Zenglendo

Here's another word I'd like to know the origins of. Zenglendo means burgler or bandit. The term was very popular in the late 90s and early 00s when people were frequently held up, carjacked, and otherwise violated, all made easier by Haiti's lack of security (especially at that time.)

The theory was that most zenglendos were young Haitian deportees from the U.S., but that's another discussion.

Did the word exist before that, or was it coined due to the situation at the time? I heard that a popular radio announcer started using the term in the late 90s from the word zenglen which means chips, fragments or shards of glass (which are often all you find after a zenglendo passes by.

Thanks in advance.

Here's what i've found so far:


<<.........."This Week in Haiti" is the English section of HAITI PROGRES
newsweekly. For information on other news in French and Creole,
please contact the paper at (tel) 718-434-8100, (fax)
718-434-5551 or e-mail at <haiticom@blythe.org>

HAITI PROGRES
"Le journal qui offre une alternative"

* THIS WEEK IN HAITI *

April 29 to May 5, 1998
Vol. 16, No. 6

JUSTICE TODAY IN HAITI:
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF GROS MORNE

Zenglendo is Creole for murderer, robber, rapist, or any other
violent criminal. It was coined about 10 years ago during the
first waves of political terror and violent crime which followed
the dissolution of the "Tonton Macoutes," the ruthless corps
which was the eyes, ears, and fists of the Duvalier dictatorship.

The word is derived from "les zenglens," the secret police of
19th century Haitian emperor Faustin Soulouque (1847-1858), who
inspired Duvalier to form his Macoutes. Therefore, zenglendo
connotes more than just a criminal, but rather a thug with a
political tinge. Many zenglendos are, in fact, former Tonton
Macoutes, soldiers, or death-squad gunmen from the three-year
coup d'etat. Previously, their violence was officially
sanctioned; today, it is officially ignored...........>>

Source: http://www.tulane.edu/~latinlib/RESTRICTED/This_Week_in_Haiti/1998_0429.txt

And yes CoolP i believe that Sony Bastien, Radio Haiti news anchorman back then [now co-owner of Radyo Kiskeya], is the first to use the term Zenglendo.

Very, very interesting. Thanks a lot McNr.

Does anyone have anything else?

Interesting. Never knew the origins of the word...in fact I don't the origins of many Creole words that are in use today. Thanks for the information McNr.

CoolP - 03 May 2008 08:08 AM

Very, very interesting. Thanks a lot McNr.

Does anyone have anything else?

McNr said it all Coolp! I don't think there is anything else!

I just learn that Sonny Bastien, journalist and co-owner of Radio Kiskeya, creator of the word "Zenglendo" in the 90's has just died.
RIP

McNr - 02 June 2008 09:16 PM

I just learn that Sonny Bastien, journalist and co-owner of Radio Kiskeya, creator of the word "Zenglendo" in the 90's has just died.
RIP

Just heard it too..........didn't make the coralation between this post and him. Thanks for the info.

Zenglendo is Creole for murderer, robber, rapist, or any other
violent criminal. It was coined about 10 years ago during the
first waves of political terror and violent crime which followed
the dissolution of the "Tonton Macoutes," the ruthless corps
which was the eyes, ears, and fists of the Duvalier dictatorship.

Ok does that mean Zenglenda is acceptable for a female bandit????

Ok does that mean Zenglenda is acceptable for a female bandit????

hahah oh my god lol dats funny! maybe or maybe not?