wah-wah n.— «Going into Wah-Wah, the pungent and poignant memoir from actor Richard E. Grant about coming of age in colonial Swaziland, you might assume that the title is a Bantu word. It’s of American coinage and refers to the huffy...
boda-boda n.— «It costs a mere 20 shillings (about R3) to travel across Kisumu on a bicycle; matatu rates are double that. And, bikes are everywhere—the ringing of their bells and the crunch of wheels on dirt the dominant sounds in towns...
dop system n.— «Experts say the culture of drinking is the legacy of exploitation by white farmers. In the past, workers were routinely given wine in lieu of pay, a practice known as the “dop system.” This was banned in the...
couch n.— «Just about every Harley model was on display, from customised low-riders to enormous, well-upholstered cruisers. These behemoths, which tend to be ridden by equally well-upholstered middle-aged men, are jokingly referred to as...
space up seat n.— «The third row seats are what Toyota refers to as “space up” seats. These seats, designed to accommodate two adults if required, fold away to increase utility space. They can recline through 18 degrees in 9...
baulk v.— «The guys in the Cadillac were known to him as serial baulkers (as in baulking insurance companies), and they earned a living—sort of—by ploughing their battering-ram Cadi into the soft areas of cars being used by wholly legal...