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Swahili
Etymology
From m- + English Benz, a reference to those who are able to afford expensive Mercedes-Benz cars.[1]
[2]
[3]
Noun
Mbenzi (m-wa class, plural Wabenzi)
- rich person, elite person, person of high status
- (Can we verify(+) this sense?) (Kenya) corrupt politician
References
- ^ Owen Moelwyn-Hughes (2010 March 14) “Global Issues: Aid and Corruption: The Wabenzi - Africa’s Big Men”, in Tutor2u (in English):
The Wabenzi are Africa’s ‘Big Men’ so named from the Swahili word meaning ‘the Benz people’ - they are the ones who have their sleek cars paid for by the government. In fact, they are the government. The Wabenzi are colourful examples of corrupt government officials and thus a useful illustrative example for the topics on ‘Corruption’ and ‘Aid’.
- ^ John Kamau (2013 March 3) “Wabenzi: In the land of poverty and opulence”, in Al Jazeera (in English): “Fifty years after independence, the Wabenzis in Kenya are still in a class of their own. They can afford a decent meal in the upmarket restaurants in Nairobi’s leafy suburbs; take their kids to schools abroad or in the local exclusive £20,000 term academies.”
- ^ Skye K. Moody (2005 October 7) ““I, Wabenzi”: Going on a spiritual quest in a Mercedes”, in The Seattle Times (in English): “In Swahili-speaking Africa, a wabenzi is a member of the privileged class, those lucky wabwana who drive Mercedes Benzes.”