This archive report was first published on 3 September 2021.
The Kenyan Dictionary: A Guide to Understanding Kenyans ¶
Published on September 3, 2021, The Kenyan Dictionary is an online resource that ascribes witty, cheeky, comical, and even silly interpretations to the words used in our daily online and offline conversations.
According to the dictionary's creative director, Kevin Kamau, the aim is to explain the deep meanings of words Kenyans use in their interactions at home, at work, in business, and even in relationships.
The dictionary's language servings include alternative vocabularies and their equivalents in Sheng, Kiswahili, and English. The team has created language labs on Facebook and Instagram, with a merchandise shop to boot, as they seek to reveal the real meanings of scripts from the now 'coded' Kenyan tongue.
Some of the decoded buzzwords include 'Hustler' (a guy who lives in Karen and is guarded by 257 General Service Unit officers), 'Babyghurl' (a Kenyan woman who wants nothing but princess treatment), and 'Kiongozi' (leader), which means you have to part with cash.
Language experts say the young generation, a majority of whom subscribe to this language, are communicating volumes. 'Just like Sheng in Kenya and Pidgin in Nigeria, Generation Z is adopting these words and phrases because they want to show how dynamic and innovative they are in their communication,' says Dr Hilda Kebeya, a Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at Kenyatta University's Department of English and Linguistics.
While the ongoing conversation around The Kenyan Dictionary is mainly serving the entertainment purpose for now, its biggest challenge is acceptance, adoption by masses, and longevity. 'How many are using it now and how many will use it once they grow up?' asks Willis Ochieng, a master of English pronunciation.
