madala

From Tsonga madala.

madala (plural madalas)

1. In certain countries of Eastern Africa, an elder or mzee; a person worthy of much esteem.
   • 2008, Anthony Trethowan, Delta Scout: Ground Coverage Operator, page 146:

     Again silence and then two terrorists moved into the crowd and grabbed the madala by his arms, supporting him because his knees had collapsed with fear.

   • 2011, Michael Williams, Now Is the Time for Running:

     He is what they call the madala on the farm, and he has worked here all his life.

   • 2014, Gordon Torr, Kill Yourself & Count to 10:

     Then one day the gardener, who's this old madala who's been working for us for years, sees Derek talking to Phumlani in the street outside and handing over like a whole stack of twenty rand notes. So the madala tells my old man that there's this tsotsi hanging out with Derek and he gets really pissed off and tells Derek to stop whatever the fuck he's doing and to stop mixing with kaffirs.

• Aldama

From Tsonga.

madala m (plural madalas)

1. (Mozambique) madala