kaimu

How to say it

Meaning

one who stands in for another, historically applied to a person believed to summon or command spirits.

Good to know

in this old sense the word denotes an exorcist or necromancer; in everyday modern Swahili the same word instead means 'acting' in an office, as in kaimu mkurugenzi, 'acting director'.

Examples

• Kaimu alifanya ibada ya kufukuza pepo mbaya.The exorcist performed a ritual to drive out the evil spirit.
• Baada ya mkurugenzi kuondoka, naibu wake alikuwa kaimu.After the director left, his deputy became the acting head.
• Je, kaimu huyo aliitwa kumsaidia mgonjwa?Was that exorcist called to help the sick person?
• Alichaguliwa kuwa kaimu mwenyekiti wa kamati.He was chosen to be the acting chairman of the committee.