South African Slang used in the show

AFRICA UMOJA uses commonly used ‘slag’ in the show – below are some of the words so you can understand what is being said. To view, click on the word

• sangoma
  traditional healer or diviner
• madala
  Old man; grandfather
• dompas
  A Pass book. This was a document all African people had to carry with them, at all times.
• eish!
  an interjection expressing resignation
• heita
  “hello” or “hi”
• Shebeen
  illegal drinking-establishment (from Irish sibín), synonymous with speakeasy. In South Africa it refers in particular to unlicensed bars in the townships, and has become a mainstream word. During the apartheid era laws prohibited non-whites from consuming any alcohol except traditional sorghum beer, and taverns selling ‘hard-tack’ became the centre of social activity.
• tsotsi
  gangster, layabout, no gooder