B D Finch Jul 6, 2018:

@Ben Gaia The problem with the term "witch doctor" is that it is a denigratory term that was used by British imperialists to refer to shamans, marabouts etc. If the writer used a "French" spelling for "shaman", I'd stick with that, but using the English spelling in the translation. https://www.quora.com/How-does-a-shaman-differ-from-a-witch-...

Ben Gaia Jul 5, 2018:

My suggestion is already up as an answer, but you could use the Evenki/Siberian term "Shaman" which is widely used nowadays instead of "witch doctor". I think your word is an attempt to render the American pronunciation "shay-man" into French. NB I note that Wikipedia suggests the term "witch doctor" to be offensive and that "Medicine Man" is used instead.

Elizabeth Niklewska (asker) Jul 5, 2018:

@ Ben G Could you post an answer - I like your suggestion. It's definitely more likely than drug dealer at a corporate event!

Ben Gaia Jul 5, 2018:

Paying the Piper If it is a performance for visitors, organisers will often add a fee for the professional services of a ritual specialist. A shaman's gotta eat.

Charles Davis Jul 5, 2018:

Well, it's an intriguing possibility. But it seems a bit strange to put it in the accounts.

By the way, they spent quite a lot on T-shirts, didn't they? Over 1500 euros.

philgoddard Jul 5, 2018:

Drug dealer, possibly.

Charles Davis Jul 5, 2018:

I found references to a song called Tcheman by the Ivorian singer Issa Sanogo. I spent a little while trying to find out what it was about, without success.

philgoddard Jul 5, 2018:

Interestingly It means "drug dealer" in the Nouchi language of Côte d'Ivoire, though it probably wasn't that kind of party :-)

philgoddard Jul 5, 2018:

For what it's worth An apatame is an open-sided hut:
http://www.google.com/search?q=apatame -aspartame&rlz=1C1SQJ...

Charles Davis Jul 5, 2018:

It can't be Morocco or North Africa; it must be Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the CFA (West/Central African franc) countries. Probably West Africa: apatam seems to be a word used there. Côte d'Ivoire, maybe, or somewhere like that.

10,000 CFA francs is not much. A CFA franc has the value of an old French franc and its euro value is fixed, so 100 CFA = 0.152449 EUR and 10,000 CFA = 15.24 EUR. That might be helpful in working out what "tcheman" refers to; it only costs a tenth as much as decorating the "apatame" (about 150 euros).

Elizabeth Niklewska (asker) Jul 5, 2018:

Yes Yes, I did. I was wondering if there was any other context, as I am not familiar with this cultural context.

Kevin Oheix Jul 5, 2018:

Canot ? This is the only reference to "tcheman" I found that could make sense but the term is used in Northern America apparently:

https://books.google.fr/books?id=gUlCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA311&lpg=P...

Marco Solinas Jul 5, 2018:

Last name I am sure you have found out that "Tcheman" is a proper noun (last name). There seems to be at least one singer whose last name is Tcheman. Could you source text be referring to a person who performed at the gathering?