Nyama Choma
/ˈnjɑː.mə ˈtʃoʊ.mə/noun
A East African dish of meat roasted or grilled over an open fire, especially associated with Kenya and Tanzania.
Did you know?In Swahili, nyama means “meat” and choma means “roast” or “burn,” while the communal grilling tradition is strongly associated with Kenyan social gatherings and celebration.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Bantu
Proto-Bantu
*-nyama
“Animal flesh or meat; the reconstructed ancestor of related Bantu forms.”
Early Bantu languages
Bantu
inyama / ennyama
“Meat or flesh; related forms remain in languages such as Zulu, Xhosa, and Luganda.”
Medieval–early modern period
Swahili
nyama
“Meat or flesh.”
Medieval–early modern period
Swahili
choma
“Roast, grill, or burn; derived from a Bantu verb associated with burning or roasting.”
20th Century
Swahili
nyama choma
“Roasted or grilled meat, literally “meat roast.””
Modern English
English
nyama choma
“An East African style of open-fire grilled meat and the social meal surrounding it.”