A Swahili Dictionary
The Black Panther Press' underground "New Afrikan Swahili Dialect Dictionary" is a guide to words and phrases used by black gang members in prison. Break the code by learning these translated terms.
In prison, forms of black slang and African languages are used to code conversations to prevent non-black inmates and staff from understanding the communication. These languages are taught to gang members who carry these back out into the community.
They also serve as a racial recruiting tool. One of the favorite forms is the African Swahili tribal dialect.
The following is a portion of a prison-copied version of the underground publication, "New Afrikan Swahili Dialect Dictionary" from the Black Panther Party Press.
SWAHILI/ENGLISH
ASANTE/Thank You
BABU/Grandfather or Father
BASI/That's All
BIBI/Grandmother
BIKIRA/Virgin
DADA/Sister
DHANI/Think
GNYE SHUKRANI/Thankful
HAJA/Need
HATA MOJA/None
JAMAA/Family
JINA/Name
KIJANA/Youth
KITU/Thing
KUANDIKA/Write
KUENDA/Went, Go or Gone
KUJARIBU/Try
KUPUTA/Throw
KUWA/Was
LA/No
LAZIMA/Must
LINI/When
MIMI/I or Me
MJANE/Widow
MKE/Wife
MTOTO MCHANGA/Girl or Baby
MTOTO WA KIUME/Boy
MUMNE/Husband
MWALIMU/Teacher
MWANAMKE/Woman
MWANAMUME/Men
MWANA DAMU/Man
MZAZI/Mother
NANI/Who
NDUGU/Brother
NIJIA/Way
NINA/I Am
NINI/What
NJDYO/Yes
MNO/Too
SASA/Now
SI/Not
SISI/We or Us
SIYO/No
UEYE/He or She
UKE/Vagina or Womanhood
UTU/Manhood
UUME/Penis
WA/Be
WAO/Them
WAPI/Where
WAZO/Thought
WEWE/You
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