Mondele

Mondele,ormundelé,(pl.mindele) is aBobangiterm meaning "white" (white man, not the color,mpembe) European-style person, person with light skin color. The words were originally used to describeBelgianandFrenchcolonists, but can be used to describe any light-skinned non-African.

According to theLingala Online Dictionary"It seems that the origin of the word comes from the bobangi language and that the radical" ndele "lets us believe that the african perceived the european as someone who is insincere (=" ndelengene ") rather than by his color."

The word can also be applied even to black Africans with a much lighter skin complexion,Coloureds,foreign-raised locals speaking with foreign accents, visitingexpatriates,or westernised blacks (includingAfrican Americans), who are referred to specifically asmundele ndombe.

Etymology

The term originated from theBangi language.

See also

InGhanathe word used for a 'white' person or foreigner is ‘Obroni’ in the local languages, those of theAkanfamily.

InNigeria,the word used for a 'white' person isOyibo.

InUganda,TanzaniaandKenyathe word used for a white or foreign person is 'mzungu'.

InTogoandBenin,the word used for a white person is 'yovo'.

InCentralandWest Africa(most frequently in theGambia,Senegal,andMali,also in Ivory Coast) the word used for a 'white' person is 'Toubab'.

References

Alleyne, Mervyn (2005).The Construction and Representation of Race and Ethnicity in the Caribbean and the World.University of the West Indies Press. p. 280.ISBN978-9766401795.