Detective Kubu 03; The Death of the Mantis

by Michael Stanley

  ∨ The Death of the Mantis ∧

  Glossary

  bakkie South African slang for a pickup truck.

  Batswana Plural adjective or noun: “The people of Botswana are known as Batswana.” See Motswana.

  BDF Botswana Defence Force.

  Biltong Salted strips of meat, spiced with pepper and coriander seeds and dried in the sun.

  braai/braaivleis South African term for a barbecue.

  Bushman poison bulb Poisonous plant with beautiful flower (Boophone disticha ). Used in small doses as a hallucinogen and for traditional medicines.

  Bushmen A race small in size and number, many of whom live in the Kalahari area. They refer to themselves as the people (see Khoisan). In Botswana they are sometimes referred to as the Basarwa.

  Debswana Diamond mining joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government.

  donga A dry river course with steep sides.

  dumela Setswana for hello or good day.

  eland World’s largest antelope (Taurotragus oryx ).

  gemsbok In southern Africa, the Cape oryx (Oryx gazelld ), a large antelope with long, straight horns.

  hoodia Cactus-like plant, eaten for energy and as a hunger suppressant (Hoodia gordonii ).

  IGwi Language spoken by the Gwi bushman group.

  Khoi Hottentots (see Khoisan).

  Khoisan The name by which the lighter-skinned indigenous peoples of southern Africa, the Khoi (Hottentots) and San (Bushmen), are known. These people dominated the subcontinent for millennia before the appearance of the Nguni and other black peoples.

  kimberlite The host rock of almost all diamonds. It is an igneous extrusion from deep within the Earth’s mantle.

  knobkierie A short club made from hardwood with a knob on one end, used as a weapon.

  Kola Tonic A sweet non-alcoholic syrup made from spices and the Kola nut.

  koppie Afrikaans for small hill.

  kraal Enclosure for livestock, usually made from stones or thorn bushes.

  kubu Setswana for hippopotamus.

  kudu Large antelope (Tragelaphus strepsiceros ).

  Landie Term of affection for a Land Rover.

  lobola Bride-price (originally in cattle) paid to the bride’s parents in African tradition. Sometimes used to set up the newly married couple.

  mankala A game, widespread throughout Africa. Often played using holes in the ground and stones.

  Mma Respectful term in Setswana used when addressing a woman. For example, “Dumela , Mma Bengu’ means ‘Hello, Mrs Bengu’.

  Motswana Singular adjective or noun: “That man from Botswana is a Motswana.” See Batswana.

  pan A basin or depression in the earth, often containing mud or water.

  pap Smooth maize-meal porridge, often eaten with the fingers and dipped into a meat or vegetable stew.

  pappa le nama Setswana for pap and meat.

  pronk To leap straight up (to stot) – a behaviour of springbok when being pursued by a predator.

  pula Currency of Botswana. Pula means rain in Setswana. 100 thebes = 1 pula.

  Rra Respectful term in Setswana used when addressing a man. For example, “Dumela , Rra Bengu’ means ‘Hello, Mr Bengu’.

  sambal A chilli-based sauce used as a condiment, usually with curry.

  San Bushman people. See Khoisan.

  scherm A flimsy dwelling constructed from grass, often temporary.

  Setswana Language of the Batswana peoples.

  springbok Medium-sized brown and white antelope (Antidorcas marsupialis ). Has ability to survive long periods without water. National animal of South Africa.

  steelworks Drink made from Kola Tonic, lime juice, ginger beer, soda water and bitters.

  thebe Smallest denomination of Botswana currency (see pula). Thebe means shield in Setswana.

  tsama melon Yellow-green melon, abundant in the Kalahari. A major source of food and water for Bushmen.

  EOF

  Table of Contents

  Front

  Table of Contents