Yefon: The Red Necklace (39 page)

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.

A sakah:
(Greeting) How are you?

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.

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

Abai veni:
(Exclamation) Long form of
abai
.

Abeg: Please
.

Abeg abeg:
Please, please.

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

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

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

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

Aya:
No.

Aye:
Expression.

Ayo! Aie!:
Screaming sounds.

Ba Ley Ver:
Daddy! Look at us!

Ba Wom:
My Father.

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

Bakala
: Cornrows.

Bamum
: Village: inhabitants are called Foumban people.

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

Bensikin
: Local slang for motorcycle.

Beri Wo
: Thank You.

Beri wo Ba
: Thank you sir.

Beri wo Mami
: Thank you mother.

Big Fada
: Big priest or parish priest.

Big man hikotoh
: Carriage.

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

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

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

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

Bun Fon
: Greet Fon officially, usually presenting gifts.

Bvey
: /VEIY/ Goat.

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

Calabash
: Gourd.

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.

Ce'h
: /Seuh/ Fish.

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

Chakara
:
/Slang/
Crazy or Scattered.

Chekere
: Sieve.

Chisong
: Chewing stick.

Chong
: Musical instrument.

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

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.

Djam
: (Fulbe greeting) I am Fine.

Djam na
: (Fulbe greeting) How are you?

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

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

Ei
: Exclamation.

Fai
: (Title) Family/ lineage head.

Fatty Bombom
: (Derogatory) Fat person.

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

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

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.

Fulani
: Ethnicity.

Gham
: Country Cap.

Ghan-kidzem
: Traditional treatments for stammering.

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

Haba
: Exclamation.

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.

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

Hian
: Exclamation.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Ishi
: (Slang) Gross.

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

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

Juju
: Masquerade. There are several.

Kaavi
: The biggest market day on the Nso calendar.

Kan
: Monkey.

Kaya
: Locally grown Indian hem or marijuana.

Kenja
: Case or basket.

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

Ki’ bête
: Drum sounds.

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

Kibam Ke Lim
: Workbag.

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

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

Kifah Ke Biki
: Something bad or scary!

Kifesin
: Co-wives.

Kijung fayii
: We are doing quite well.

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

Kiluh
: Thick yellow palm liquid.

Kimbang
: White man.

Kisham ke kingha
: Green frog.

Kiwo
: Please.

Kiyung ke Nto'
: Palace court Jester.

Kiyuu
: Rooster or cock.

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..

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.

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

Koi kah?:
What is going on?

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

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

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

Krichi
: Electric reddish ant with acidic pee.

Kuku
: Slang for chicken; often said by children.

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

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

Loh
: Go away! (Dismissing an act)

Lum
: Attic Storage.

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

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

Ma Sistah
: My sister.

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

Mah
: A nearby village.

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.

Mba-Cha's
: Instrument used during festivities.

Mbam
: Name of a village.

Mbanga Tree
: (Pidgin English) Palm tree.

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

Mbingiy
: Name of a compound.

Mbonyar Compound
: Name of a compound.

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

Mbu'lam
: Sweet potatoes.

Mbve'
: /M'VEH/ Cave.

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

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

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

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

Mschew!
: Sighing sound.

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.

Muttu
: Vehicle.

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.

Na
: Confirmation.

Na'a
: Folktale heroine.

Ncanda
: Cow skin, thick and mushy.

Nchum
: Musical Instrument: Drums.

Ndzengon
: Implies that listeners are ready for the story.

Ngabaa
: Mad Person.

Nganha
: Old village.

Ngar
: Rifle.

Ngashinga'
: Cassava.

Ngie
: Sunflower seed.

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

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.

Ngong Dog
: (Pidgin English) Street dog.

Ngonnso
: Ancestress/Founder of the Tribe.

Ngwah
: Meeting or gathering.

Ngwah wo lah
: Women's meeting or gathering.

Ngwv∂v
: /VEV:/ Chicken/ fowl.

Ngwvev
: Exclamation of surprise.

Nine Lives
: (Insult) Witch.

Nka
: Basket.

Nkang
: Corn Beer.

Nkem
: Kenja or basket for chickens and other things.

Nkuv
: Name of a village, near Shisong.

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

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

Ntangrin
: A small market day.

Nto'
: Palace.

Nto' Nso
: Nso Palace.

Ntov
: Albino.

Nwah
: Beehive.

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

Nyamnko'
: Insult: Horse.

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

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.

Nyash: (Insult) Backside.

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