The River Between

The River Between Glossary

thingira

hut

calabash

a water container made of the dried shell of the calabash gourd

panga

an African tool, similar to a machete

kihii

an uncircumcised boy

irigu

uncircumcised girls

Tutikwenda Irigu

Literally: We do not want uncircumcised girls.

mwariki

castor oil plant

riika

age-set; a group of people having been circumcised in the same year

thahu

the Kikuyu principle of impurity

voluble

glib, full of rapid speech, talkative

labyrinth

a maze

extricating

removing something or someone from a situation

diffused

spread throughout, as light or scent

stupefying

something that is astonishing, astounding

remonstrate

plead with

tremulous

trembling, timid

corrugated

ridged, as a roof or paper

insatiable

incapable of being satisfied

coaxed

urged, wheedled

veneration

extreme admiration or reverence