boma

How to say it

Meaning

A fenced enclosure around a homestead or for keeping cattle, as among the Maasai; also an old colonial fort that served as a district office.

Good to know

Ji/ma class noun: plural maboma. Boma la ng'ombe is a cattle pen. In many Tanzanian towns Boma is the old district headquarters and gives its name to the area.

Examples

• Ng'ombe wote wamerudi bomani jioni.All the cattle have come back to the enclosure in the evening.
• Familia yao inaishi katika boma kubwa kijijini.Their family lives in a large homestead in the village.
• Jengo la boma la zamani sasa ni makumbusho.The old fort building is now a museum.