There is some debate about what the name Djibouti means. I’ve heard explanations and depending on the ethnicity of the speaker, the answer changes. But today I stumbled across a sort-of answer in a library book.
Yes, I got a library book.
The library is in the Arthur Rimbaud Cultural Center, a blue and white, fenced-in building on the edge of downtown. I have a love-hate relationship with this library. I love books, so automatically that is a point in the ARCC’s favor. I particularly love books in English, so that is a mark against the ARCC. I am glad for the weak air conditioning, a point in their favor. I was once kicked out, a mark against them.
Have you ever been kicked out of a library?
I was in the children’s section though I am decidedly not a child and didn’t have a child with me. However there were no open seats in the adult section and as the library is so small you can see from one side to the other, bookshelves and all, I didn’t think this would be a problem. It was. I also had my computer open, not a book. I didn’t think this would be a problem. It was. I also didn’t have a library card but intended to get one on my way out. Yet another problem. Then I made the mistake of putting my foot up on a chair beneath the table. My fatal error. And thus, I was kicked out of the library.
I didn’t get a card that day but eventually interest in the Djibouti books section drew me back. I geared up my linguistic courage for a foray into French literature and checked out my full limit of two books.
One, Lucy’s choice (she was with so I was able to sit in the children’s section undisturbed): Je m’ennui. I’m Bored. And one my choice: Traversées, histoires, et mythes de Djibouti compiled by Amina Saiid Chiré and Biringanine Ndagano.
This is what I found about the name of our host country (translated into English by me):
“Somalis brandish their jab-butti, which literally means the defeat of the female ogre (long story), the Afar rival with yi-bûti, which means my metal cooking pot (makes sense considering the temperatures), and the Arabs retort with jâ a l-bût, which means the boats comes.”
In other words, no one really knows for sure.
Djiboutians: Can you enlighten me on this topic?
Americans: Why do you ask me what ‘Djibouti’ means? Do you know what ‘America’ means? (I had to use Google)
Ghana means warrior king, which I’ve got to say is a pretty awesome name for a country!
That IS a pretty sweet name. I had no idea, go Ghana!
From your brief explanation, and my knowledge of things North African, I had guessed the Djibouti had some relation to Nassrudin, as he is known in much of the Arab world, or J’ha, as he is known in Morocco. J’ha switches nationalities at random abandon, pokes fun at the stuffy, tweaks the nose of authority, and reflects on the ways of humanity. From what I’ve read on your blog, that seems to fit well. It is a good story anyway.
I love that you had guessed, and that Nassrudin is where your guessing led you, fun. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi, my parents are Somali from Djibouti and they told me the meaning of Jibouti/Djibouti is Buti Jab, which means the bear that was murdered (buti = bear) basically the short from of the story is, is that there were wild bears in the past that use to terrorize the locals, then they were cut (jab) and defeated, everyone remembered where that happened (meesha buti jab etc.) I don’t know what they flipped it around to make Djibouti, but basically thats the story, I reckon it was about 3000 years ago :O
Some say Ogre, but the correct form is BEAR = BUTI. which as now been eradicated.
Nice blog ! 😀
I hadn’t heard this before, about the bears, but I love the story! Well, I don’t love people being terrorized by bears, but you know, it is a fun story to describe the name. Thanks for sharing it with me.
China, in Mandarin is 中国 which means Middle Kingdom. And while I don’t know in English what America means, in Chinese it’s 美国 which is ‘beautiful country’.
That’s fun to hear, thanks Christina.
[…] جيبوتي معنى كلمة جيبوتي ليس بالسهل الحصول عليه. فالآراء تختلف وتتعدّد لكنّ […]
[…] جيبوتي معنى كلمة جيبوتي ليس بالسهل الحصول عليه. فالآراء تختلف وتتعدّد لكنّ […]
[…] جيبوتي معنى كلمة جيبوتي ليس بالسهل الحصول عليه. فالآراء تختلف وتتعدّد لكنّ […]
Somalia is two words, “soo” & “maal” which means-go and milk it.Capitol of Somalia is ancient persian for- seat of shah or kings
About Ghana, I think there is no doubt that the name is a reference to the ancient West African Ghana Empire (4th-13th century).
kill urself
Oh god that was a joke i didnt think it would post
The Jeberti also spelled as Jabarti, Jaberti, Jebarti and Djeberti) are a Muslim[1] clan inhabiting the Horn of Africa, and Middle East mainly Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen
History[edit]
Islam was introduced to the Horn of Africa early on from the Arabian peninsula, shortly after the hijra. Zeila’s Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Two-mihrab Mosque) dates to the 7th century, and is the oldest mosque in the city.[2] In the late 9th century, Al-Yaqubi wrote that Muslims were living along the northern Somali seaboard.[3] Among these early migrants was Abdirahman bin Isma’il al-Jabarti, the forefather of the Darod clan family.[4] Al-Maqrizi noted that a number of the Muslims settled in the Zeila-controlled Jabarta region is now northeastern Ethiopia, and from there slowly expanded into the hinterland.[5] The Jebertis make the majority of the population in Somalia and big minority in Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Most Jeberti concentrated cities includes, Asmara, Addis Ababa, Mogadishu Jigjiga, Bosaso, and Garissa.