GLOSSARY

 

 

*Most words, including Lamnso words often have several meanings. The definitions used here only give the meaning that the word has, as it is used in this text. Some words have been simplified, for better understanding. Besides each definition you will find the first page on which it first appears, so you can refer back to the text if you wish.

This glossary is not meant to take the place of standard Lamnso language.

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

 

A bong biy a: (Question) ‘Did you harvest kola nuts?’ Used conversationally, to ask if the person has been productive. Page 144.

A sakah: (Greeting) How are you? Page 21.

A yin o oo! Ver yen lim ye a lim o Tatah! (X2) A yin oo, ver yen lim ye a lim o beri wo!:(Song) I Thank God for the good works he has done for me. Page 129.

Abai: (Common slang) (Exclamation) Used in several situations of surprise or disbelief. Page 67.

Abai veni: (Exclamation) Long form of abai. Page 267.

Abeg abeg: Please, please. Page 390.

Accra Banana: (Snack) Fried dough made from bananas, and flour. Page 308.

Aie Loh! A tong kah len: C'mon! Leave this place! Why are you now crying? Page 260.

And you only ansa, big fada not sah: (Bad English) And you only call him 'Big Father', not sir. Page 276.

Ashia For Work: Courage! Good luck with your work. Page 282.

Aya: No. Page 272.

Aye: Expression. Page 127.

Ayo! Aie!: Screaming sounds. Page 237.

Ba Ley Ver: Daddy! Look at us! Page 108.

Ba Wom: My Father. Page 173.

Baba: To carry a baby on your back, tied in a wrapper while you carry out other activities. Usually, to make it fall asleep. Page 324.

Bakala: Cornrows. Page 135.

Bamum: Village: inhabitants are called Foumban people. Page 459.

Bantu: Sub-Saharan race characterized by dark skin, and full lips. Page 385

Bensikin: Local slang for motorcycle. Page 477.

Beri Wo: Thank You. Page 301.

Beriwo Ba: Thank you sir. Page 132.

Beriwo Mami: Thank you mother. Page 137.

Big Fada: Big priest or parish priest. Page 300.

Big man hikotoh: Carriage. Page 449.

Bii: Camwood. A reddish powdered substance obtained from the bark of a tree, used as antiseptic and skin balancing in those days. Page 451.

Bikiy: Short form of family head (Fai) of a compound. Page 51.

Bororo: A small subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group, mostly comprised of nomadic cattle-herders. Known for their beauty, attire and culture. Page 227.

 

Bui: Division in Northwest region of Cameroon, where Nso is found. Page 231.

Bun Fon: Greet Fon officially, usually presenting gifts. Page 469.

Bvey: /VEIY/ Goat. Page 35.

Calabar Stone: A chalky stone made from clay that people like to snack on. Page 129.

Calabash:          Gourd. Page 205.

Carry your bad luck go! Say I go die? Na you go kill me?: /Pidgin English/ Go away with your bad luck. I will not die, unless you kill me. Page 390.

Ce'h: /Seuh/ Fish. Page 190.

Ce'h Ye Yumir: /Seuh ye yumir/ Dry fish. Page 190.

Chakara: /Slang/ Crazy or Scattered. Page 382.

Chekere: Sieve. Page 271.

Chisong: Chewing stick. Page 48.

Chong: Musical instrument. Page 294.

Chu: Spit (Usually done to appease a crying child). Page 302.

Common Entrance: An annual examination written by children all over Cameroon, in order to be admitted into secondary school. Students can either pass in List A or B, and often tested in Arithmetic (Mathematics) and English. Page 293.

Djam: (Fulbe greeting) I am Fine. Page 77.

Djam na: (Fulbe greeting) How are you?. Page 77.

Eh-eh: Common children game, characterized by clapping and jumping, until the players throw out the same foot. Page 64.

Eh'no: (Greeting)(Response) Yes. Page 134.

Ei: Exclamation. Page 268.

Fai: (Title) Family/ lineage head. Page 236.

Fatty Bombom: (Derogatory) Fat person. Page 229.

Fomo wo mbve: /fomoh-who-ve/ The gift of a cave. Page 170.

Fon Nto': The king/chief of the village. Page 416

Fon of Nso: The Fon is the traditional ruler of the Nso. He is the head of the traditional government and the chief religious authority in charge of keeping the ancestors happy. He is referred to as 'Fon Nto' or 'Nginyam', as well as several other titles. Page 6.

Fulani: Ethnicity. Page 443.

Gham: Country Cap. Page 439.

Ghan-kidzem: Traditional treatments for stammering. Page 266.

Gon: A neighboring village that was once part of Nso. Page 430.

Haba: Exclamation. Page 390.

Hebbei  Naa' hebbei- rimti. Hebbei Naa' wom- rimiti. Naa' ki boti mo! Boti mo wiy nkang!  noh nkang ku'y i nkang! Ki'bete ki'bete, Rimti: (Song): Naa' deceived a stalking frog and trapped him in a wine pot. Page 56.

Herpan: An old aluminum pail used for carrying and storing water. Page 42.

Hian: Exclamation. Page 208.

Hikotoh: Wooden car toy that children love to build from bamboo, and play with on hilly roads. Page 110.

I beat who?: Who should I beat up for making you upset? Usually said to appease a crying baby. Page 302.

I hate new worka: (Bad English) I hate new workers. Page 307.

I no know. We teach them everything all over: Bad English: I don't know. We teach them everything from afresh. Page 307.

I open, I close. You no touch key: (Bad English) I am the only one who opens and closes the door. You don't touch the key. Page 276.

I rany’a: (Greeting)(Good morning) Literally: Have you seen the day light? Page 134.

Ishi: (Slang) Gross. Page 310.

Jist: (Slang) Juice/ Essence of the conversation. Page 177.

Jollof rice: (Food) A Cameroonian meal similar to fried rice, made from fried tomatoes and rice. Page 495.

Juju: Masquerade. There are several. Page 33.

Kaavi: The biggest market day on the Nso calendar. Page 29.

Kan:     Monkey. Page 191.

Kaya: Locally grown Indian hem or marijuana. Page 273.

Kenja: Case or basket. Page 200.

Khatikatih: (Staple food) Chicken roasted with salt and palm oil. Page 149.

Ki’ bête:            Drum sounds. Page 53.

Kiba: Burnt part of Fufu usually found at the bottom part of the pot after it has been cooked. Page 267.

Kibam Ke Lim: Workbag. Page 196.

Kiban: (FOOD) Corn Fufu. Staple food of the Nso people; often eaten with khatikatih and nyoosji. Page 84.

Kibaranko: Exclamation when something horrible happens, but literally means a feared masquerade with a big head. Page 230.

Kifah Ke Biki: Something bad or scary! Page 167.

Kifesin: Co-wives. Page 151.

Kijung fayii: We are doing quite well. Page 134.

Kikum: Literary dress or juju. But in this case, a slang for private organs. Page 116.

Kiluh: Thick yellow palm liquid. Page 218.

Kimbang: White man. Page 190.

Kisham ke kingha: Green frog. Page 33.

Kiwo: Please. Page 272.

Kiyung ke Nto': Palace court Jester. Page 479.

Kiyuu: Rooster or cock. Page 42.

KNC: (Political Party). Kamerun National Congress. A pre-colonial political party formed in Southern Cameroons, by S T Muna and John Ngu Foncha in 1953. Page 314.

KNDP: (Political Party) Kamerun National Democratic Party. A pro- independence political party, formed by John Ngu Foncha, which was active in the Southern Cameroons during the British Mandate rule. Page 314.

 

Knock-door: An pre-engagement party, that happens a few months before an Cameroonian's woman's wedding. Page 431.

Koi kah?:          What is going on? Page 87.

Koki:    (Food) A Cameroonian pudding made from corn or beans. It is ground, cooked and served in moulds. Page 402.

Kossam: (Fulbe) Condensed sweetened milk drink, made by Bororo people. Page 77

Kpujaley: An ill-omen name, which signifies that death of a person means nothing. Page 30.

Krichi: Electric reddish ant with acidic pee. Page 256.

Kuku: Slang for chicken; often said by children. Page 304.

Kwakawara: A mat-like room divider made from bamboo. Page 382.

Levels Don Change Oh: (Pidgin English) One's Status has changed. Page 271.

Loh: Go away! (Dismissing an act) Page 35.

Lum:     Attic Storage. Page 218.

Ma' Nganndo: (Story time) This phrase inquires if the listeners are ready for a story. Page 54.

Ma pikin abeg for money: My child, please can you spare me some change? Page 20.

Ma Sistah: My sister. Page 302.

Maabu: (Exclamation) A juju name that can also be used an exclamation of fear or surprise. Page 212

Mah: A nearby village. Page 460.

Mami Fonlon: Fonlon's mother. In the Nso tribe, a woman is often called by the name of her first child. Yefon's oldest brother is called Fonlon, so her mother can be called mami Fonlon. Page 167.

Mba-Cha's: Instrument used during festivities. Page 319.

Mbam: Name of a village. Page 187.

Mbanga Tree: (Pidgin English) Palm tree. Page 298.

Mbav: An ugly brownish rat. Some people eat it. Page 33.

Mbingiy: Name of a compound. Page 235.

Mbonyar Compound: Name of a compound. Page 224.

Mbu:    Palm wine. A whitish wine, brewed from palm trees, very common in this area. Often stored in barrels, in cool dark rooms. Page 38.

Mbu'lam: Sweet potatoes. Page 52.

Mbve': /M'VEH/ Cave. Page 170.

Meyanga: Palm oil bi-product, with heavy pungent smell, used on skin and hair. Page 95.

Mfu: Warrior Group that only men can be a part of. Page 145.

Monatomic Gold: A special type of gold powder with alleged healing powers. Page 497.

Motobo: Hairstyle, braided with thread, only at the base. Page 64.

Mschew!: Sighing sound. Page 78.

Mtaar Nso: /Tar Nso/The free lineage. They are not bound by birth, to be members of the Ngiri or Mwerong cults, like everyone else. They can choose either. They are free commoners, and often, the Fon marries from among them. Page 4.

Muttu: Vehicle. Page 108.

Mwerong: (Secret cult) (also Ngwerong). The security arm of the government that enforces decisions taken by the Fon. The Nwerong is solely responsible for enthronement of a new Fon. It is also responsible for replacing Fai’s and Shufai’s after the death of the incumbent. Members of the royal families (except the Fons) may not become members of the Nwerong. Page 6.

Na: Confirmation. Page 369.

Na'a: Folktale heroine. Page 54.

Ncanda: Cow skin, thick and mushy. Page 135.

Nchum: Musical Instrument: Drums. Page 294.

Ndzengon: Implies that listeners are ready for the story. Page 54.

Ngabaa: Mad Person. Page 255.

Nganha: Old village. Page 197.

Ngar: Rifle. Page 175.

Ngashinga': Cassava. Page 66.

Ngie: Sunflower seed. Page 111.

Nginyam: Another appellation for the Fon, which also means the biggest animal in the forest. Page 210.

Ngiri: Secret cult: The "Ngiri" resembles the Nwerong, but is only for princes. New Fons are selected from a group of eligible princes by a system kept secret from those eligible, thus eliminating a possible source of corruption. Page 6.

Ngong Dog: (Pidgin English) Street dog. Page 60.

Ngonnso: Ancestress/Founder of the Tribe. Page 175.

Ngwah: Meeting or gathering. Page 153.

Ngwah wo lah: Women's meeting or gathering. Page 147.

Ngwv∂v: /VEV:/ Chicken/ fowl. Page 221.

Ngwvev: Exclamation of surprise. Page 127.

Nine Lives: (Insult) Witch. Page 112.

Nka: Basket. Page 22.

Nkang: Corn Beer. Page 271.

Nkem: Kenja or basket for chickens and other things. Page 187.

Nkuv: Name of a village, near Shisong. Page 209.

Nsaabulu: A pungent black soap made from castor oil or palm oil. Page 47.

Nshiylav: (Sing.) Palace attendant. (Pl) Sheelav. Page 470.

Ntangrin:           A small market day. Page 29.

Nto': Palace. Page 400.

Nto' Nso: Nso Palace. Page 375.

Ntov: Albino. Page 192.

Nwah: Beehive. Page 195.

Nyambara: Horses; literally, the white man's animal. Page 316.

Nyamnko': Insult: Horse. Page 480.

Nyanga' no di hot: You must endure the processes required for beauty. Page 66.

Nyan'guv:         A jelly-like meal made from the roots of the cocoyam plant, or Konnyaku. This perennial plant tastes like meat when properly spiced. Page 128.

Nyash: (Insult) Backside. Page 60.

Nyoosji: /Nyo'-sejiy/ FOOD: Huckle berry vegetables, WHICH are the staple food of the Nso tribe. Often eaten with kiban, and khatikatih. Page 47.

Nyuy: God. Page 18.

Oga: (Informal) Mister. Page 312.

Ogbanje: Ogbanje children are evil children that die when they are born, and come back again many times, plaguing their mothers with trouble in their lifetime. Page 112.

Oh oh! Lah yer o oo, Lah yer sia mbam-mbam! A dze la marrir ver lah, bo a sawiy marrir a dze fe a?: (Song) A Pride song. Oh! Our compound is a compound of riches, if you don't marry one of us, where else will you marry where you can eat oil? Page 46.

Pam!: Exclamation of Alarm. Page 55.

Papa Ele Yaya Too: Children's welcome cheer for their parents. Page 131.

Paramount: Supreme. There are other Fons that act as advisers to the (paramount) Fon of Nso. Most of them were once leaders of independent tribes that through warfare or peaceful negotiations, or through shared events of history came to subordinate the Fon of Nso. They are the only ones (along with foreign Fons) that are allowed to bring in their own seats (Kavahs) to the Nso Palace. These, inexhaustively, include the Fons of Oku, Mbiami, Nseh, Nkar, Gwan, Kiluun, Ngashong, Nshokov, Gwarkang, Taabah, etc. The Fons of Oku and Mbiami were once princes of Nso. Page 6.

Pi'a: Avocado. Page 119.

Princess Wou-Ten: Ancestress. Page 197.

Re': Yam or cocoyam. Page 308.

Rǝǝvey: Day of the week. Page 116.

Rifem: Name of a Village. Page 197.

Rim kibete: Drum sounds. Page 53.

Rimtii: A humming sound to help the flow sound better. Page 56.

Saang: Guinea corn. Page 22.

Saar: Millet. Page 22.

Sah: Pidgin: Sir. Page 289.

Sakah yo dze: (Greeting) There is no bad news. I am fine. Page 21.

Savages: /Derogatory/ insult. Page 220.

Seba: /Slang/ The act of washing one's self so fast, that it is impossible to have washed well. For example, in like five minutes.  Some one would say ' You have cut seba'. Page 47.

See that wan: Look at that person. Page 386.

See that wan with her Koki buttocks: (Insult) that the person in question has a big butt like Koki (a Cameroonian pudding) Page 369.

Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen Pogolo: (Funny song) Sang to follow the butt movements of some one who is curvy. Page 273.

Sha': Corn beer. Page 475.

Shaa': C'mmon! Page 154.

Shilling: British currency, used in African during the pre-colonial period. The local villagers still traded sometimes in cowry shells, and using trade-by-barter. Page 98.

Shinjang:          Oil extracted from castor plant. Page 47.

Shirrum: Country Onions. Page 323.

Shit: Feces. Page 289.

Shu'Muiy: Exclamation. Page 366.

Shwiii: Sharp sound of a cane. Page 111.

Sorry Sah: Pidgin English: Sorry sir. Page 293.

Souba!: An exclamation of surprise. Page 232.

Squares: Main garden center of the village, with several attractions. Page 357.

Taav: Noun. Hut. Page 11.

Taavseshiv: Medicine house. Page 221.

Tah: Character name. Page 278.

Tangrii:  To pick/fix vegetables. Page 52.

Tarawoni: Father of twins, but in this case father of many children. Page 36.

Tashwer: A neighborhood in Shisong. Page 434.

Tikar: Civilization. Page 184.

Tinki: Tinki was the Fon of Tinkar. He died in 1387, and there was a very bloody battle for his throne. Page 198.

Tiymenkan: The neighborhood in Shisong where Yefon lives. Page 44.

Tu: Irish potatoes. Page 363.

Tu’kuni: A Traditional meal made of Pounded beans and potatoes. Page 128.

Tu'ngam: Spider Potatoes. Page 243.

Vekovi: A village in Nso. Page 51.

Ven dze le?: How are you people faring? Page 134.

Ven Sakah?: (Greeting) How are you people faring? Page 224.

Vibay: (pl)Nobles/ great Lords. (Sing) Kibay. The seven notables called Vibay support the Fon in his duties. These Vibay are Shufai’s, whose positions are determined by rather intricate history. These include Shufai Ndzendzev, Tahnkum, Doh, Ruun, Tsenlah, Lun and Yuwar. Over the years other Shufai’s have been appointed by the Fon of Nso without any major political influence, but for the fact that they get a seat at the lower ends of the seating ranks in the palace. Page 458.

Vidou: Gossip. Page 387.

Vifa Vee Kilohg Ve Baarvi: Red Necklace. Page 108.

Vifam: Special garments worn for funerals, woven from raffia leaves. Page 17.

Vikiy liim: /Vikiii lim/ Career women (White-collar job). Women during this period worked with their hands, on the farm, creating arts and crafts and doing petty trades, mostly using trade-by-barter. They usually depended on their husband for protection and income. Page 4.

Vikiynto': Palace wives (pl.), (sing.) wiynto' Page 423.

Viluh: Honey. Page 195.

Visheer: Members of the Compound. Page 129.

Vitso: Property. Page 120.

Vitso: Intestines of an animal. Page 195.

Wahala: Trouble. Page 386.

Wahiawa: Exclamation. Page 130.

Wan: Child. Page 50.

Wanle: Young person. This is how adults call children (Full name: wan le ngon) Page 50.

Wanle ngon: Unmarried female, young girl. Page 6.

Wanle nsum: Unmarried male, young boy. Page 5.

Wanyeeto and Bah: Popular folktale about the anteater and the leopard. Page 54.

Waychan: Old market where slaves were sold, which literally translates as market of chains. Page 318.

Waylun: A weekday in the Nso calendar. Page 14.

Waynama: Name of a Village. Page 246.

Wear one side trouser: Metaphor. Implying you are in some type of trouble, or I will deal with you. Page 366.

Wililili: A joyful musical scream. Page 107.

Wir Nso: Person from the Nso tribe. Page 136.

Wirdze Wir Biy Wir: Man is not an island. You are who you are because of whom you have. Page 179.

Wirotavin: Strong man (respectful) Page 30.

Witch Pikin: Sorceress. Page 112.

Wo Ndendzev: From the village Ndzendzev. Page 32.

Wonnto': (plu) Royal children, Princes/princesses (sing) wan nto'. Page 50.

Ya Ayeni: A name. Page 36.

Ya Wom: My Mother. Page 174.

Yawan: An endearing term for grandmother. Page 103.

Yee'won: Mother of my children. Page 62.

Yen: Look. Page 304.

Yenla ndze ntov: Yenla is an albino. Page 190.

Yentoh: Pet name for Yefon, which is also a synonym/ short form to her name: mother of the palace, or the king. Page 103.

Yo yo yo o ka, wan tong nyo'nyong, mo wo tong ka: (Lullaby) Why is the baby crying? Does she want breast milk? Or why else is she crying? Page 303.