Swahili in America

ML is from Tanzania, a country in Africa for all of you that aren’t up on your geography.  In Tanzania, they speak Swahili as their primary language; and when ML came to the United States, he was surprised to find Swahili words used here in restaurant names.  Well, maybe not the words exactly, spelled differently but pronounced the same.  But what confused him the most about seeing Swahili words used here was the words that were chosen.

For example, the word “jamba” is actually directly from Swahili and means “fart.”  So, the first time he saw a Jamba Juice, he was speechless.  Why would someone sell fart juice, he asked himself?  But while he had reservations about the place, everyone he knew was telling him how amazing it was.  So, after he got over his initial trepidation, he decided to try it.  Now, it’s one of his favorite places.  He told his wife, “Who knew that’s what fart juice tasted like!?”  He still hasn’t been able to figure out what would have motivated someone to open a shop named that, and he’s reluctant to bring his parents or in-laws over to try it.  I said, “Can you imagine that conversation with your grandkids years down the road?  How’d you make your fortune, grandpa?  You’ll never believe it.  I actually sold fart juice to millions of people and they loved it!”

Another word that ML sees everywhere is “taco,” pronounced like the Swahili word “tako,” which means “butt.”  The myriad of restaurants – Taco Bell, Taco Bueno, Taco Cabana – are bad enough for obvious reasons, but taco has also come to take on a different meaning at our workplace.  We give each other virtual “tacos” for helping, mentoring, and going above and beyond.  At the end of each month, the managers look to see who had the most tacos, and the winner gets a $50 gift card.  So, essentially we’re all in a competition to see who is the biggest butt on our team!  (Or, if you prefer JT’s version, we’re in a competition to see who can get the most tail on the team.)

To take it one step further, the word “cabana” is pronounced like the Swahili word “kabana,” which means “squeeze.”  So, Taco Cabana is Swahili for “butt squeeze.”  I’ve never been to a Taco Cabana, but I’m less likely to go, since I now know what’s going on in that place.  Although, I did tell my wife that she’s welcome to kabana my tako any time she feels like it!