Transit (15 page)

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Authors: Abdourahman A. Waberi

BOOK: Transit
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1
. Raymond Poulidor was a great French cyclist.—
Translators' note

2
. Literally “People's Aid,” a charitable NGO in France with Communist connections.—
Translators' note

Glossary

abikou
Yoruba word for the spirit of a child who diedin early childhood.
Allah arhamu
May his soul rest in peace.
beit al wali
Governor's palace, his present residence.
buna
Coffee.
Gaallos
Whites.
gabay
Somali poetic genre.
geeraar
Somali poetic genre.
guux
Somali poetic genre.
haga
The hottest season of the year (May-August).
mabraze
Room where people chew khat.
magalla
Native village in colonial times; by extension,the city.
naya
Girl, often pejorative.
shafeec
Somali word, like the Yoruba
abikou
, for thespirit of a child who died as an infant.
shifta
Highway robber.
taji
Hydromel.
warya
Guy, man.
Ya habibi
Oh, my darling.

ABDOURAHMAN A. WABERI
, born in Djibouti, writes in French. He has published four novels, in addition to poetry, short stories, essays, and numerous articles in the French press. His work has been translated into ten languages and has won many prizes, honors, and distinctions in France and beyond.
Transit
is one of his most important novels.

 

Together or separately,
DAVID BALL
and
NICOLE BALL
have published nine book-length translations, including two other novels by Abdourahman A. Waberi.

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