So now you now the Swahili word for cool, which is a useful one in such a laid-back and relaxed place. With younger people, the question and answer Mambo? and Poa are more common. As in many African countries, that’s the standard answer – no-one will ever tell you that they’re anything other than fine! Ask them either Hujambo? or Habari? They’ll reply Sijambo or Nzuri, both of which mean fine. Let’s say you want to know how your new Zanzibari friend is doing. Let’s start with some of the more common phrases and see how you get on. These missing letters gave rise to the old jokes that on Zanzibar you never have to wait in line, and if you start a relationship with a Zanzibari, they’ll never leave you!īasic Swahili is relatively simple to learn, especially as every letter is pronounced. While Swahili was originally written in Arabic script (Swahili is an African language with many influences), a more familiar Latin alphabet is now used (with the exception of the letters ‘Q’ and ‘X’. It could even open doors – including perhaps the famous carved wooden ones in Stone Town. In the main tourist areas, you’ll find that many people speak at least some English, but trying to converse in Swahili will ensure that you receive an even warmer welcome. The literal meaning of the opening line of this song is “Hello mister” but once you’ve mastered that, you’ll find that the more Swahili words and phrases that you can learn, the better. We reckon it’s impossible to spend any time on Zanzibar without hearing this earworm! So, as visitor, it’s worth reflecting on what it means that the welcoming song is still addressing you, the guest, as “bwana.” What does that imply? What dynamic does that establish? Food for thought.Your first encounter with the Swahili language may come in the form of the impossibly catchy song beloved of tourists and barmen alike: “Jambo Bwana”. Next, like I mentioned above, we’ve got to mention the usage of the word “bwana.” Bwana is oftentimes translated as “sir,” but it’s steeped in history of colonialism, and can also be thought of as meaning “boss” or even “master.” The word comes with a deep history of colonialism and power dynamics from colonialism. As the song is often sung to British tourists, it can really feel like a “don’t worry about it” sort of anthem, ignoring the problems that have existed and still exist. The song welcomes everyone to Kenya, sweeping away the negative impacts that colonialism has had.
So, right off the bat, it’s interesting to acknowledge the dynamic. Reimagining as a Meme of Aspiration, Critical Studies in Media Communication, 31:4, 283-298, The charming tune masks the ongoing inequalities of neoliberalism, telling the innocent and the culpable alike, “no hard feelings.” Brian Ekdale & Melissa Tully (2014) Makmende Amerudi: Kenya’s Collective
” present Kenya as a inviting land for all, ignoring that many visitors come from former colonial and current neocolonial nations that cause endemic issues for contemporary Kenya. It is taught to Swahili learners and sung by Kenyans to welcome tourists. Not to be jaded, just to be thoughtful.Ī 1982 pop hit, “Jambo Bwana” is the most recognizable Kenyan song outside the country. But, before your rose-colored glasses get too rosy, I just want to throw out a few ideas. “Hakuna Matata” is a simplified/pidginized form of “no problems,” usually used with tourists.Ĭhorus of the song “Jambo Bwana” by Them Mushrooms, lyrics and translation Reflections for Foreigners Mwakaribishwa is a cool grammatical form (using both the passive and casuative affixes) of the verb root “karibu” (welcome). Wageni is the plural form of “mgeni,” meaning visitor/guest. Habari is a common Swahili greeting, literally meaning “news.” * Bwana has a more complicated meaning than just “sir” - we’ll talk about that in the next section. Let’s go through the lyrics to “Jambo Bwana,” with translations of what they mean, and some notes to help with your Swahili language-learning. Since that first album, Them Mushrooms has continued making and releasing music since then, with a grand total over 16+ albums (the most recent in 2015). The song “Jambo Bwana” was written by the Kenyan band “ Them Mushrooms,” and released in 1982. Jambo Bwana is such an ubiquitous song that some people think it’s just a “folk song,” traditional and attributable to nobody - but that would be incorrect. Who Wrote “Jambo Bwana?” (Them Mushrooms)
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