Bunga bunga
Encyclopedia
Bunga bunga is a phrase of uncertain meaning that dates from 1910 if not earlier. By 2010 the phrase had gained popularity in Italy
and the international press as well, when it was used by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
to refer to his alleged sex parties
, which caused a major political scandal in Italy.
, it is stated that "bunga bunga" is the name given by local natives to a location near Moreton Bay
on the eastern coast of Australia
.
In 1910 a group of English friends, including Virginia Woolf
and her brother Adrian Stephen
, pretending to be the Prince of Abyssinia and his entourage obtained permission to visit HMS Dreadnought
, then one of the world's most powerful warships, in Weymouth in what became known as the Dreadnought hoax
. Each time the Commander showed them a marvel of the ship, they murmured the phrase bunga, bunga! This became a popular catchphrase
for a time.
Bloomsbury hoaxers would have known the words bung, bunging, and bunged that refer to the pouring and draining of liquid through a hole in a cask. The hole, a bunghole, is plugged with a cork, peg or spigot.
at his dinner parties (in a version which featured, as prisoners, former ministers from the center-left opposition party led by Romano Prodi
)
This expression was then frequently quoted by the Italian and international press during the 2011 investigation surrounding Silvio Berlusconi's underage prostitution charges
, acquiring a quite different meaning as "an orgy involving a powerful leader"; as such, it was allegedly taught to Silvio Berlusconi by Muammar al-Gaddafi
.
In Italy, the term bunga bunga "has become an instant, supposedly hilarious, household expression".
Descriptions of bunga bunga disagree on its meaning, or perhaps illustrate the range of its reference. It "is said to be a sort of underwater orgy where nude young women allegedly encircled the nude host
and/or his friends in his swimming pool", "an African-style ritual" performed for male spectators by "20 naked young women", or erotic entertainment hosted by a rich host involving pole dancing
and competitive striptease by skimpy-costumed "women in nurses' outfits and police uniforms" — but topless women, the prize being prostitution
for the host.
An alternative explanation for its origins was proposed by actress Sabina Began
, who claimed that it was a nickname based on her surname and that she had organized the parties.
The lexicographer Jonathon Green
does not expect the term to make much headway, or to last, in English.
it means "a field of flowers".
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the international press as well, when it was used by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
to refer to his alleged sex parties
Silvio Berlusconi underage prostitution charges
Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister of Italy, is accused of paying Moroccan nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug – also known by the stage name Ruby Rubacuori – for sexual services between February and May 2010 when she was under the age of 18Although neither sex with persons between...
, which caused a major political scandal in Italy.
Early use
In an 1852 issue of Hogg's InstructorJames Hogg (publisher)
James Hogg was a Scottish publisher.Hogg, son of James Hogg, was born near Edinburgh on 26 March 1806, and educated under the Rev. Thomas Sheriff, who became minister of Fala, in the presbytery of Dalkeith, in 1828, and died in 1836. On 24 Aug. 1818 Hogg was bound apprentice to James Muirhead,...
, it is stated that "bunga bunga" is the name given by local natives to a location near Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
on the eastern coast of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1910 a group of English friends, including Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf
Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English author, essayist, publisher, and writer of short stories, regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century....
and her brother Adrian Stephen
Adrian Stephen
Adrian Stephen was a member of the Bloomsbury Group, an author and psychoanalyst, and the brother of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell...
, pretending to be the Prince of Abyssinia and his entourage obtained permission to visit HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (1906)
HMS Dreadnought was a battleship of the British Royal Navy that revolutionised naval power. Her entry into service in 1906 represented such a marked advance in naval technology that her name came to be associated with an entire generation of battleships, the "dreadnoughts", as well as the class of...
, then one of the world's most powerful warships, in Weymouth in what became known as the Dreadnought hoax
Dreadnought hoax
The Dreadnought Hoax was a practical joke pulled by Horace de Vere Cole in 1910. Cole tricked the Royal Navy into showing their flagship, the warship HMS Dreadnought to a supposed delegation of Abyssinian royals...
. Each time the Commander showed them a marvel of the ship, they murmured the phrase bunga, bunga! This became a popular catchphrase
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
for a time.
Bloomsbury hoaxers would have known the words bung, bunging, and bunged that refer to the pouring and draining of liquid through a hole in a cask. The hole, a bunghole, is plugged with a cork, peg or spigot.
Resurgence in Italy
A century later, the term bunga bunga became popular again as a joke on the internet. This joke was then narrated by Italian Prime Minister Silvio BerlusconiSilvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
at his dinner parties (in a version which featured, as prisoners, former ministers from the center-left opposition party led by Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
)
This expression was then frequently quoted by the Italian and international press during the 2011 investigation surrounding Silvio Berlusconi's underage prostitution charges
Silvio Berlusconi underage prostitution charges
Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister of Italy, is accused of paying Moroccan nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug – also known by the stage name Ruby Rubacuori – for sexual services between February and May 2010 when she was under the age of 18Although neither sex with persons between...
, acquiring a quite different meaning as "an orgy involving a powerful leader"; as such, it was allegedly taught to Silvio Berlusconi by Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
.
In Italy, the term bunga bunga "has become an instant, supposedly hilarious, household expression".
Descriptions of bunga bunga disagree on its meaning, or perhaps illustrate the range of its reference. It "is said to be a sort of underwater orgy where nude young women allegedly encircled the nude host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and/or his friends in his swimming pool", "an African-style ritual" performed for male spectators by "20 naked young women", or erotic entertainment hosted by a rich host involving pole dancing
Pole dance
Pole dance is a form of performing art, a combination of dance and gymnastics. It involves dancing and performing acrobatic tricks with a vertical pole and is an increasingly popular form of fitness and dance, practised by many enthusiasts in gyms or dedicated dance studios...
and competitive striptease by skimpy-costumed "women in nurses' outfits and police uniforms" — but topless women, the prize being prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
for the host.
An alternative explanation for its origins was proposed by actress Sabina Began
Sabina Began
Sabina Beganović is a German actress of Bosnian descent who resides in Italy.Began is a friend of the Italian prime-minister Silvio Berlusconi and, as revealed to Sky Italia, she claims that her nickname is the origin of the controversial term bunga bunga, linked to the sex scandal involving...
, who claimed that it was a nickname based on her surname and that she had organized the parties.
The lexicographer Jonathon Green
Jonathon Green
Jonathon Green is a British lexicographer of slang and writer on the history of alternative cultures...
does not expect the term to make much headway, or to last, in English.
In other languages
The phrase "bonggang-bongga" is Tagalog slang for something fashionable, and in Indonesian languageIndonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
it means "a field of flowers".