Menesiana: 2018

For those who appreciate historic words & and where some common words where derived from.
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Mmm, did you know where the word “Olukanda” came or was derived from??
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The Minister Of Justice, Hon Sackie Shanghaia while contributing to the debate on the potential formalization (standardization) of informal business sector & the impact to do so etc ) in the National Assembly today 30 Oct 2018) reminded the house that Olukanda word or name was derived from “Oorkant” in Afrikaans, which means the other side (where blacks stayed during apartheid time).
So next time you hear the word Olukanda, it is derived from Oorkant.

Also Hon Jerry Ekandjo taking the cue from the Olukanda word during the segregation time also said, those people who were born in towns like Windhoek and others (Swakop, Walvis, etc) would refer to someone as “Boetie” Jerry or Boetie .., John (used when referring to a senior brother or somebody older usually a male). And when those persons who came from other areas especially the north came to towns and heard them using the word Boetie, they instead referred to those born in towns as “MBwitis (supposed to be Boeties). That’s why today, those people from towns are referred too as MBwitis.

Hon Ekandjo then also reminded the MPs of the word “Sondoro”. That word was also derived from an Afrikaans -word and referred to people who did not have “passes” (Sonder-pas, which meant without a pass). Those days, if a person had no pass, he would be referred to “Sounder-pas” or had no pass - which some then interpreted as Sondoro or illegal??

The National Assembly debate was so interesting today, especially to those who appreciate languages and words.

Don’t miss nbc tv 2 for your live parliamentary debates usually starting at 14h30 from Mondays to Fridays. National Council Live Proceedings start at 9h00, on the same channel.

Tales of growing up in a Town with a strong mixed cultures and diversity e.g. German background (history) and other cultures, Otjiherero, Damara-Nama, Oshiwambo, Afrikaans speaking even isiKosa and isiZulu speaking community members.

My siblings and I grew up in Swakopmund’s Mondesa Residential Area.
Growing up there also resulted in some of us indirectly picking up words which we hardly realized from which languages they were derived from:

1. One of them is “Iinafuta”

I used to hear the elders talking about “Iinafuta” which referred to iikulya yeexuxwa or chicken food or chicken feed.

Mom and especially step dad (now late, let his soul Rest In Peace) would remind us (when ever we were sent to town) - inamu dhimbwa oku landa iinafuta “don’t forget to buy iinafuta”.
Little did I know that “iinafuta” word was derived from the German word “Hunnerfutter” (sorry for the spelling of the word as it needs umlaut) which infact also mean chicken feed.
I only learnt about the real word later - vakwetu!! But no regrets as it was part of growing up and a learning curve.

2. The other word is “Moimoi” or “Moimoin”

Those who lived in the same residential area - close to our street will remember that there was even one of our elders who was referred to as tate Moimoi or Moimoin.

But do you know what, the word we referred too as Moimoi was derived from the German word Morgen which mean Morning.

I understand some of the German speaking persons especially employers of most of our parents then as domestic workers then would greet them saying “ morgen morgen”.

Others then understood the word morgen as moimoi (it mooimooi). The elder who was referred to as Moimoi - used to greet the children in the streets - morgen morgen - which mean morning.
Yeah, it’s been a learning process of different or mixed cultures. If you appreciate tge languages and diversity in culture -you just continue to learnt.

3. The other word was “unonavaange”

I learnt that one from my kindergarten at the Roman Catholic Church in Mondesa then.
As s kindergarten kid, I would receive “jam-spread-bread” which we paid two cents each then. The bread slices were bought from the cafe. In addition to the bread, I would also get “dun pap” or okatete”

Once we as kindergarten kids have finished eating - those kids who were satisfied or full would say “ uunona-vaange” and point tge remaining piece of bread 🍞 in the air.

Those kids who still needed to eat more would then say “aami” and point their hands in the air. The child with bread will then give ti one of those that needed more.

The interesting part is the fact that the word I always thought as unonavaabge actually was “oune ma-vanga” in Otjiherero which meant (who wanted bread or. Whatever was to be given away). Thats’s why the other kids responded “ouami or aami which meant it’s me. I guess some of the kids including me mixed up the words with our own languages or background and came up with those.

4. The other word was “haundini”

I heard this word from my cousin who picked it up from a Damara-Nama word “xautsini”. This word would be used more when a person is angry or warn the other person or saying I will beat you.

(this word might be offensive to sensitive persons - my apologies, I am using it to explain how children mix up cultures and words when growing up in a mix culture environment).
And thenlist of words from children who grew up in a mix culture continues.

I posted this content with the aim to appreciate diversity in our cultures and upbringing.

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Denver Kisting, Kittoh Dhiginina Mbwalala and 11 others

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Lucia Dula

💯👏

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Monica Uulenga Really good of you, there is no thouhhrs more than this menee, I know a lot of people will relate their past, even white community will relate with their domestic worker when they start working for them. I hope we are not talking racist here, but talk about our past as part of our reconciliation healings, thanks menesia. Said in good faith

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