{UAH} What does "Mzungu" really mean?

Today, a White person is referred to as Mzungu (singular) but the word comes from a not-so-good interpretation of what the African though of the Whiteman's behavior when they first met at the coast of East Africa and further inland.

Let me break it down for Baboons - the shocker first.

Kizunguzungu is Swahili means dizziness, dizziness is also associate with a mental state of confusion. Literally, you get confused when dizzy.

The word "Mzungu" (plural: "Wazungu") originates from the verb "zunguka", which means "to go around," "to wander," or "to revolve" aimlessly in Swahili. Historically, it was used to describe someone who wandered or traveled around seemingly confused.

When Europeans began to arrive in East Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries, Swahili speakers applied the term "Mzungu" to them because of their frequent movement and exploration of the region's obvious and common things around Africans - lakes, rivers, mountains, wildlife, etc. Their discoveries left  Europeans to Africa even more confused.

Over time, the word came to specifically refer to white people or foreigners, particularly of European descent. Today, it is commonly used in East Africa to refer to any White foreigner, though its tone and meaning can vary depending on context.

Today the Whiteman visiting still gets fascinated and mesmerized by Africa and so remains confused such as to keep revisiting and rediscovering Africa over and over because the they kicks out out of it.

And now you know.

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