random Wolof Words

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Courtesy of Firicat.com.

  1. lef, n , thing
  2. naju, adj. , be compressed
  3. téng, , tight
  4. baatale, verb , to leave a message with someone for somebody
  5. set, , clean
  6. goox, v , to hold liquid ones mouth
  7. delēne, , cluster of stars
  8. folé, , elastic
  9. loolu, dem adj. , that thing (over there)
  10. Angalteer, n , England

Travel Vocabulary IV

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See Travel Vocabulary III

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Here are a few things that you may come across if traveling to Senegal or the Gambia.

bazin – dyed fabrics that are beaten to a shine with wooden clubs

campement – could be loosely translated as ‘hostel’, ‘inn’ or ‘lodge’, or even ‘motel’; it is not a camping ground (Senegal)

djembe – short, goat hide-covered drum

fromager – kapok tree; also known as silk-cotton tree (Senegal)

gasoil – diesel fuel

Inch’ Allah – God willing, ie hopefully (Arabic, but used by Muslims in Africa)

marabout – Muslim holy man

paillote – shelter with thatched roof and walls; usually on the beach or around an open-air bar-restaurant (Senegal)

sai-sai – Wolof term for a womanizer; also used for youngsters smooth-talking women, usually with sexual but sometimes criminal intentions

telecentre – privately owned telephone bureau (Gambia)

Thanks to Lonely Planet’s The Gambia & Senegal; 3rd Edition.