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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 11:15:20
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this name doesn't seem to have a meaning in any of our local languages .i want to know what toubab means. our western friends don't get offended in the explanation process .from aunti anna,meme,fee sweet ,bev,jack,lurker and the many i don't know about.
some one out there knows the real meaning of toubab. what does it mean?
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Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:00:40
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No offence taken, Santa - this is small potatoes in the grand scheme of recent heated exchanges  On a personal level, however, when I'm in Gambia I don't tend to shout "Gambian" at every black person I see so find having this thrown at me several times a day rather rude.
I remember reading somewhere (on this website??)that it stems from the fact that former UK colonists used to pay their employees a wage of 2 shillings (UK currency pre-decimilisation). Coloquial (slang) speak for a shilling was a bob so from there white people were called 2 bobs hence toubab. Don't know if it's still the case but when boy scouts and the like were collecting money for their funds they would exchange a service (for example car washing) for some change - this period of activity was called Bob-a-job week.
Maybe this is total nonsense though so I'd be interested to hear what others think ....
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It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:00:41
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Since we as mostly Muslims, specially Senegambiamali and the two guinea may has took it from Arabic word (tabib)= doctor.
Or if we goes in wolof may means convert-signified .
The white missionaries have converted a lots, But on this stage i let this to the best wolof speakers. |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:04:18
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Santanfara, some say it comes from the Arab word 'tabib' meaning 'doctor' (as in colonial times many white people in West Africa were either doctors or nurses), others say it comes from 'two bob' (2 shillings) referring to the time the Gambia was under British rule.
Greetings from 'auntie' ( ) anna |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:08:32
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MeMe, how about being called 'boss lady'  ? Even worse!! |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:12:20
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| On second thoughts, no third really: THE person to ask is uncle Toubab1020. If he doesn't know, who will?? |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:13:07
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OK let me have a go at this one ,I was TOLD( true or not I cannot say) In Colonial days when the British were in control of the administration they obviously taxed the Gambian people in order to pay for roads and all the other things that administrations are supposed to do,at that time in history the pound sterling (GBP) was divided into smaller monetary dominations,such as One shilling, ten shillings,one penny,all of the (GBP) money was known by the white men in slang terms,I won't bore you with all the slang terms that I know,but a shilling was called a "bob" so the taxation amount per Gambian was set at two shillings,weather the locals of Gambia at that time had difficulty in understanding what this money was or whatever,I don't know, but everyone was talking about this "Two bob" tax that they had to pay to the white man, "Two Bob" then became Toubab and as the locals didn't like being taxed very much by the white man the term developed into a dislike of the white man (the people that took their money from them) or Toubab.
Thats the story that I was told,which I think is quite likly to be true,but who knows. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 23 Jan 2008 12:15:31 |
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 14:21:42
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quote:
Originally posted by anna
MeMe, how about being called 'boss lady' ? Even worse!!
Yeah, hate that one too ... along with "pretty lady", "empress" and the like  |
It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 14:51:22
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| boss lady, toubab all those name you can take in the spirit of how is the day, BUT WATCH OUT FOR THE TONE, when that changes you are in trouble. |
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:10:26
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MeMe,
As I know the word "TOUBAB, TOUBABO or TUBAKO" measn Whiteman or light skined. Even a Chanise we do not know his name is a TOUBAB until he clarifies himself.This in a possitiv meaning. You realise that people in the Gammbai can refer to eacha nother as a TOUBAB although you are a black man. The word has a possitiv meaning because anybody called Toubab is a gentelman, he/she is fair in dealing with people and has a good carather. this is how we in Wollof use the word on our fellow black people.Otherwise all white men are TOUBAB, never mind where you come from. |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:28:59
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So all white men are Gentlemen ,I have a feeling that some on the Bantaba may disagree with that
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:39:37
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toubab1020,
That I know. We are looking for the correct interpretation is'nt it? |
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:45:22
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I get the fact that you are trying to let me know that Gambians shouting this at me are not trying to be rude, Alhassan. However, I've never been anywhere else in the world where total strangers shout at you in the street!! If they want my attention then they could just say "Hi" or "Good morning" why feel the need to alude to my ethnicity???  |
It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:56:37
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OK, OK, but I doubt if you will find one, its all about Oral history
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:59:47
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MeMe,
Happy that you question me on my posting. If you are observant, Gambians could shout at you at a distance. We are loud sometimes even when we have a friendly discussions. Children have not got that sens yet. I was suprised when I was in Danzig in Poland with my family. As the only black people arround, we ended up being sourrounden by people looking and commenting in Polish, until my ex had to explain to them. I could see children draw the attention of their parents just to look at us. I saw it as they had no experience with blacks or the negative programmes shown on the TV screens were looking different with us. My son was also called blackman in Polish. I do caution my family members because I have Toubab children. My children who are off a white woman and a black man were seen as Toubab. I hope this will dissappear sa the genarations change to be more awear of the Toubabs. They do not mean to be negative. I am sorry if you feel so. I hope you come to understand as time goes on. |
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 16:39:26
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Alhassan - point taken! It doesn't really offend me but just makes me want to call them to task as you no doubt wanted to while in Poland?
It's quite sad that although we're in a new century this sort of behaviour still exists .... my 17 month old grandson is mixed race and even here in Scotland you can see people looking when we're out together ... Will there ever come a day when everyone is simply a fellow human?
And thanks, Santa, for starting an interesting discussion!
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It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
Edited by - MeMe on 23 Jan 2008 17:24:02 |
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