Nanka Nanka

[Tadeo Lentz]

Context2007/10/8 17:47 "nanka" is a casual form of "nani ka," and means "anything" or "something."

Depending on the context, a shopkeeper might approach you as you browse through the merchandise and ask "Nanka o-sagashi desu ka?" (Are you looking for something?). Or if you are looking lost in front of a police station, a policeman might ask you "Nani ka arimashita ka?" (Something happened?) in the sense of "Can I help you with anything?" Or a friend might ask you "Nanka nomu?" (You wanna drink something?) "Nanka taberu?" (You want to eat something?) Also, in sentences other than questions, a friend of yours might say "Nanka tabetai" (I want to eat something) ir "Nanka nomitai" (I want to drink something.)

Also, "nan ka" or "nani ka" (not in questions) can mean "somewhat." So a friend of yours might say "Nanka gakkou ni ikitaku nai." (Somewhat I don't feel like going to school). I'd say young people use the word "nanka" in this "somewhat..." quite liberally.by AKrate this post as useful

stalling2007/10/9 16:53 Some people also might use it kind of like "umm" when they are trying to think of the right word to explain something. You might hear people say it when they are trying to speak to you in English and they can't think of the right word.by sazae-sanrate this post as useful

The site of the proposed hotel, The Palma Rima, was by the presumed lair of a Ninki-Nanka, and since no one wanted to hunt it, they found perhaps the most eco-friendly solution: plant a tree over the hole. The giant serpent was purportedly annoyed but never returned to seek revenge, possibly because the tree was a sacred baobab,

Living in tall, dried termite mounds, the land spirit Ninkinanka emerges as a python before transforming into a beautiful rainbow, arcing over to higher ground and handily replenishing water sources, rain clouds and swamps.

In a story from the Limba, the giant serpent Ninkinanka literally reaches up to the heavens, and indirectly causes thunder and lightning. I say indirectly, because it was mainly due to a hunter and son trying to save face.

First of all, Ninkinanka seems non-plussed, even as its neck and body tumble to the ground. As for its head, the boy and his knife, they all fall upwards into the sky and stay there forever more. Both father and son are distraught at their separation, and whenever the son cries or flashes his knife around to cut a path back down to earth, it causes heavy rain, thunder and lightning.

Ninkinanka was a water and wealth god m8. Leo Frobenius wrote about it quite extensively back in the 19th century. Aside from bringing rain and riches it served to legitimize ancient kings. Ninkinanka would coil up around a man who wished to be king and drop a golden scale if he considered him worthy. The relationship between water and kingship is more obvious when remembering that Mande kings were supposed to be mortal reflections of the great water god Faro. The serpent Bida from Soninke-Bozo legends was more likely than not Ninkinanka.

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