Going Solo

The term “boy” is used to refer to a native servant in colonial Africa. This term, though commonly used during the colonial period, carries a derogatory connotation, reflecting the racial hierarchies and power dynamics of the time. A “boy” was typically responsible for a variety of tasks, including cooking, cleaning, and personal assistance, essentially managing the household and daily needs of the European colonists. Dahl’s personal servant, Mdisho, is referred to as his “boy.” This term illustrates the deeply ingrained racial attitudes and the expectation of subservience from the local African population by the colonial British.

“Bwana” means “boss” or “master” in Swahili. The Africans whom Dahl encounters all refer to him as “bwana,” even those who are older or more experienced than he is, which shows that the colonial social structure placed Europeans in positions of authority and respect, regardless of their actual experience or qualifications. For example, when Dahl was put in charge of commanding a group of Kenyan troops to stop Germans from leaving Dar es Salaam, the more experienced African soldiers still deferred to him, addressing him as “bwana.”