Obroni

Obroni (or Oburoni) is a word used in Ghana which generally means 'white' people/person or foreigner. This most commonly applies to Caucasians of European origin and ethnicity, but is also used to refer to those of other non-black African ethnicities. Of note, black African people from largely non-black African countries can also be referred to by Ghanaians as Abrofo (plural for obroni, which refers to 1 foreigner). With this in mind the term can be both racial and/or cultural.

West Africa does not have an equivalent of the ubiquitous ‘mzungu’, used throughout Eastern and Southern Africa, and even within Ghana, Obroni predominates because it is common to the predominant local languages, those of Akan family, primarily Ashanti Twi, Akwapim Twi and Fante. Other Akan languages employ variants on Obroni: For example the Brosa people of Western Ghana use the term ‘Brofo’ or ‘Brofwe’. This variation is evidence of the common origins of the word however, likely from ‘Abro ni/fuor’ meaning ‘wicked person/people’ in Twi. Another suggested etymology is from ‘boro’ meaning ‘horizon’, with ‘O-boro-ni’ meaning someone from the lands beyond the horizon.