The Kiswahili phrase “kitawaramba,” which came to encapsulate a feeling of economic dread in Kenya this year, has made a list of top words from around the world that reflected the public mood in 2023.
“Kitawaramba” was among “words of the year” collected by The Associated Press from more than a dozen countries. The news service said it reached out to bureaus globally for terms that captured or crystallized the zeitgeist.
The word was uttered as a threat by Kenyan pastor Paul Mackenzie, who faced accusations of leading a starvation doomsday cult. Kenyans soon began using “kitawaramba” themselves to warn that something bad may happen because of someone’s actions.
With the rising cost of living, the word spoke to a growing sense of frustration. Some Kenyans said that electing President William Ruto “has come back to haunt them,” using the related phrase “kimeturamba.”
Other words of the year selected by the AP included “password child,” “spy balloon,” and “nones.” The diverse mix reflected current events and cultural shifts across different languages.
