I’ve started to hear this ‘Muzungu’ word when I was overlanding the Northeast part of Zambia. And as soon as I crossed the border with Tanzania, ‘Muzungu’ has become my new nickname.
But wait, what does ‘Muzungu’ actually mean?
It’s widely used in East Africa describing a ‘white person’. But literally translated it means ‘aimless wanderer’ -from the Swahili and Ganda words. This word was used to the first Europeans who came along the coast for trade.
Is being a Muzungu just about skin colour?
Apparently not. I’ve noticed that people from Asia are not called this way, and that some people with African descents -but raised and living abroad- can also be called ‘Muzungu’.
Anyway, I knew about this before coming to Africa 3 years ago. But still, I had to force myself to get used to it and to accept to be called this way.
Very important: it’s not to be understood as an insult. It’s not pejorative. I’ve also noticed that mainly kids are calling me this way.
I’m still working on it to be honest. I hate to put people in boxes, to stereotype them -so it’s not been an easy thing for me to be identified as a Muzungu at the beginning. I actually would like to be identified as…me: Charline.
But that’s part of the expedition: to learn, to be tolerant, to understand, to provoke communication, to accept, to disagree, and to learn again.
And you know, I want my feelings and perceptions to be questioned, to grow up, and to progress.
Thoughts of a Muzungu who wants to get out of the box.
Have you heard of Muzungu before? What are your thoughts about this term?
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