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Mzungu

East African term for a white person

Mzungu (), also known as muzungu, mlungu, musungu or musongo, is a Bantu word that means "wanderer" originally pertaining to the first European explorers to the East African region whom the local ethnic groups thought were traveling aimlessly with no goals to settle, conquer or trade, like restless spirits – the initial explorers who unbeknownst to the local tribes, were tasked with mapping the area, travel and trade routes, key landmarks like the source of the river Nile as well as documenting dominant kingdoms and forging some alliances that were then later used by missionaries and colonialists in their conquest.

The term is currently used in predominantly Swahili speaking nations to refer to foreign people dating back to 18th century. The noun mzungu or its variants are used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Comoros, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mayotte, Zambia and in the north of Madagascar (the word changed to vozongo in Malagasy, but locals will still understand the word mzungu) dating back to the 18th century.

Etymology

Literally translated mzungu meant "someone who roams around" or "wanderer". The term was first used in Africa to describe Arab, Indian and European traders and explorers in the 18th century, apparently because they moved around aimlessly. The word mzungu comes from Swahili, where zungu or zunguka is the word for spinning around on the same spot. Kizunguzungu is Swahili for dizziness. The term is now used to refer to "someone with white skin" or "white skin", but can be used to refer to all foreigners more generally. The word mzungu in Swahili can also mean someone who speaks English.

The possessive kizungu (or chizungu) translates as "behaving rich". However, in some areas, such as in Rwanda and Burundi, it does not necessarily refer to the colour of one's skin. Traditionally, Europeans were seen to be people of means and rich and so the terminology was extended to denote affluent persons regardless of race. It would therefore not be unusual to find any employer being referred to as mzungu. In the Bantu Swahili language, the plural form of mzungu is wazungu. The plural form may be used to confer a respect, such as the use of the term azungu to refer to individual foreigners in Malawi's Chichewa language. The possessive kizungu (or chizungu) translated literally means "of the wanderers". It has now come to mean "language of the wanderers" and more commonly English, as it is the language most often used by wazungu in the African Great Lakes area. However it can be used generally for any European language. Wachizungu, bachizungu, etc. – literally "wandering people" – have come to mean people who adopt the Western culture, cuisine and lifestyle.

Everyday use

Mzungu can be used in an affectionate or insulting way. It is used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Burundi. It is often called out by children to get the attention of a passerby. For example, in Malawi, it is common for people to use the casual greeting Azungu boh! to individuals or groups of foreigners.

Language	Singular	Plural
Mzungu	Wazungu	Kizungu
Mzungu	Wazungu	Chizungu
Omuzungu	Abazungu	Kizungu
Mzungu	Azungu	Chizungu
Mzungu	Bazungu	Chizungu
Mūthūngū	Athūngū	Gīthūngū
Umuzungu	Abazungu	Ikizungu
Musungu	Basungu	Chisungu
Omusongo	Abasongo	Ebisongo
Muzungu	Azungu
Murungu	Varungu	Chirungu
Umlungu	Abelungu	Isilungu
Umlungu	Abelungu	Isilungu
Imzungu	Iwazungu

References

Che-Mponda, Chemi. (5 February 2013). "The Meaning of the Word Mzungu - Maana ya Mzungu".
Beauvoisin, Charlotte. (26 February 2013). "What is a Muzungu?".
Githiora, Chege. (December 2002). "Sheng: peer language, Swahili dialect or emerging Creole?". [[Journal of African Cultural Studies]].
Igoe, Jim. (2002-09-19). "Etymology of the term muzungu: reply".
Griffith, Tom. (2007-10-20). "The Wandering Wazungu".
"Notes on the Songs & Instruments, plus Acknowledgments & Thanks".
Fraley, Austin. (29 January 2018). "The 12 Words You'll Hear in Malawi". [[Peace Corps]].
Mchombo, Sam A.. (2001). "The Handbook of Morphology". [[Blackwell Publishing]].
Harrisberg, Kim. (24 December 2013). "A Mzungu's thoughts on Justine Sacco". [[The New Times (Rwanda).
Walker, Mary. (27 December 2013). "Mary Walker: Christmas in Kenya". [[Steamboat Pilot & Today]].
Finke, Jens. (2003). "The Rough Guide to Tanzania". [[Rough Guides]]; [[Penguin Putnam]].

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