Bwana D'Souza, The noun prefix, "Mu" is used mainly in other Bantu languages. In Swahili it is heard as "m." Hence, when you get a speaker whose first language is a Bantu language other than Swahili, a Indian becomes, "muhindi." A person whose first language is Swahili will call an Indian, "mhindi." Several Indians are, "Wahindi." The further you get from Zanzibar, the more corrupt Swahili gets. I have no problems with anyone suggesting that in Buganda, 120 years ago, a Goan could be referred too as "Mu-Goa or "Mugowa." In fact, I am surprised that they spoke Swahili there at all there during that period. The Buganda still perceive Swahili as a threat to their language. On a different note, while I get the link as to why an Indian is called mhindi (from Hindu), I still smile when someone uses "muhindi' (maize) instead of "mhindi" in a Swahili sentence. The implications of the sentence can become hilarious. Lastly, Konkani's contribution to Swahili includes the word, "Uraka." Yes, you guessed it. Uraka is the alcohol made in Tanzania from cashews. Goans call the same, "Urak." Mervyn PS. The earliest known documents written in Swahili are letters written in Kilwain 1711 A.D., in the Arabic script. They were sent to the Portuguese of Mozambique and their local allies. The original letters are now preserved in the Historical Archives of Goa, India.[11] . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language Vivian A. DSouza wrote: >As in the Princely states of India, Goans were prominent in the music >profession including as bandmasters. In Colonial East Africa, Goans were >referred to as Mu-Goa while other Indians were referred to as Mu-Hindi. It is >conceivable that the title of the bandmaster of the Kabaka or Buganda in >Uganda continued to be called "Mugowa" as it may have at one time been >occupied by a Goan. >And as one poster to this forum related his experience in Uganda where, when >he told the >Africans that he was a Goan, the response was "Oh, you are one of the Good Indians". Goans in >East Africa were highly respected by the Africans for their industriousness, >honesty and respect for the Africans. In contrast, non-Goan Indians were >predominantly occupied as tradesmen, who the Africans wrongly or rightly felt >were exploiting them. > > >
