makanga

English

Noun

makanga (plural makangas)

1. (Kenya) A tout; one who is hired to convince passengers to take a specific taxi or matatu.
   • 1994 July 5, Prof. Saitoti, “Report, Parliamentary Debates”, in Kenya National Assembly Official Record, volume 5, number 13, page 376:

     In the Nairobi City Council today, we have many councillors who were makangas. I hope that in future the Opposition will see it fit to elect people of high calibre as councillors rather than bring in the kind of makanga councillors we have today, who have contributed to the decay in the City of Nairobi.

   • 2009, Joseph R. Oppong, Esther D. Oppong, Kenya, →ISBN, page 79:

     Sometimes there are several matatus en route to the same destination, so makangas will “fight”over you. One may even grab your luggage and force you to follow him to his matatu.

   • 2015, Roger Behrens, Dorothy McCormick, David Mfinanga, Paratransit in African Cities: Operations, Regulation and Reform, →ISBN:

     One owner who operated on a route known for its 'dot.com' youth stated 'Those who call passengers cannot get anybody if they are dirty and badly dressed, makangas (touts) must be clean and well dressed; wear bling blings and sagging jeans.'

Anagrams

• mangaka