How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Fufu nsala, Mama Tatabla called us. [...] A forest-dwelling, red-headed rat that runs from sunlight. (2.Prologue.21)
Boy, the Congolese sure have a colorful language, huh? They of course have words for things they encounter on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there's another red-headed rat they have to deal with daily: Nathan Price.
Quote #2
"You know how to speak English and they don't." (2.1.11)
If the situation were reversed, and the villagers of Kilanga were in America, this might actually matter. As it is, with the Prices being the only English speakers in the village, this "advantage" amounts to nothing more than a pile of fufu.
Quote #3
[Nzolo] means "most dearly beloved." [...] Or it is a type of tiny potato that turns up in the market. [...] I think it must be the god of small potatoes. (2.8.6 — 2.8.7)
Many Congolese words have multiple meanings, which makes you wonder how Anatole interprets Nathan Price's sermons. Which meaning does he use when talking to the villagers? And how might this relate to questions of Biblical translation? Food for thought.