An analysis of terminology for "canoe" in Bantu languages first gives some background information on early wooden canoes in Subsaharan Africa, then examines the origins of nominal stems for "canoe" in those languages. It is noted that a nominal stem identified early in the history of Bantu comparative linguistics is found in about 160 of the approximately 200 Bantu languages, but that the problem of the initial consonant has remained unsolved. Phonological and morphological patterns are traced in a number of the languages. It is concluded that in general, Bantu language have conserved the proto-Bantu nominal stem for "canoe." Two main geographic centers of lexical innovation are identified. A map illustrating the distribution of specific stems is included. Contains 32 references. (MSE)