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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 20:36:05
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quote:
Originally posted by anna
...........Isn't it strange nobody knows where the word comes from.
its not that strange but rather perhaps our desire to find a meaning for words that dont have one. sometimes in many african languages you will find one word having several meanings depending on the sentence/context.
the irony here is that whilst there is a specific word for white people (europeans), in wollof and mandinka there is no one word for africans. there is no exact opposite for toubab.
africans become Wllof (nit ku nuele) or Man (Mo finno). that i think is strange.
when i was a kid there were no chinese in the gambia then, but by the time they started building the stadium all of a sudden there were 100s of them. before that the only chinese we saw were Bruce Lee and other chinese films. so whenever we saw chinese people we used to call them/shout chin-chong, and each time we see them we would shout that or pretend to fight karate. because in our minds all chinese could fight karate!!!
ofcourse there is no word for Chinese.
it was just curiousity, like the children in Greenland as Momodou said. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 20:36:52
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Toubab, I like your sense of humor but you keep me busy removing all those empty spaces and excessive quotes in your postings. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 20:41:27
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Toubab (Wolof)
Literally 'to convert'; used derogatively for white man / foreigner |
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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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 21:26:48
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Toubab, you keep me busy removing all those empty spaces and excessive quotes in your postings.Sorry about that I did try to squeeze the reply up but couldn't the line was alwas there what ever I did,Yep some people are verbose but if you cut it down too much people cannot see what you are on about in your peply but perhaps I will cut and paste the bit I am talking about, that will that help, Cos I can cut and paste now!!!!.My finger slipped and there is still a space below I will try harder.
http://www.toubab.com/Links/Tou/tou.htmlHave a look at this one |
Edited by - toubab1020 on 26 Jan 2008 21:38:50 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 21:35:34
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Thats fine, keep it up that way. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 21:39:55
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I remember reading somewhere , I think it was Mungo Parks the Scottish Explorer that the term Toubab - the white man used to give Africans two bob in exchange for goods and from there the name stuck. Bob was equivalent to 10 pence piece in old English money.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 21:40:02
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Thats fine,OK Momodou |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 26 Jan 2008 21:42:15 |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 21:41:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
I remember reading somewhere , I think it was Mungo Parks the Scottish Explorer that the term Toubab - the white man used to give Africans two bob in exchange for goods and from there the name stuck. Bob was equivalent to 10 pence piece in old English money.
Peace
Sister Omega
You are a bit late sister we have done that bit a few pages back!!! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 21:43:06
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At least you know the feeling...I stayed in Gambia for longer period and lived in local compaund with lots of kids around. Believe me I had audience laughing at me and watching me what ever I did: laundry, some simple cooking or just relaxing and there would be at least five of them studying the toubab. They are so cute but coming from total privacy itīs a bit hard for a shy person. But if your translation was to make us feel better..hmmmWhite man...hahaaa
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
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.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 22:12:09
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So I see Toubab1020!!! keep your shirt on bro! it's funny though I remember once in Futa when I and my sister was travelling there. She was wearing a Baseball camp and jeans and the children came running up to the UN landrover shouting Toubab, Toubab. I replied Mean Toubab Ann Toubab! Ala they shouted. Then they burst out laughing recognising their mistake. So maybe its not just about white people but has taken on a wider cognition to include Westerner.
Just wondering though when White people are called Toubab on their travels are they sit on by dogs, pelted by stones, chased away afraid of being attacked, unable to stay in certain areas or generally denied their human rights in the countries that they visit or live in? Or are they greeted by smiling children curously wanting to get to know them?
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 23:22:07
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In my experience Toubab is used by people greeting me as a stranger but wanting something from me...a pen, a sweet, a water bottle or money....It is not merely a friendly greeting....it is a greeting almost like a begging greeting..... GIVE ME....
In some situations it is not hostile, in some situations it can be more intimidating and be more hostile.
I never give to those that ask under such circumstances. |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 23:37:15
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| So Bev they know that you are richer than they are, so they want something from you, its a bit like being a member of an extended family if you have a job and everyone else is unemployed its your duty to give to them.Gratitude dosn't come into it. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 23:45:45
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| But I am not part of their family. I am a stranger. I dont have a duty to them for anything. |
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2008 : 23:51:18
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| Maybe not sister omega but they/we/White people can be taken to police station for a day if they/we/White people refuse to pay for a gift that someone sent to their homeadress. Thatīs still not much compared to all suffering Black people have to go through all over the world every day..but yet You know well that sometimes behind a sweet smile and even sweeter voice hides hatery towards white people, no matter how innocent they might be to all awful things that happens today or have happend in past, and there is psychologigal ways of torturing people, (not talking about children here.) T ex the ones bringing up slavery and colonialism or Bush and the West into every issue discussed, how can a white person respond to that? Not all countries in the world deald with that and definitly not people around here on this Bantaba, how long should we feel quilty about the history we didnīt take part of? Or be accused of all the wrong that happens in the world because US citizens made a huge mistake on last election? |
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