bakra
nounAlso spelled: buckra , backra
/ˈbakra/ · BAK-rah
English Definition
White person; historically, white slaveholder or colonial ruling class.
Patois Definition
Di bakra dem run di estate long time.
Literal Translation
white overseer / white person
Etymology
- Efik/Ibibio via Creole · mbakara — white person, ruler
Cultural Context
Appears in mento and folk narrative as index of colonial power relations. Usage persists in historical and literary contexts.
Where you'd hear it
These tags describe the situations or styles of speech where this word commonly appears — for example at church, in everyday chat, or in dancehall lyrics.
- Historical More common in older texts or when talking about the past.
- Folk & storytelling Anansi tales, proverbs, and older community storytelling.