There are words in African languages that defy translation—not because we haven't tried, but because their meaning isn't just linguistic. It's lived.
Writers like Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o abandoned English for Gikuyu, reminding us that language is not just a tool—it's a territory. Others like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tsitsi Dangarembga, and Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi skillfully braid African expressions into English narratives.
There is something deeply political—and beautifully poetic—about resisting translation. At Iskanchi, we champion these choices. We believe that every “untranslatable” word is a doorway, not a dead end. Some things are meant to be understood with the heart.