bwana
East African honorific
Bwana is a Swahili word for master or boss, used as a respectful form of address.
In English, it appears mainly in depictions of colonial East Africa, where white men were addressed this way by African servants or guides: Yes, bwana.
The term now sounds dated and carries colonial overtones, sometimes used ironically.
Authority or controller
- sahibIndian honorific for men
- memsahibColonial-era Indian honorific
- settlerOne who colonizes territory
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
colonizer · subjugation · domination · plantation · missionary · protectorate · exploitation · annexation
Leader or instruction book
- trackerOne who follows trails
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
- savannahTropical grassland ecosystem
jeep · campfire · game drive · khaki · binoculars · outfitter · porter · big five
master
Authority or controller
- sahibIndian honorific for men
- memsahibColonial-era Indian honorific
- settlerOne who colonizes territory
imperialism · colonizer · subjugation · domination · plantation · missionary · protectorate · exploitation · annexation · empire
sir
Formal male address
lord · mister · patron · elder · headman · overseer · sahib · effendi · baas · gentleman
guide
Leader or instruction book
- trackerOne who follows trails
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
savannah · jeep · campfire · game drive · khaki · binoculars · outfitter · porter · big five · Maasai