Meaning of Toubab: (Tubaab)
 In
Gambia, as well as the rest of West Africa, the word
means a Caucasian person, though this word can also
describe a person of lighter skin. This is not a derogatory
statement, simply a label meant to describe. As the
widely understood sentiment in The Gambia is that toubabs
are rich, expect cries of toubabs to be accompanied
by pleas for money or minties, from adults as well as
children. Basically, if you are a foreigner, and especially
if you are light-skinned, expect to be described by
this name.
Origins:
It is not clear how European people came to be called
toubab in Gambia. Some say it is a corruption of the
word Tabib which in Arabic means doctor. Note: missionaries
and doctors in the imperial era were people from
Europe.
The other theory is that it is derived from the word
"two bob" 2 shilling coinage from the pre-decimalization
period of British currency when The Gambia was still
colonised
by Britain. |
