Kudeka

Cry baby.

I was having a drink in the evening with a former colleague who was in Songea for his new project. I mentioned that I have to pack coats when travelling to Songea. As it’s predicted to dip below 20 degrees here, what sane person wouldn’t be wearing a coat?

He said that in Swahili people moaning about the weather would be called cry babies, and I believe he said the verb to whinge is kudeka. I am proudly a weather-whinger in multiple languages.

Potatoes can be grown in this environment, so it must be cold. ‘I’m so sorry Mr Rob, I want to buy the potato,’ said Sudi the driver as we passed these buckets piled high. No apologies needed, I like a good spud as much as the next person.