West African Fetichism Glossary

A.
Abuna, abundance.
Aganlo, children of mixed mortal and fairy birth.
Akazya, a poisonous tree.
Amie, do not know.
Anlingo, water.
Antā (sing. intyā), eyes.
Anyambe, the Divine Name.
Aweme, yourself.
Ayenwe, unseen.

B.

Bābākā, consent thou.
Behu, kitchen garden.
Benda, a kind of rat.
Biań, medicine.
Bobābu; soft.
Bohamba, Boka Bokadi, Bokuda, a certain medicinal tree.
Bolondo, a poisonous tree.
Bongām, a certain medicinal tree.
Botombaka, passing away.
Buhwa, day.
Bwanga, medicine.

D.
Dāgula, Mr., a title of respect.
Diba, marriage.
Diyā, the hearth; a household.
Diyaka, to live.

E.
Ebābi, a male love philtre.
Egona, a small antelope.horn.
Ehongo, a cornucopia.
Ekongi, a guardian-spirit fetich.
Ekope, a girdle.
Elāmbā, a certain medicinal tree.
Elinga, a basket.
Etomba, tribe.
Evove, harlot.
Ewiria, words of hidden meaning.

F.
Fufu, mashed, boiled ripe plantains.

G.
Go, to, in, at.
Greegree (gria-gris), fetich amulet.
Gumbo, okra.
Gwandere, a medicine for worms.

H.
Haye, will not do.
Hume, a certain fish.

I
lbambo (pl. abambo), ghosts.
Ibātā, a blessing.
Iga, the forest.
Iguga, woe.
Iheli, a gazelle.
Ijawe (pl. majawe), blood relative.
Ikaka (pl. makaka), family name.
Ilala, an arch; a stairway.
Ilina (pl. malina), soul.
Ina, my mother.
Ilina (pl. malinla), soul.
Injenji, a certain leaf; fault
Isakiliya, kindling-wood.
Isiki (pl. asiki), a dwarf changeling.
Itaka, a kitchen hanging-shelf.
Itala, a view.
Ivaha, a wish.
Ivenda. (pl. ampenda), glory.
Iyele, a female love philtre.

J.
Ja, of.
Jaka, to beget.
Joba, the sun.
Jomba, meat cooked in a bundle of plantain leaves.
Juju, an amulet.

K
Kā, and you.
Kasa, a lash.
Keva, to surpass.
Kilinga, a kind of bird.
Kimbwa-mbenje, native bark-cloth.
Kna, a kind of bird.
Knakna, a large kind of bird.
Koka, a large kind of bird.
Kombo, a superstitious ejaculation.
Konde, queen.
Kota, a certain tree.
Kulu, a kind of spirit.
Kumu, a stump.
Kwedi, time of mourning.

L.
Lale, my father.

M.
Mabili, an east-wind fetich.
Mba, not I.
Mbenda, ground-nut.
Mbi, I.
Mbinde, a wild goat.
Mbolo, gray hairs; a salutation.
Mbulu, a wild dog.
Mbumbu, rainbow.
Mbundu, poison ordeal.
Mbwa (pl. imbwa), dog.
Mbwaye, a poison test.
Mehole, ripe plantains.
Miba, water.
Mie, me.
Monda, witchcraft medicine.
Mondi (pl. myondi), a class of spirits.
Mpazya, skin disease.
Mulimate, a small horn for cupping.
Musimo, spirits of the dead.
Muskwa, a medicinal brush.
Mutira, a medicinal stick.
Mvia, a kind of bird.
Mwana, a child.
Mwanga, a plantation.

N.
Na, with.
Ndabo, house.
Ndembe, young.
Nduma, a kind of snake.
Ngalo, a guardian--spirit charm.
Ngāma, a water plant.
Ngāndā, gourd seeds.
Ngānde, moon.
Ngofu, an iron fetich bracelet.
Ngunye, a flying-squirrel.
Nguwu, hippopotamus.
Ngwe, mother.
Njabi, a wild oily fruit.
Njegā, leopard.
Nkālā, a large snail.
Nkānjā, a marriage dance.
Nkendo, a magician's bell.
Nkinda (pl. sinkinda), a class of spirits.
Nsānā, Sunday.
Nsinsim, a shadow.
Ntori, a large forest rat.
Nyege, a monkey.
Nungwa, open thou.
Nunja, shut thou.
Nyamba, a scarf slung over the right shoulder, in which to carry a babe.
Nyemba, witchcraft.
Nyolo, body.

O.
Odika, kernel of the wild mango.
Oganga, doctor.
Ogendā, a journey.
Ogwerina, rear of a house.
Okove, a powerful fetich.
Okume, African mahogany tree.
Okundu, a kind of fetich for trading.
Olāgā (pl. ilāgā), a class of spirits.
Olako, a camping place.
Ombwiri (pl. awiri), a class of spirits.
Ompunga, wind.
Orala, a hanging shelf over a fire place.
Oraniga, last-born.
Orāwo, insult.
Orega, the Njembe secret society drum.
Orunda, a prohibition; taboo.
Osenge, a cleared place in the forest.
Ovāvi (pl. ivāvi), messenger.
Owavi (pl. sijavi), a leaf.
Ozyāzi, a pestle.
Ozyoto, a cornucopia.

P.
Pala, my father.
Pavo, a knife.
Peke, ever.

R.
Rera, my father.

S.
Saba, Sabali, an oath.
Sale, hail!

T.
Tamba, the womb.
Tube, a certain leaf.
Tuwaka, bless; spit

U.
Udinge, a great person.
Ukuku (pl. mekuku), spirit; secret society.
Ukwala, a machete.
Untyanya, a medicinal bark.
Unyongo, a medicine tree.
Upuma, a period of six months.
Utodu, old.
Uvengwa, a phantom.

V.
Veya, fire.

Y.
Yāginla, imperative, hear thou.
Yākā, a family fetich.