Definition of

Bemba

Lips

A bemba is a mouth with thick lips.

The notion of bemba has several uses. The term is used in different ways depending on the country, and can be used as a noun or adjective and sometimes forming part of colloquial phrases .

In nations such as Venezuela , Uruguay , Peru , Mexico , Nicaragua , Honduras , El Salvador and Guatemala , among others, the mouth that is characterized by very thick lips is called bemba. A person who has this type of lips is also classified as a bemba.

What is the bemba

To understand what the idea of ​​bemba refers to, we must first focus on the definitions of mouth and lip . With these concepts clear, it is easy to understand the meaning of bemba.

The mouth is the upper opening of the digestive tract . It is located on the head and allows you to eat and speak, for example . The edges of the mouth, meanwhile, are called lips .

The lips of human beings are mobile and fleshy. When the lips differ from those of most people by having a considerable thickness, the individual's mouth is said to be a bemba.

The bemba, in short, is a mouth with very swollen lips . This physical trait is a necessary condition for the denomination.

The term in colloquial expressions

Bemba is used in several phrases that are part of the colloquial language of various regions. “Stretch the bemba” , to mention one of them, is used in Venezuela and Cuba to name the action of placing the mouth in a certain way to show bad mood or anger.

In these countries , you can also hear the expression “bemba de perro” . It is generally used when it is intended to refer to a subject in a derogatory manner.

Radiobemba

Radio Bemba is a fictitious station that is credited with spreading rumors.

Radio bemba

In Panama , Cuba and the Dominican Republic , the notion of radio bemba or radiobemba is equivalent to what is known in other places as radio macuto . These “radio stations” do not exist, but are supposed stations where gossip , rumors and gossip are born.

Radio Bemba, therefore, is associated with unverified or false information . “In the end the only thing we hear about it is what radio Bemba says,” “Radio Bemba released the economic statistics for the last year” and “Where did you hear it, on Radio Bemba?” These are some expressions that appeal to this symbolic image.

It is interesting to mention that Radio Bemba is also the name of the musical band that accompanies Manu Chao in concerts. This artist titled “Radio Bemba Sound System” to the album released in 2002 that includes live recordings of different presentations.

an african language

Finally, Bemba is known as a language spoken in Zambia , Botswana , Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It is part of the set of Bantu languages ​​and gave rise to multiple dialects.

Nearly three million individuals have Bemba as their mother tongue in Zambia , the territory where it is most used. The most widespread dialect is called central Bemba . It is interesting to mention that, compared to other languages, Bemba has a high social status in this African nation.