Glossary

abikou	Yoruba word for the spirit of a child who diedin early childhood.
Allah arhamu	May his soul rest in peace.
beit al wali	Governor's palace, his present residence.
buna	Coffee.
Gaallos	Whites.
gabay	Somali poetic genre.
geeraar	Somali poetic genre.
guux	Somali poetic genre.
haga	The hottest season of the year (May-August).
mabraze	Room where people chew khat.
magalla	Native village in colonial times; by extension,the city.
naya	Girl, often pejorative.
shafeec	Somali word, like the Yoruba abikou, for thespirit of a child who died as an infant.
shifta	Highway robber.
taji	Hydromel.
warya	Guy, man.
Ya habibi	Oh, my darling.