| Author |
 Topic  |
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 01:34:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
Does this fit as an answer?
In several West African languages, including Bambara and Wolof, Toubab means "foreigner."
Source: Wikipedia
link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toubab_Krewe
"Wikipedia",it may give ideas but accurate I think not |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
 |
|
|
Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 11:59:18
|
| inez, i knew some will object to the meaning provided.that is the answer comfirmed by many oral historians. Too bad a term used by the whites to derogate the items offered for sale. This term later became used by the people. it is not a matter of speaking good or bad english ,it is a matter of listening and then reppeating.just like people do from music. too bad. |
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 |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 13:57:28
|
If that's correct,then I should prefer to be called "white man" (or woman) than compared with a "derogated item offerd for sale" which of course is VERY rude.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 15:39:00
|
Santa, i strongly believe there is a better answer out there yet to be discovered. The fact is NOT only Gambians call whites TOUBAB. In Mali they too call them TUBABU. And we all know that the whites that went to Mali were French and not English as is the case of The Gambia.
Nigeria also were colonized by Britain, but from thelittle i know they dnt call them Toubab.
The oral historians you are quoting , are they West Africans or purely Gambian? |
madiss |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 17:29:55
|
Ah.........so here we have it then,its the french not the English who invented the word Toubab therefore it has nothing at all to do with TWO BOB or TOO DEAR (thats English!) so research should be into french words that may have been corrupted and taken into use by Africans,perhaps Toubab dosn't mean white man (or woman) or has anything to do with "derogated item offered for sale" or money,not being able to speak french I cannot comment further, any french speakers on Bantaba who would like to join in?
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 17:42:32
|
| madiba, you are mistaken. language migrate. people copy from each other. gambian musicains sing in malian acent. those that mean they live in mali? people move about and they carry with them words from other places. many gambians living in europe go home with certain specific terms particular to there places of residence. i lived in seirra leon and there the mandinka moris call a car as mobilo .moli can mean automobile which is english. the mandinkas have many names of utensils that are portugise. eg. kojaro,carero (spoon and cooking pot) i can go on and on. we copy words from each other. the great Geunean sori kandia sing song about Masane Ceesay ,why ? he heard the story. read the book deeper roots .you will find out that africans interact even before we came into contact with the whites. it is important we loook at our history on several angles. |
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 |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 17:56:49
|
quote:
Originally posted by Santanfara
madiba, you are mistaken. language migrate. people copy from each other. gambian musicains sing in malian acent. those that mean they live in mali? people move about and they carry with them words from other places. many gambians living in europe go home with certain specific terms particular to there places of residence. i lived in seirra leon and there the mandinka moris call a car as mobilo .moli can mean automobile which is english. the mandinkas have many names of utensils that are portugise. eg. kojaro,carero (spoon and cooking pot) i can go on and on. we copy words from each other. the great Geunean sori kandia sing song about Masane Ceesay ,why ? he heard the story. read the book deeper roots .you will find out that africans interact even before we came into contact with the whites. it is important we loook at our history on several angles.
"Automobile" is American not English,in English its "Motor car",or if you are modern just "Car" 
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 26 Jan 2008 18:38:08 |
|
|
|
inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 18:36:23
|
alhassan,
There is no need for you to educate me on this issue, I have children with african man and I know all the names someone can be called. Maybe thatīs the reason why it hurts; the name calling from "both sides"...because of the colour of your skin or your husbands skin or your childrens skin.
quote:
Originally posted by Alhassan
inez,
You people must live with it as we are called ******; BLACK JACK, KINTE;and all sorts of names in Europe and we learn to live with it. In Sweden an African is refered to as ******. WE have said it on TV here that we are Black and Africans. We were born in freedom not under slavery. I suggest you consult your friends and love ones in the Gambia for a more correct intepration. TOUBAB has nothing to do with money. In Wollof it has no connection with money, mybe in Mandinka.
|
|
|
|
anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 18:37:55
|
Toubab, i wonder if that is true. Does an American wife say'Honey, i'll take the automobile to go to the shopping mall if that's okay with ye'? And what about the English 'Automobile Association'?
About the supposed French origin: Tout Blanc? Last 't' in tout is a silent one.
Isn't it strange nobody knows where the word comes from. As you said, Wikipedia is not always accurate.
Somebody mentioned Goree Island as being French territory. But is was Dutch (alas), named for a Dutch island which we still know as 'Goeree'. |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
|
|
|
inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 18:53:51
|
Thatīs it Meme, it drives me grazy sometimes to hear it again and again and again, every day, week after week...or maybe after 9 weeks visite itīs a bit less if one stays in the same area I donīt get it, everybody can clearly see Iīm white ( or red ), why say it loud in front of me??? Kids are excused somehow but still...I donīt like the attention in every corner and specially not when itīs because of the colour of my skin. Please, give me some advice here, how can I stop it when itīs too much. What if I start sounding like a angry lion or chasing people around?...maybe not, then they would start shouting grazy toubab...or maybe just stop traveling to gambia |
|
|
|
inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 18:58:26
|
| I been to Nigeria and never called toubab there, nobody shouting that or anything else and I was the only white around the area...but then in the other hand...I do prefer gambia |
|
|
|
inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 19:12:12
|
| T1020 I went for the definition that matched the feeling I have when hearing toubab, toubab maybe hundreds of times daily. The loud attention because of the colour of ones skin is not good for anyone...But then also, the definition was allready decided before the question written so why not react |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 19:28:19
|
I have lived in Greenland for more than four years and have been to all the towns and some settlements. Everywhere I go to, I am called "Kangertummiut" which I was told means someone from Africa (black man). Children run after me curious to either touch me or just to talk to me and I see a similarity of how most of you tourists felt during your visits to Gambia.
Gambians calling you Toubab is natural for them and does not mean any thing harmful but just someone from Europe (white man).
Usually you are called by your name as people get acquainted with you.
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 19:59:18
|
I am more than happy with that,so I think it is really time for everyone to accept that the origins of Toubab have been lost in the mists of time weather African time or European time, and as you say toubab means white man nothing harmfull in that.Thank you for clearing this matter up brother "Kangertummiut"
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 20:03:35
|
Touche Anna !
Couldn't find the accent to put over the e in "touche" on my keyboard that's probably because its not french!!
Somebody mentioned Goree Island as being French territory. But is was Dutch (alas), named for a Dutch island which we still know as 'Goeree'.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 26 Jan 2008 20:11:12 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
