Several East African terms such as kitu kidogo, panya route, and rolex have been newly added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Kitu kidogo, Swahili for “a small thing,” refers to a bribe or inducement, while panya route—coined in the Sheng language—means a secret path often used for smuggling. Rolex, from Uganda, refers to street food that combines an omelette wrapped in a chapati.
“Say the word ‘rolex’ in Uganda and the locals will be more likely to think not of a fancy watch, but of a delicious street food staple,” explained Oxford University Press.
Swahili, a dominant regional language, has influenced many English loanwords in East Africa.
The dictionary update also includes words like nyama choma, asante sana, jembe, sambaza chapo, uhuru, githeri among others.
Additionally, two new entries from Rwanda, Burundi, and Mauritius—Intore (a traditional dance) and Seggae (a blend of Sega and Reggae)—were introduced in this update.
Intore is a traditional war-themed dance from Rwanda and Burundi, typically performed by male dancers during festivals and other significant events, accompanied by drumming.
Seggae is a fusion of sega and reggae music styles originating from Mauritius.
The Oxford English Dictionary incorporates words based on extensive research from varied sources, demonstrating their historical significance and consistent usage.
