International collaborative effort to establish

new dictionaries and learning resources for

the Swahili language (Kiswahili).
kamusiproject.org/

Swahili or Kiswahili, is the official language

of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Swahili
speakers can also be found in surrounding
countries, such as Burundi, Rwanda,
Mozambique and the Democratic Republic
of Congo.While only 5-10 million people
speak Swahili as their first language, as a
second language, there are over 50 million speakers, making it the most widely
spoken African language in the world. As a part of the Bantu language family,
Swahili is related to a variety of languages from Southern Africa to West
Africa. While some Bantu languages, like Xhosa and Zulu are click languages,
Swahili does not use clicks, so pronunciation is generally not difficult for
English speakers.
Vowels

Swahili has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. If you are familiar with Spanish or Japanese,
the vowels are pronounced the same. If not, they are pronounced:
pronunciation:
the different sounds
letters are always pronounced the same and as you see them
it is important that you pronounce each vowel, even when one vowel follows
another.
There are no diphthongs in Swahili; however, foreign names and loan words may
contain them.
vowels:
/a/ a
/è/ e
/i/, i
/o/ o
/ou/ u
/oue/ w
/*/ no silent letters
consonants
/b/ b
/d/d
/f/ f
/g/gh
/k/ k
/p/ p
/h/ h
/dž/ j
/s/ s
/z/ z
/r-soft/ r
/š/ sh
/t/ t, th
/x/ (jota) gh
/ñ/ ny
/č/ ch
/v/ v
/y/y
/pause/ -
/th/dh
/m/m
/n/ n
/:/ no tonic accents nor special characters
people

watu:
padre, - priest
daktari - doctor
wakuu wa polisi, - chief of police
mfanyabiashara - salesman
mwanamichezo - athlete
wakili - attorney
mbunifu - architect
seremala - carpenter
dereva teksi - taxi-driver
duka msaidizi - shop-assistant
mhudumu - waiter
umeme - bricklayer
mwezekaji - electrician
mkulima - roofer
mtu makazi, - farmer
mwanamuziki, - musician
mfanyakazi wa chuma - metal-worker
maktaba msaidizi - librarian
kinyozi - barber
benki askari - bank-teller
daktari, - doctor
daktari wa meno, - nurse
mpiga picha - photographer ,
wavuvi, - fisherman
jeshi, - soldier
askari - clerk
mpima, - photographer
hakimu - judge
majaribio - pilot
timu - team
nyumba mfanyakazi - house-worker
fundi - technician
mteja, - customer

verbs: to work as (kufanya kazi kama (to work as) , kufanya ( to do, to make),
kutumia (to use)
The worker uses a machine. The woman works as a nurse.
The artist makes an picture. The pupil is doing homework.

mfanyakazi anatumia mashine.

Mwanamke ni kufanya kazi kama muuguzi
msanii ni kufanya picha
mwanafunzi ni kufanya somo

people: a traveller, a tourist, a commuter, a sailor, a ticket inspector, a railway

worker, a passenger, a tourist, a mechanic,
watu: msafiri,
a utalii,
ya abiria,
baharia,
mkaguzi wa tiketi,
mfanyakazi wa reli,
abiria,
ni utalii,
ni fundi,
part 2: Basis of syntax
Pronoun
a pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun. Some languages do not
write down personal pronouns (they are implied)
"Thing" and "person" and "location" are not exactly pronouns because they need
an article you can use them to replace a noun if you can't remember its name but
do not forget
personal pronouns
1. person singular, 2. person singular, 3. person singular
1. person plural, 2. person plural, 3. person plural
pronouns in the accusative
pronouns in the dative
pronouns in the genitive (possessive pronouns)

Pronoun
a pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun. Some languages do not
write down personal pronouns (they are implied)
"Thing" (kitu) and "person" (watu) and "location" are not exactly pronouns
because they need an article you can use them to replace a noun if you can't
remember its name but do not forget

Personal Pronouns

English Swahili

I Mimi
We Sisi
You (singular) Wewe
You (plural) nyinyi
He Yeye
She Yeye
They Wao
Class 1 Mtoto wangu wako wake wetu wenu wao

there are 18 classes of nouns, hence 18 classes of pronouns.

 Article
an article is a small word that tells you how many units of noun there are, and
what gender the noun is. Numbers and portions can be used as articles. Some
languages do not use articles with the noun (it is implied).
1 = number, 1. = ordinal number (an ordinal number indicates a position)
possessive article indicates ownership.
partitive article indicates:
• substance ("a wheel of cheese")
• elements ("a group of men")
• source ("a portion of the food")
• participation (the love of music)
• origin (men of Rome, origins of Mankind)
• reference (the capital of Switzerland is Berne)
• description (the first day of summer)
and portions

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
The possessive pronoun stems are:

-angu my, mine

-ako your, yours (singular)
her, hers, his its; also theirs (when the
-ake
owner is inanimate)
-etu our, ours
-enu you, yours (plural)
-ao their, theirs (living beings only as owners)

These stems, which designate the owners, must have a prefix, i.e.: the pronominal
prefix which agrees with the thing (or person) "owned": kitabu changu , my
book. Because the possessive stems begin with vowels, the sound changes
described in paragraph 12 will apply, as seen in the examples below.
mtoto wangu my child
Word Order: Note that the possessive pronoun always follows the noun "owned".
When more than one word modifies a noun and one of them is the possessive, the
possessive follows immediately after the noun:
Mkeka wangu mzuri My nice mat
Zawadi zake nyingi Her many gifts
Wazazi wangu wawili My two parents
Possessives with animate vs. inanimate "owner"; when the owner is a person, a
distinction is made between singular and plural owners:
Mtoto... miguu yake The child... her legs
Watoto... miguu yao The children... their legs
But when the owner is a thing, -ake is used for both singlular and plural owners:
Kiti... miguu yake The chair... its legs
Kiti... miguu yake The chairs... their legs
http://www.kamusiproject.org/grammar?q=pronouns
portions:

kikombe cha kahawa (kahawa = coffee)

uncountable nouns:
These nouns can't be combined with numbers.
ex: water, (most liquids, powder, gases and mash)
If you want to express a quantity, you have to use a special phrase e.g. a glass of
water.
1 l of .... 1 lita ya ....
1 kg of .... 1 kilo ya
1 cup of 1 kikombe cha
1 spoonful of 1 kijiko ya
1 tin of 1 ya bati ya
1 box of / 1 sanduku ya
1 saucepan of / 1 sufuria ya
1 plate of .... / 1 sahani ya
1 portion of / 1 sehemu ya
1 bottle of / 1 chupa ya
1 glass of / 1 glasi ya
1 unit of / 1 kitengo cha
1 bag / 1 mfuko wa

kilo moja ya viazi (moja = 1, viazi = potatoes)

portions:
NOTE:
solid prepared foods
there is a difference of meaning between "Yeye ni kula jibini wote" and "he is
eating cheese".
When we say, "Yeye ni kula jibini wote", we
mean that he is eating the whole (-> wote)
cheese.

that's because the cheese can be big or small.

When we say, 'Yeye ni kula jibini', we mean 'he is eating a portion of cheese'.
similar words to cheese are: bread, cake, chocolate,
they are all the result of a process where the producer determines the size of their
product.
 numbers:
1 - moja
2 - mbili
3 - tatu
4 - nne
5 - tano
6 - sita
7 - saba
8 - nane
9 - tisa
10 - kumi
11 - kumi na moja
12 - kumi
12 kumi na wawili.
13 kumi na tatu.
14 kumi na nne.
15 kumi na tano.
16 kumi na sita.
17 kumi na saba.
18 kumi na nane.
19 kumi na tisa.
20 ishirini.
21. ishirini na mmoja.
22. ishirini na wawili.
23. ishirini na watatu.
24 ishirini na nne.
25 ishirini na tano.
26. ishirini na sita
27 ishirini na saba
28 ishirini na nane
29 ishirini na tisa
30. thelathini.
31. thelathini na moja.

2010 - elfu mbili na kumi

Mimi kama - I like + N

Ningependa baadhi ya... - I'd like some + N
Kiasi gani kwamba gharama? - How much does it cost
Ni gharama 5000 shillingi. - It costs 5000 Tanzanian Shillings two euro and fifty
cents.
5000 TZS = 2.5 euros
Coins currently in circulation are the 50, 100 and 200 shilingi.

Obverse Reverse

500
mia tano

1000
elfu moja

2000
elfu mbili

5000
elfu tano
 10.000
elfu kumi
 A noun
A noun is a word to name a person, a place or thing.
If the spelling of a noun changes because of its position in the sentence, this is
called declension. Students also need to check the gender and the plural form of
their nouns.
Common nouns are the names for things we can see and touch. Abstract nouns
are the names for things we cannot see and touch.
Proper nouns are the special names, used for a person, a place or a thing. A
proper noun starts with a capital letter.
complex noun:

complex noun:

bakuli ya mpunga. rice: mchele.

toys - mchezo
shop - duka
toy-shop: duka ya mchezo

There are 18 noun classes in Swahili. Swahili nouns change orthography in

genitive form.
 Adjectives
an adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. It can also describe
who the noun or the pronoun belongs to or how many there are. Students need to
check the position of the adjective, whether there is a declension or adjustment to
gender or plural.

maumbo - shapes

circle, cylinder, cube, square, triangle,

cone, polygon, cross, line, crescent,
rectangle, half-circle, star
(nouns). mduara. silinda. cube. mraba.
pembetatu. koni. Pembenyingi. msalaba.
line. mpevu. Mstatili. nusu ya mduara.
nyota.

rangi (sifa) - colours (adjectives)

orange, yellow, blue, red, green, dark-
blue, purple, pink, grey, brown, black,
white, - dark
machungwa, njano, bluu, nyekundu,
kijani, giza-bluu, zambarau, nyekundu,
rangi ya kijivu, kahawia, nyeusi, nyeupe,
- giza

hii ni duara nyekundu. - this is a red

circle.
mduara ni nyekundu. - the circle is red

East. West. North. South. - Mashariki. Magharibi. Kaskazini. Kusini.

emotions - adjectives: happy, sad, injured, ill, disabled, angry, tired, OK - furaha,
huzuni, kujeruhiwa, wagonjwa, walemavu, hasira, nimechoka, faini
 Verb
A verb is a word that is used to tell what a person or thing does. Verbs change
according to who is involved. Verbs change according to when they take place.
Action verbs involve movement - inanimate objects do not require an action verb.
TO BE on its own provides no action to a sentence: the subject complement re-identifies
the subject; the adjective complement modifies it.

Verb
by hassan@magma.ca : Swahili verbs always carry with them the subject (and
sometimes the object) and the tense. For example, Ninakula, is a complete sentence
which means "I am eating". Ni- prefix stands for the subject "I", the -na- affix
stands for "am" showing the tense i.e. the "present continuous" tense, and -kula is
the root of the verb "eat".
Another example, Alitupa zawadi which means "He/She gave us gifts". First of all
note that in the Swahili language, the pronouns are the same for all the genders -
he, him, she, and her are not distinguishable in Swahili - same words, prefixes,
affixes and suffixes are used. The well sought after "gender equality" is in-built in
the Swahili language!! Now back to the sentence. The prefix A- stands for the
subject "He" or "She", the -li- affix indicates the past tense, the -tu- affix stands for
the object "us", and -pa is the root of the verb "give".
More examples:

Nilikula - I ate
Nimekula - I have eaten
Ninakula - I am eating
Nitakula - I will eat

If you have any comments or questions, I'd be pleased to receive them at:
hassan@magma.ca

Present Tense kuwa (to be)

mimi ni sisi ni

weve ni weve ni

yehe/yake/yetu ni wao/yao (F) are

 Present Tense to go

mimi naenda Sisi ni kwenda

Wewe ni kwenda Wewe ni kwenda

Yeye / Ni ni kwenda Wanakwenda

A verb is a word that is used to tell what a person or thing does. Verbs change
according to who is involved. Verbs change according to when they take place.
Action verbs involve movement - inanimate objects do not require an action verb.
TO BE on its own provides no action to a sentence: the subject complement re-identifies
the subject; the adjective complement modifies it.

mduara ni nyekundu. - the circle is red

verbs:
existence
to be
possession
to have
movement
to go
to go in
to go out
the five senses
to see,
to say,
to hear,
to feel,
to smell.
emotions, symptoms
to feel.
clothing:
to wear,
to put on,
to take off
transport
to carry,
o work - a worker, kwa kazi - mfanyakazi
to teach - a teacher, kufundisha - mwalimu
to study -> a student. --> ni mwanafunzi
to think --> a thinker. kufikiri -->
to play --> a player, kucheza -> mchezaji
to hunt --> a hunter. kuwinda -> mwindaji
to dance --> a dancer, kwa ngoma
to drive --> a driver. --> dereva
to read --> a reader. kusoma -> msomaji
to research --> a researcher utafiti -> mtafiti.
to explore --> an explorer
to translate --> a translator. kutafsiri
To clean --> a cleaner. Safi
to lecture --> a lecturer. kwa hotuba -> mhadhiri.
to manage --> a manager. kusimamia -> meneja
to employ --> an employer. kuajiri -> na mwajiri
to be employed --> an employee. kuwa ajira -> ni mfanyakazi
To work in an office --> an office worker.
Kufanya kazi katika ofisi ya -> mfanyakazi wa ofisi.
to be unemployed --> an unemployed person,
to work freelance --> a freelancer .
to sing -> a singer, kuimba -> mwimbaji
to buy --> a buyer. kununua -> mnunuzi
to sell --> a seller kuuza -> muuzaji

transport
verbs: to travel (on foot, by train, by car, by boat, by plane), to depart, to arrive,
to wait, to commute
verbs: kusafiri (kwa miguu, kwa treni, kwa gari, kwa mashua, na ndege),
kuondoka, kuwasili, kusubiri, omvandla

Present continuous of TO eat

Mimi kula sisi knuywa
wewe kula wewe kunywa
yeke, yake, yetu wao/yao
kunywa kunywa

Present continuous of TO drink / kuniwa

Mimi kunywa sisi kunywa
wewe kunywa wewe kunywa
yeye, yake, yetu kunywa wao/yao kunywa
TO feed
Present continuous of To give (food)
anatoa (chakula)
mimi anatoa sisi anatoa
wewe anatoa wewe anatoa
yeye, yake, yetu anatoa wao, yao anatoa

the man is feeding hay to the sheep

mtu anatoa nyasi kwa ajili ya kondoo

TO cook (present continuous)

Present continuous of TO cook
Mimi kupika sisi kupika
wewe kupika wewe kupika
yeye yake, yetu kupika wao/yaho are cooking

to sleep - kulala
to play - kucheza
 Adverb
An adverb is a word that describes a verb. Usually it describes how, where, when
or how often it happens. The spelling of an adverb never changes.
ADVERBS/ Vielezi
common adverbs:
very - sana
so - hivyo
almost - karibu
throughout - hela
approximately - wastani
unfortunately - bahati mbaya
often - mara
together - nyingi
for nothing - kwa pamoja
today -leo
tomorrow - leo
yesterday - kesho
at once - jana

of course - bila shaka

really - kweli
apparently - inaonekana
surely - hakika
eventually - hatimaye
probably, maybe - pengine, labda

vielezi jirografia (location adverbs)

ndani, nje (inside, outside)
Preposition
A preposition is a word that links one noun or a pronoun to another one.
Prepositions often describe where someone or something is, or where it is moving
towards, or where it is moving towards.
Nomino Jiografia (location preposition)
katika, ndani, nje, nje ya eneo (in, into, out, out of)

Nomino Jiografia (location preposition)

katika, ndani, nje, nje ya eneo (in, into, out, out of)
vielezi jirografia (location adverbs)
ndani, nje (inside, outside)

hatua, harakati - action and movement

I am in the house. (no action, no movement)
I am going into the house (an action, a movement)
I am inside (inside replaces "in the house" no action and no movement)
I am going inside (inside replaces "into the house" action and movement)

Mimi niko ndani ya nyumba. (Hakuna hatua, hakuna harakati)

Mimi kwenda ndani ya nyumba (hatua, harakati)
mimi ni ndani (ndani ya nafasi ya "nyumbani" hakuna hatua na hakuna harakati)
Mimi kwenda ndani (ndani ya nafasi "ndani ya nyumba" hatua na harakati)

The garden is outside the house. (no action, no movement)

I am going out of the house (an action, a movement)
The garden is outside (outside replaces "outside the house" no action, no
movement)
I am going outside (outside replaces "out of the house - action, movement)
bustani ni nje ya nyumba. (Hakuna hatua, hakuna harakati) Mimi kwenda nje ya
nyumba (hatua, harakati)
bustani ni nje (nje ya nafasi "nje ya nyumba" hakuna hatua, hakuna harakati)
Mimi kwenda nje (nje ya nafasi "nje ya nyumba - hatua, harakati)

describing a landscape:
kuna - there is, there are
There is a tree by the lake.
There are three animals in the field.
the sun is above the field.
The fish is swimming in the river.
The rope is hanging from the tree.
The village is on the hill.
The school is at the end of the pathway.
In a rural landscape, there are villages, fields, hills etc.

Kuna mti karibu na ziwa.

Kuna wanyama tatu katika shamba.
jua ni juu ya mashamba.
Samaki anaogelea katika mto huo.
kamba ni kunyongwa kutoka kwa mti.
kijiji ni juu ya kilima.
Shule ni mwisho wa njia ya.
Katika mazingira ya vijijini, kuna vijiji, mashamba, milima nk
Or
a particle that you can find after a verb that changes its meaning.

3. When designation of a person follows kwa, the appropriate possessive stem is

used:
kwangu for (or to) me
kwako for (or to) you (singular)
kwao for (or to) them

describing an object:
made of - describes the materials used to make the object
ni wa maandishi ya
A table made of wood. = a wooden table. --> meza za mbao.

A box made of cardboard = a cardboard box

--> sanduku ya maandishi kadi - sanduku za kadi
made by / yaliyotolewa na- describes the person who made the object.
This painting was made by George Lilanga
George Lilanga alifanya hii uchoraji. (George Lilanga made this painting)
Uchoraji yaliyotolewa na George Lilanga.
<--- this is a painting of George Lilanga. (an
image representing George Lilanga
sananu anayewakilisha George Lilanga

made in / kufanywa katika- describes the

place where the object was made. :
"HUSBANDRY /BABA NA MAMA NAKAKA NI..." (1992)" by George Lilanga was
made in 1992.
"Baba Na Mama Naka Ni..." na George Lilanga akawa kufanywa katika 1992.
 Conjunction
A conjunction is a word to join two parts of sentences or two words together.
Conjunctions are used when you want to make lists, or comparisons, or explain
things with two sentences.
 Expressions and proverbs
An expression is a group of words that never changes. A proverb is a sentence
that never changes. A quote is a group of words that someone has used before
and you need put them into "...." . An interjection is a single word expression and
it doesn't need a full sentence.

My name is DKav. jina langu ni DKav.

I live in Belfast - Mimi kuishi katika Belfast.
What time is it? Saa ngapi?
What is happening? nini kinachotokea?
goodbye - Kwaheri!
see you soon - Tutuonana baadaye.
thank you (you're welcome) Asante (Karibu)
peke y- alone:
Nilikwenda peke yangu I went alone
Anakaa peke yake She lives alone

expression: attention, have a safe journey! send me an email, freedom to travel

danger
kujieleza: tahadhari, kuwa ni safari salama! kutuma barua pepe yangu, uhuru wa
kusafiri hatari

Heri ya mwaka mpya. - Happy New Year

maneno / expressions
yes/ no
Hello (to one person) Hello (to a group), Hello (formal)
Hello (response from one person), Hello (response from a group) , formal
How are you? (fine, thank you)
Excuse me
can I have (something) please?
Thank you (answer: you're welcome)
I don't understand
my Swahili is terrible
no thanks. (polite)
Please help
my name is (name)
what is your name?
Where are you from?
I live in (location)
How old are you?
I am (number) years-old.
Goodbye!
See you soon!

ndiyo. hakuna.
Hujambo, Hamjambo, Shikamoo
Sijambo, Hatujambo, Marahaba
Habari yako? Niko salama
Samahani.
ninaweza kuwa (kitu) tafadhali?
Asante (Karibu)
Sielewi.
Sihitaji.
Kiswahili changu ni kibaya sana.
Msaada.
jina langu ni (jina).
Jina lako ni nani?
Unatoka wapi?
Mimi kuishi katika (eneo).
Una umri gani?
Mimi ni miaka (idadi)-zamani.
Kwaheri!
Tutuonana baadaye.

What? (ask about an object)ut the time)

It is (number) O'clock

Nini? (Kuuliza kuhusu kifaa)

nini kinachotokea? (Kuuliza juu ya hatua ya)
nani? (Kuuliza juu ya mtu)
Wakati? (Kuuliza kuhusu wakati au tarehe)
wapi? (Kuuliza kuhusu eneo a)
Je, gharama kiasi gani?
Saa ngapi? (Kuuliza juu ya wingi wa)
Ni saa? (Kuuliza kuhusu wakati huo) ni saa (idadi) asubuhi
to work as + profession

months of the year

Mwezi . Mwezi wa kwanza (Januari). Mwezi wa pili (Februari). Mwezi wa tatu
(Machi) . Mwezi wa nne (Aprili). Mwezi wa tano (Mei). Mwezi wa sita (Juni) .
Mwezi wa saba (Julai) . Mwezi wa nane (Agosti). Mwezi wa tisa (Septemba).
Mwezi wa kumi (Oktoba) . Mwezi wa kumi na moja (Novemba) Mwezi wa kumi
na mbili (Desemba).
days of the week
wiki - Jumatatu. Jumanne. Jumatano. Alhamisi. Ijumaa. Jumamosi. Jumapili.

Seasons

Swahili speaking countries generally experience 2 seasons: rainy/hot and

cold/dry. Swahili does not have words for "autumn" or "spring", etc.
Equivalent expressions are: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter:
majira ya machipuko, kiangazi, majira ya majani kupukukika, majira ya baridi
clock

Ni saa? (Kuuliza kuhusu wakati huo) ni saa (idadi) asubuhi

In Swahili, the morning does not begin at midnight (12 AM); instead, it begins at
7:00 AM. Daytime revolves around the rising and setting of the sun, which
typically begins to rise around 7 AM and set at 7 PM in the areas where Swahili is
spoken. For English speakers, this can be confusing; however, those who learn
how to tell time in Swahili will admit that it is more logical than the English
system, in which midnight is considered "morning", even though no one begins
their day at midnight.
So, to say the time in Swahili, you need to add (or subtract) 6 from the English
time. 7:00 in America will be expressed as the first hour (1:00) in Swahili. AM is
expressed with asubuhi (morning) and PM is typically marked with usiku (night).
Because the daytime begins at 7 AM, hours from midnight to 6 AM will be
expressed with usiku, as these are nighttime hours in Swahili. Jioni (evening) can
be used in place of usiku for hours that are not so late, such as 7 PM.

During the day:

Between midnight and sunrise - the night
Kati ya usiku wa manane na mashariki - usiku.
Between sunrise and noon - the morning
Kati ya jua na mchana - asubuhi
between noon and sunset - the afternoon
kati ya saa sita mchana na machweo - mchana
between sunset and midnight - the evening
kati ya machweo na usiku wa manane - ya jioni.

AM - asubuhi
PM - jioni.

00,00 - usiku wa manane.

09.00 - saa tatu asubuhi
09.05 - saa tatu asubuhi na dakika tano
09.15 - saa tatu asubuhi na kumi na tano dakika
09.25 - saa tatu asubuhi na ishirini na tano dakika
09.30 - nusu ya tisa iliyopita asubuhi
09.40 - saa tatu asubuhi na dakika arobaini
09.45 - saa tatu asubuhi na dakika na tano arobaini
10.00 - saa kumi asubuhi.
12.00 - mchana
21.00 - saa tatu jioni.
address - anwani
English is used as an administrative language, so the street maps are in English. If
the address is given to you in Swahili language, then it is good manners to write
back in the language

"wisdom is freedom" Hekima ni Uhuru

Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam
Geography
Jiografia - geography
North America South America The Pacific Ocean The Atlantic Ocean Europe
Africa Asia The Indian Ocean Australia the South Pole, the world.
Amerika ya Kaskazini. Amerika ya Kusini. Bahari Pasifiki. Bahari ya Atlantiki.
Ulaya. Afrika. Asia. Bahari ya Hindi. Australia. Ncha ya Kusini. la dunia.

United Kingdom
Uingereza
Ireland
Eire, Ayalandi
France
Ufaransa
Germany
Udachi, Ujerumani
United States
Marekani
Kenya
Kenya
Tanzania
Tanzania
Zanzibar (Tanzanian Island)
Unguja
Uganda
Uganda
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya
Kongo

East. West. North. South. - Mashariki. Magharibi. Kaskazini. Kusini.

hali ya hewa. - the weather.

storm. rain. sun and clouds. sun. fog. snow. dhoruba. mvua. jua na mawingu. jua.
ukungu. theluji.
for chapter 12 and after:
Sentence structures:
Direct and Indirect Objects
by http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/
A direct object is the receiver of action within a sentence, as in "He hit the ball."
Be careful to distinguish between a direct object and an object
complement/aposition:
• They named their daughter Natasha.
• Wao aitwaye binti yao Natasha.
In that sentence, "daughter" is the direct object and "Natasha" is the object
complement, which renames or describes the direct object.
The indirect object identifies to or for whom or what the action of the verb is
performed. The direct object and indirect object are different people or places or
things. The direct objects in the sentences below are in green; the indirect objects
are in yellow.
• The teacher gave good grades. to his students
• Mwalimu alitoa darasa nzuri kwa wanafunzi wake
• Grandfather left all his money to Stephen and Laura
• Babu kushoto fedha yake yote ya Stephen na Laura
• Melissa sold her boat to me
• Melissa kuuzwa mashua yake kwangu

complement of time/muda - "when?/ Wakati?"

complement of place/mahali - "where? Wapi?"
complement of manner /namna- "why? Kwa nini?"
genitive - "whose?" Ambaye? or "of what?"ya nini?
direct and indirect object complement - what? nini?,, to what/for what?kwa
nini

In the intermediate course we shall learn to give information, and therefore it is

important to know the basics of sentence structures.
Dar es Salaam is a hustling, bustling seaport on the coast of Tanzania accessing
one of the most important sea routes on earth. To most travelers though, the city
is just a convenient port of call on the way to the more exotic parks, or as a
business destination.
This is a great pity, because "Dar", as it is lovingly called by aficionados of the
city, is a fascinating rabbit warren of a tropical port, often surprising the
wanderer with scenes of breathtaking beauty - and there is something irresistible
about whiling away a few hours sitting at the water's edge, watching dhows
slipping skilfully under the bows of huge cruise liners and cargo ships.
http://www.go2africa.com/tanzania/dar-es-salaam
The Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (KNCU) is a cooperative federation
in Tanzania. KNCU is one of the oldest coffee cooperatives recorded in existence
for the coffee trade. KNCU was founded in 1930 by Sir Charles Cecil Farquharson
Dundas who was a district commissioner of the Moshi in Tanzania during the
1920's. The first coop members were the indigenous farmers of the Chagga tribe
living on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. Sir Charles
popularized the coffee production and successfully established the cooperative
concept as a means of mutual cooperation and growth.
KNCU is owned by more than 60,000 farmers from an estimated 90 primary
cooperatives growing coffee in the Kilimanjaro region.
• KNCU has gone through many changes over the years, particularly
during governmental intervention when the organization would lose its
independent status.
• Eventually, KNCU regained its independence from the government and
established itself as an independent, self-governing body again.
• KNCU is subject to government controls but it operates as an
independent coop buying and selling coffee on behalf of the small scale
farmers. The coffee production is sold primarily to the Fair Trade
movements which means KNCU coop members receive a higher price
than selling through other channels.
• KNCU's smooth, mild beans are considered to be among the finest in
Africa. Kilimanjaro coffee has unique hints of blackcurrant and citrus.
• Coffee growers plant coffee bushes near banana trees because the beans
mature more slowly under the shade of the banana trees. Natural sugars
also increase in the coffee and they help enhance the natural flavor.
KNCU farmers care very much for their coffee: it is their livelihood and it
helps them preserve their traditions through the economic benefits they
derive from the beans.
• With the occurrence of weather changes, decrease in the water
availability for irrigation and some unpredictable rainfalls, KNCU
farmers are concerned about planning for the future and adjusting to
changes they may need to make in their planting and harvesting
processes.
KNCU runs a community based tourism project to bring in extra income to the
small scale coffee farmers in the area.
• The project is called Kahawa Shamba.
• It features a few dwellings built in the Chagga tribe style in the beautiful
Kilimanjaro region.
• Nothing really compares to watching Mount Kilimanjaro in the starlight
and in the rising sun light, seated on the ground outside a tribal hut.
• Near the visitor huts there are gardens where women of the project grow
 fruits and vegetables.
• As part of the KNCU effort to make Kahawa Shamba a great public
relations attraction for the tribe and the KNCU coop, the women who
look after the tourists have been trained in proper food preparation and
sanitation at a local technical college.
• The experience includes trips to nearby attractions such as waterfalls,
local towns and natural spots.
• A big highlight of the excursions is a visit to a local coffee farm where
visitors learn how coffee is grown and produced.
KNCU is a very successful coop that balances the commercial aspects of the coffee
trade and the interest in tourism very well to its members' advantage. Kahawa
Shamba also helps reinforce to the local community members the value of their
traditions and culture. The evidence is the great interest in them that tourists from
all over the world demonstrate regularly.
So, ready for a cup of delicious Tanzania Peaberry North Highlands?
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The
Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive
research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in
other areas of personal and professional interest. Come visit the author's website:
http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com. Also visit:
http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-lensography-TheGourmetCoffeeGuy.
© Copyright - Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
recipe - mapishi
http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/
"Drink to Your Health" says, "Many recipes in Tanzania, including soups, stews, and
desserts, are based on bananas and plantain and often combined with coconut. The
mixture of the two sweet tastes in this recipe is wonderful. Both bananas and coconut are
highly nutritious, rich in B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. They are
strengthening, even rejuvenating and with the grounding and calming effect are ideal
foods for relieving stress."

Tanzanian Banana and Coconut Milk

"Drink to Your Health", Anne McIntyre
(Makes 1-2 Servings)

3 ripe bananas
1 cup coconut milk
a little ground cinnamon

Place the bananas and coconut milk in a blender and blend until smooth. Sprinkle
cinnamon on the top when serving. (I mixed mine in)

Many traditional types of bread and simple or fresh aliments are consumed in
Tanzania as snacks. Ugali is a traditional, yet very simple dish which is served
with most of the meat dishes all around Tanzania, but not only.

Ugali is basically a cornmeal mush, which is made by pounding fresh corn and
squeezing out the cornstarch.
Ugali also has a breakfast version (used a cereal), called uji or ogi in Western
Africa. The chapatti is a type of bread, prepared in West Africa, India, but also in
the Swahili speaking countries.
The chapatti is served with African curries, butter, any kind of soup or stew, so it
makes a great snack. The recipe includes all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour,
warm water, salt and cooking oil.
The result is orange-sized bread which can be combined with anything. Other
breads, served as snacks are the ones called maandazi (sweet fried bread), which
are combined with honey, butter or fruits.

Other common snacks are fruits, peanuts, sugar cane and the traditional
samosas.
Swahili Names. We found some ethymological equivalents with international
names and indicated that. Most Swahili names derive from everyday vocabulary
such as Truth, Good, Gift, Wisdom etc. First names give us a hint about the
people who were born into this language. I recognise some names from the
Arabic and from people I have met in Europe.
source : http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/swahili-names

Aliyaah - Aailyah
Abasi
Abdullah - Abdullahi
Abiria
Abla
Adila
Adimu
Afaafa
Afla
Afrika
Afua
Afya
Ahadi
Aida
Ajabu
Anjali - Ajali
Akeela
Akida
Alama
Alamisi
Aliya
Almasi
Amani
Amina
Angavu
Anza
Anisun
Asali
Asilia
Hope = Asha, Muna, Nadia, Tumaini
Ashura
Asiya
Awena
Azima
Aziza - Aziza
Babu
Bahati
Baraka
Basha
Bashira
Blanche - Bia
Bibi
Bimkubwa
Bin
Binti
Bishara
Bora
Buqisi
Busu
Delilah - Dalila
Damisi
Darweshi
Dhakiya
Ducha
Pearl - Durra
Eidi
Elimu
Erevu
Eshe
Etana
Fadhila
Fahari
Faiza
Fanaka
Faraji
Farashuu
Farasi
Fasaha
Victoria / Victor - Fathiya, Fauziya, Intisar, Siri
Fatima
Feresi
Fikiya
Fumo
Joy - Furaha, Mhina
George - George
Ghufira
Aimee - Habiba
Honor - Hadhi, Karama
Hafsa
Haiba
Haifa
Haji
Haki
Hakika
Hakima
Halima
Hanaa
Hanuni
Hasanati
Belle - Hasna, Jamelia, Jamila, Sabiha
Eve - Hawa
Grace - Hawla, Nana, Shawana
Haya
Hazina
Hediye
Emmanuel - Himidi
Hizani
Huru
Nabila - Nabila
Idii
Faith - Imane, Imani
Imara
Inaya
Ishara
Petra - Ishi
Issa
Joel - Jaha, Jaheel, Jalali
Joan - Janna, Jana
Jewel - Jauhar
Gemma - Johari, Kito
Rose - Juwayria
Kabisa
Kafil
Kamal - Kamili
Khari
Kisima
Primo - Kwanza, Mosi
Latifah
Leila - Layla, Lela, Lila
Maisha
Queenie - Malika
Coral - Marjani
Florence - Maua
Nabila - Nabila
Naima
Stella - Najma
Madeleine - Nena, Nina
Ndege
Neema
Nura
Obama
Paka, Sanura
Paul - Paulo
Peter - Petro
Rabia
Rahma
Rachida - Rashida
Reem
Rehema
Patience - Sabra, Subira
Sadiki
Safi
Cara - Safiya
Salomon - Sala Salama,Sakina
Samira
Sauda
Scarlet - Shani
Sharifa
Leon - Simba
Siti
Soraya - Surayya
Tatu
Noelle - Tosha
Benita - Yumna
Saffron - Zaafarani
Zawadi
Zuweena
First Swahili Poem

Hamziyya Manuscript in Translation

"HUSBANDRY /BABA NA MAMA NAKAKA NI..." (1992)" by George Lilanga was
made in 1992.
"Baba Na Mama Naka Ni..." na George Lilanga akawa kufanywa katika 1992.

http://georgelilanga.com/bio.html
George Lilanga was born in 1934 in Kikwetu village southern Tanzania and
passed away in June 2005. Like most Makonde youngsters, he learned to carve on
soft cassava root; later he graduated to carving the hard black wood made famous
by Makonde artists. He later came to Dar es Salaam where he joined a group of
carvers. But his big break came when he was hired as a watchman at Nyumba ya
Sanaa now called Nyerere Cultural Centre. Cleverly, he took the opportunity to
show his carvings to Sister Jean, one of the management staff, who recognized his
talent and immediately changed his duties. He added drawing to his repertoire,
producing work used on batiks, on murals on canvas and as paintings on
goatskin. Today Lilanga's creations can still be seen at Nyumba ya Saana on the
painted metal entrance gate and on the cement-cast decorations around the patio.

A major step in George Lilanga's career occurred in 1978. A group exhibition

organized in Washington D.C. featured 280 pieces of art 100 of which were
Lilanga's. From then on George Lilanga enjoyed international renown and a
continuous and impressive number of exhibitions in Europe, Japan and the
United States. After having won praise from western audiences, the Tanzanian
artist has become a representative of the vividness of Swahili paintings.
This exibition had a big influence on the work of the new pop generation,
specialy Keith Haring. (from the book, tribute to George Lilanga). All of this has
never taken him from his country but has allowed him to contribute to the
maintaining of his tribe and at the same time bring outside attention to his culture
and country. Lilanga presents the culture and mythology of his people through
canvases swarming with figures, vibrant colours and a rhythmic movement
representing Mapico dance, typical of his people.

The imaginary world of Lilanga is inhabited by cartoon-like personages, not very

different from people. They may only have two fingers on their hands, three toes
on their feet, extended lips reminiscent of the traditional Nona Makonde women
and elongated ears, but otherwise the rest of the body is human-like. A common
name used for Lilanga's works has been the equivalent of devil Mashetani but the
negative connotation of this term is misleading. Lilanga's art is rather the world of
spirits. ''Mizimu'' meaning all the presences filling one's mind, deceased or living.
The artist tells all of us in an immediately understandable graphic form that life is
enjoyable if we look lightly at the demons that inhabit our mental and spiritual
worlds. Lilanga has travelled internationally to many destinations to attend his
own exhibitions.

Lilanga is considered by many Contemporary African Art specialists as one of the

major representatives in the field, to the point where his paintings and sculptures
are often featured on the cover of many reference books dealing with the subject.
Looking at the art you get the feeling of entering a magic and fun world; history
and everyday life are told with strong irony, verified also by the titles of his
works: 'the discussion' 'There's a world but I've forgotten it', 'Wait a minute, my neck is
itchy', 'When children play they jump here and there'. Another aspect which strikes the
observer is the artist's joy of living: he says "I paint when I'm happy and I tell the
daily life of my people."

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SWAHILI LANGUAGE The Swahili language, is

basically of Bantu (African) origin but with strong Arab and Persian influence.
Many centuries ago Persians used to sail to the East African coast for trade -
most likely bringing salt, beads and garments which were bartered with ivory and
probably slaves.
Some eminent writers of Tanzanian literature are Shafi Adam Shafi, Chachage
Seithy Chachage, Amandina Lihamba, Edwin Semzaba,Penina Muhando Mlama
and Euphrase Kezilahabi.

Shafi Adam Shafi - Haini

Chachage Seithy Chachage - Academic Freedom and the Social Responsibilities of
Academics
Amandina Lihamba - Women Writing Africa - The Eastern Region
"The Eastern Region" contains over 130 texts from 29 languages in five countries--
Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia--from the mid-1800s to the
present.
Penina Muhando Mlama - Culture and Development
Euphrase Kezilahabi - Karibu Ndani
Ernest Hemingway - The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Theatre:
Ngoswe - Edwin Semzaba
Yesterday, I watched Great Kingdoms of Africa presented by Dr Gus Casely-
Hayford, a British art historian born in West Africa. British film crews have not
been allowed to film in Zimbabwe for a few years because of Robert Mugabe, but
this time, Dr Gus and his teams were allowed. When the monuments of the Great
Zimbabwe were discovered in the 19th century, the archaelogist said that this was
too good to have been made by Africans - thankfully such attitudes don't exist
anymore and this fascinating programme shows us viewers a continent we know
little about, and for a change talks about the people rather than the animals.

here is more info about the old kingdoms of Africa.

--> [www.africankingdoms.com]

Jonathan Dimbleby programme on Africa was fantastic too. He travelled around

Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Not the touristy stuff but the way they conduct
business, their media and how they make do and mend, use technology to
compensate with lack of facilities, and Dimbleby also highlighted that China is
one of the biggest investors in Africa. Fascinating also was the biography of
Tanzania's first prime minister Julius Kambarage Nyerere (-->
[africanhistory.about.com]).

The Forgotten Children of Zimbabwe

BBC2

[news.bbc.co.uk]

" By Xoliswa Sithole

Producer, Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children
Xoliswa Sithole is a South African film-maker based in Johannesburg. She was awarded a
BAFTA, for her role in producing the BBC/True Vision documentary Orphans of
Nkandla, chronicling the effects of Aids in Africa.
Zimbabwe, when I was growing up there, was the breadbasket of Africa and had
one of the best education systems in Africa if not the world.

The healthcare system was great, too.

For a child born in apartheid-era South Africa, as I was, it was a land of

opportunity. After my mother moved to Rhodesia, I received a first-class
education, and graduated from university in post-independence Zimbabwe.

It is startling how quickly a society can fall apart.

My film, Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children, follows the stories of a number of
children struggling to survive in the country today.

Zimbabwe has become a very hard place to be poor, and poverty is ugly.
Conspicuous consumerism is very evident, and greed is also very visible.

I shot the film undercover, after getting a permit to make another film, about my
childhood and how it has shaped me.

I was raised as a child of the Zanu party. My stepfather's cousin Ndabaningi

Sithole, founder of Zanu, was a prominent politician. ... But while I was making
this film the Zimbabwean government launched Operation Murambatsvina
(Remove the filth) - a slum clearance programme that left thousands of people on
the streets.

This made me resolute to make another film, about Zimbabwe's children. When I
lived in Zimbabwe in my twenties, there were hardly any street children in
Harare.

Children are now not only living on the streets, they are giving birth on the
streets. A second generation of street children is growing up.
The system was supposed to take care of its people, but it has failed.
In less than a generation, the country has changed beyond all recognition."

This documentary was very difficult to watch. It showed the life of three families,
Esther's, Ogbert's and Grace's. They are three children under ten whose families
have been made homeless after Operation Murambatsvina in 2005, and unlike the
film-maker haven't known the Zimbabwean school system in more prosperous
days. They are left scavenging in rubbish dumps to recycle bottles so that they
can pay their school fees. The schools haven't got any resources to buy teaching
material and if a child cannot provide the - for us - modest fee, they are sent back
home. The ratio is that about 90% of children cannot go to school because the
parents can't pay the fees. Unemployment in some areas is 95%. The film
mentions that Robert Mugabe's regime is a police state and that they would rather
not have such documentaries being made. Fact is that poorer families even have
to rely on international food aid to survive. The film-maker is shocked how
rapidly Zimbabwe has declined in the past ten years because ten years ago it was
self-sufficient and the infrastructures were working. Looking at this
documentary, unless the Zimbabwean government addresses the issue of
homelessness, infrastructure and education - the future of his younger citizens
looks bleak.

Originally, this documentary was broadcast late on BBC4, I'm glad it's been
repeated on BBC2 at a more sociable time. In fact, school children should watch it.
The Heart of a Monkey

Africa, Swahili
A long time ago a little town made up of a collection of low huts stood in a tiny
green valley at the foot of a cliff. Of course the people had taken great care to
build their houses out of reach of the highest tide which might be driven on shore
by a west wind, but on the very edge of the town there had sprung up a tree so
large that half its boughs hung over the huts and the other half over the deep sea
right under the cliff, where sharks loved to come and splash in the clear water.
The branches of the tree itself were laden with fruit, and every day at sunrise a
big gray monkey might have been seen sitting in the topmost branches having his
breakfast, and chattering to himself with delight.
After he had eaten all the fruit on the town side of the tree the monkey swung
himself along the branches to the part which hung over the water. While he was
looking out for a nice shady place where he might perch comfortably, he noticed
a shark watching him from below with greedy eyes.
"Can I do anything for you, my friend?" asked the monkey politely.
"Oh! if you only would throw me down some of those delicious things, I should
be so grateful," answered the shark. "After you have lived on fish for fifty years
you begin to feel you would like a change. And I am so very, very tired of the
taste of salt."
"Well, I don't like salt myself," said the monkey, "so if you will open your mouth I
will throw this beautiful juicy kuyu into it," and, as he spoke, he pulled one off
the branch just over his head. But it was not so easy to hit the shark's mouth as he
supposed, even when the creature had turned on his back, and the first kuyu only
struck one of his teeth and rolled into the water. However, the second time the
monkey had better luck, and the fruit fell right in.
"Ah, how good!" cried the shark. "Send me another, please," and the monkey
grew tired of picking the kuyu long before the shark was tired of eating them.
"It is getting late, and I must be going home to my children," he said, at length,
"but if you are here at the same time tomorrow I will give you another treat."
"Thank you, thank you," said the shark, showing all his great ugly teeth as he
grinned with delight. "You can't guess how happy you have made me," and he
swam away into the shadow, hoping to sleep away the time till the monkey came
again.
For weeks the monkey and the shark breakfasted together, and it was a wonder
that the tree had any fruit left for them. They became fast friends, and told each
other about their homes and their children, and how to teach them all they ought
to know.
By and by the monkey became rather discontented with his green house in a
grove of palms beyond the town, and longed to see the strange things under the
sea which he had heard of from the shark. The shark perceived this very clearly,
and described greater marvels. And the monkey, as he listened, grew more and
more gloomy.
Matters were in this state when one day the shark said, "I really hardly know how
to thank you for your kindness to me during these weeks. Here I have nothing of
my own to offer you, but if you would only consent to come home with me, how
gladly would I give you anything that might happen to take your fancy."
"I should like nothing better," cried the monkey, his teeth chattering, as they
always did when he was pleased. "But how could I get there? Not by water, Ugh!
It makes me ill to think of it!"
"Oh! don't let that trouble you," replied the shark. "You have only to sit on my
back and I will undertake that not a drop of water shall touch you."
So it was arranged, and directly after breakfast next morning the shark swam
close up under the tree, and the monkey dropped neatly on his back, without
even a splash. After a few minutes -- for at first he felt a little frightened at his
strange position -- the monkey began to enjoy himself vastly, and asked the shark
a thousand questions about the fish and the seaweeds and the oddly shaped
things that floated past them, and as the shark always gave him some sort of
answer, the monkey never guessed that many of the objects they saw were as new
to his guide as to himself.
The sun had risen and set six times when the shark suddenly said, "My friend, we
have now performed half our journey, and it is time that I should tell you
something."
"What is it?" asked the monkey. "Nothing unpleasant, I hope, for you sound
rather grave."
"Oh, no! Nothing at all. It is only that shortly before we left I heard that the sultan
of my country is very ill, and that the only thing to cure him is a monkey's heart."
"Poor man, I am very sorry for him," replied the monkey; "but you were unwise
not to tell me till we had started."
"What do you mean?" asked the shark. But the monkey, who now understood the
whole plot, did not answer at once, for he was considering what he should say.
"Why are you so silent?" inquired the shark again.
"I was thinking what a pity it was you did not tell me while I was still on land,
and then I would have brought my heart with me."
"Your heart! Why isn't your heart here?" said the shark, with a puzzled
expression.
"Oh, no! Of course not. Is it possible you don't know that when we leave home we
always hang up our hearts on trees, to prevent their being troublesome?
However, perhaps you won't believe that, and will just think I have invented it
because I am afraid, so let us go on to your country as fast as we can, and when
we arrive you can look for my heart, and if you find it you can kill me."
The monkey spoke in such a calm indifferent way that the shark was quite
deceived, and began to wish he had not been in such a hurry.
"But there is no use going on if your heart is not with you," he said at last. "We
had better turn back to the town, and then you can fetch it."
Of course, this was just what the monkey wanted, but he was careful not to seem
too pleased.
"Well, I don't know," he remarked carelessly. "It is such a long way; but you may
be right."
"I am sure I am," answered the shark, "and I will swim as quickly as I can," and so
he did, and in three days they caught sight of the kuyu tree hanging over the
water.
With a sigh of relief the monkey caught hold of the nearest branch and swung
himself up.
"Wait for me here," he called out to the shark. "I am so hungry I must have a little
breakfast, and then I will go and look for my heart," and he went further and
further into the branches so that the shark could not see him. Then he curled
himself up and went to sleep.
"Are you there?" cried the shark, who was soon tired of swimming about under
the cliff, and was in haste to be gone.
The monkey awoke with a start, but did not answer.
"Are you there?" called the shark again, louder than before, and in a very cross
voice.
"Oh, yes. I am here," replied the monkey; "but I wish you had not wakened me
up. I was having such a nice nap."
"Have you got it?" asked the shark. "It is time we were going."
"Going where?" inquired the monkey.
"Why, to my country, of course, with your heart. You can't have forgotten!"
"My dear friend," answered the monkey, with a chuckle, "I think you must be
going a little mad. Do you take me for a washerman's donkey?"
"Don't talk nonsense," exclaimed the shark, who did not like being laughed at.
"What do you mean about a washerman's donkey? And I wish you would be
quick, or we may be too late to save the sultan."
"Did you really never hear of the washerman's donkey?" asked the monkey, who
was enjoying himself immensely. "Why, he is the beast who has no heart. And as
I am not feeling very well, and am afraid to start while the sun is so high lest I
should get a sunstroke, if you like, I will come a little nearer and tell you his
story."
"Very well," said the shark sulkily, "if you won't come, I suppose I may as well
listen to that as do nothing."
So the monkey began.
A washerman once lived in the great forest on the other side of the town,
and he had a donkey to keep him company and to carry him wherever he
wanted to go. For a time they got on very well, but by and by the donkey
grew lazy and ungrateful for her master's kindness, and ran away several
miles into the heart of the forest, where she did nothing but eat and eat and
eat, till she grew so fat she could hardly move.

One day as she was tasting quite a new kind of grass and wondering if it
was as good as what she had had for dinner the day before, a hare
happened to pass by.

"Well, that is a fat creature," thought she, and turned out of her path to tell
the news to a lion who was a friend of hers. Now the lion had been very ill
and was not strong enough to go hunting for himself, and when the hare
came and told him that a very fat donkey was to be found only a few
hundred yards off, tears of disappointment and weakness filled his eyes.

"What is the good of telling me that?" he asked in a weepy voice. "You

know I cannot even walk as far as that palm."

"Never mind," answered the hare briskly. "If you can't go to your dinner,
your dinner shall come to you," and nodding a farewell to the lion she went
back to the donkey.

"Good morning," said she, bowing politely to the donkey, who lifted her
head in surprise. "Excuse my interrupting you, but I have come on very
important business."

"Indeed," answered the donkey, "it is most kind of you to take the trouble.
May I inquire what the business is?"

"Certainly," replied the hare. "It is my friend the lion who has heard so
much of your charms and good qualities that he has sent me to beg that
you will give him your paw in marriage. He regrets deeply that he is
unable to make the request in person, but he has been ill and is too weak to
move."

"Poor fellow! How sad!" said the donkey. "But you must tell him that I feel
honored by his proposal and will gladly consent to be Queen of the Beasts."

"Will you not come and tell him so yourself?" asked the hare.

Side by side they went down the road which led to the lion's house. It took
a long while, for the donkey was so fat with eating she could only walk
very slowly, and the hare, who could have run the distance in about five
minutes, was obliged to creep along till she almost dropped with fatigue at
not being able to go at her own pace.

When at last they arrived the lion was sitting up at the entrance, looking
very pale and thin. The donkey suddenly grew shy and hung her head, but
the lion put on his best manners and invited both his visitors to come in
and make themselves comfortable.

Very soon the hare go up and said, "Well, as I have another engagement I
will leave you to make acquaintance with your future husband," and
winking at the lion she bounded away.

The donkey expected that as soon as they were left alone the lion would
begin to speak of their marriage, and where they should live, but as he said
nothing she looked up.

To her surprise and terror she saw him crouching in the corner, his eyes
glaring with a red light, and with a loud roar he sprang towards her. But in
that moment the donkey had had time to prepare herself, and jumping on
one side dealt the lion such a hard kick that he shrieked with the pain.
Again and again he struck at her with his claws, but the donkey could bite
too, as well as the lion, who was very weak after his illness, and at last a
well planted kick knocked him right over, and he rolled on the floor,
groaning with pain.

The donkey did not wait for him to get up, but ran away as fast as she
could and was lost in the forest.

Now the hare, who knew quite well what would happen, had not gone to
do her business, but hid herself in some bushes behind the cave, where she
could hear quite clearly the sounds of the battle. When all was quiet again
she crept gently out, and stole round the corner.

"Well, lion, have you killed her?" asked she, running swiftly up the path.

"Killed her, indeed!" answered the lion sulkily, "it is she who has nearly
killed me. I never knew a donkey could kick like that, though I took care
she should carry away the marks of my claws."

"Dear me! Fancy such a great fat creature being able to fight!" cried the
hare. "But don't vex yourself. Just lie still, and your wounds will soon heal,"
and she bade her friend good-bye, and returned to her family.

Two or three weeks passed, and only bare places on the donkey's back
showed where the lion's claws had been, while, on his side, the lion had
recovered from his illness and was now as strong as ever. He was
beginning to think that it was almost time for him to begin hunting again,
when one morning a rustle was heard in the creepers outside, and the
hare's head peeped through.

"Ah! there is no need to ask how you are," she said. "Still you mustn't
overtire yourself, you know. Shall I go and bring you your dinner?"

"If you will bring me that donkey I will tear it in two," cried the lion
savagely, and the hare laughed and nodded and went on her errand.

This time the donkey was much further than before, and it took longer to
find her. At last the hare caught sight of four hoofs in the air, and ran
towards them. The donkey was lying on a soft cool bed of moss near a
stream, rolling herself backwards and forwards from pleasure.

"Good morning," said the hare politely, and the donkey got slowly onto her
legs, and looked to see who her visitor could be.
"Oh, it is you, is it?" she exclaimed. "Come and have a chat. What news
have you got?"

"I mustn't stay," answered the hare; "but I promised the lion to beg you to
pay him a visit, as he is not well enough to call on you."

"Well, I don't know," replied the donkey gloomily. "The last time we went
he scratched me very badly, and really I was quite afraid."

"He was only trying to kiss you," said the hare, "and you bit him, and of
course that made him cross."

"If I were sure of that," hesitated the donkey.

"Oh, you may be quite sure," laughed the hare. "I have a large acquaintance
among lions. But let us be quick," and rather unwillingly the donkey set
out.

The lion saw them coming and hid himself behind a large tree. As the
donkey went past, followed by the hare, he sprang out, and with one blow
of his paw stretched the poor foolish creature dead before him.

"Take this meat and skin it and roast it," he said to the hare; "but my
appetite is not so good as it was, and the only part I want for myself is the
heart. The rest you can either eat yourself or give away to your friends."

"Thank you," replied the hare, balancing the donkey on her back as well as
she was able, and though the legs trailed along the ground she managed to
drag it to an open space some distance off, where she made a fire and
roasted it.

As soon as it was cooked, the hare took out the heart and had just finished
eating it when the lion, who was tired of waiting, came up.

"I am hungry," said he. "Bring me the creature's heart. It is just what I want
for supper."

"But there is no heart," answered the hare, looking up at the lion with a
puzzled face.

"What nonsense!" said the lion. "As if every beast had not got a heart. What
do you mean?"

"This is a washerman's donkey," replied the hare gravely.

"Well, and suppose it is?"

"Oh, fie!" exclaimed the hare. "You, a lion and a grown-up person, and ask
questions like that. If the donkey had had a heart would she be here now?
The first time she came she knew you were trying to kill her, and ran away.
Yet she came back a second time. Well, if she had had a heart would she
have come back a second time? Now would she?"

And the lion answered slowly, "No, she would not."

"So you think I am a washerman's donkey?" said the monkey to the shark, when
the story was ended. "You are wrong. I am not. And as the sun is getting low in
the sky, it is time for you to begin your homeward journey. You will have a nice
cool voyage, and I hope you will find the sultan better. Farewell!"
And the monkey disappeared among the green branches, and was gone.
http://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punda_milia
Punda milia
Uainishaji wa kisayansi
Himaya: Animalia (Wanyama)
Faila: Chordata (Wanyama wenye ugwe wa neva mgongoni)
Ngeli: Mammalia (Wanyama wenye viwele wanaonyonyesha wadogo
wao)
Oda: Perissodactyla(Wanyama wenye kidole kimoja au vitatu mguuni)
Familia: Equidae (Wanyama walio na mnasaba na farasi)
Jenasi: Equus
Linnaeus, 1758
Spishi: E. grevyi Oustalet, 1882

E. qagga Boddaert, 1785

E. zebra Linnaeus, 1758

Punda milia ni wanyama wa familia ya ‘equids’ wa Afrika wanafahamika sana

kwa rangi yao ya pekee ya michirizi myeupe na myeusi, michirizi yao huwa na
mpangilio tofauti kwa kila pundamilia mmoja. Ni wanyama wenye
kuchangamana sana na huonekana mara nyingi huonekana kwenye makundi
madogo na hata makubwa. Mbali na michirizi yao,pundamilia wana nywele
shingoni tofauti na ndugu zao wa kambo, farasi, na punda. Punda milia hajawahi
kufungwa kwa mafanikio. Kuna spishi tatu za pundamilia, Plains Zebra, Grévy's
Zebra na Mountain Zebra. Plain zebra na Mountain Zebra wapo kwenye jenasi
ndogo ya ‘Hippotigris’ lakini Grevy’s zebra akiwa kwenye Delichohippus huyu
wa mwisho anafanana na punda huku wale wawili wa mwanzo wakifanana na
farasi. Hata hivyo,chembe asili na data za molekyuli zinaonesha kuwa
pundamilia hasa wana asili ya “monophyletic” Wote watatu wako kwenye jenas
ya ‘Equus’ pamoja na wanafamiia wa ‘Equids’. Katika maeneo fulani ya huko
Kenya, Plains Zebra na Gorevy’s zebra wapo pamoja.
Upekee wa michirizi na tabia za pundamilia inawafanya kuwa miongoni mwa
wanyama wanaofahamika sana kwa binadamu. Punda milia hupatikana katika
maeneo mbalimbali,kama vile ukanda wa mbuga, savanna, ukanda wa
misitu,kwenye vichaka vya miiba,milimani na kwenye vilima vya pwani.hata
hivyo sababu mbalimbali za muingiliano wa jamii na tamaduni huleta athari
kubwa katika idadi ya pundamilia, hasa kutafuta ngozi na uharibifu wa makazi.
Grevy’s Zebra na Mountain Zebra’ wapo hatarini kutoweka. Huku Plain Zebra
wakizidi kuwa wengi, spishi moja,’ quagga’ilitoweka kabisa mwishoni mwa
karne ya 19. Jina la ‘zebra’ limetokana na neno la Kireno cha zamani, lisemalo
‘zeura’ likimaanisha punda wa porini.
equivalent text:
Zebra in English dates back to c.1600, from Italian Zebra, perhaps from
Portuguese, which in turn is said to be Congolese (as stated in the Oxford English
Dictionary). The Encarta Dictionary says its ultimate origin is uncertain, but
perhaps it may come from Latin Equiferus meaning "Wild horse," from equus
"horse" and ferus "wild, untamed

Zebras arose within the Old World horses within the last 4 million years. Grevy's
zebras (and perhaps also Mountain Zebras) are with asses and donkeys in a
separate lineage from the other zebra lineages[2]. This means either that striped
equids zebras evolved more than once, or that common ancestors of zebras and
asses were striped and only zebras retained the stripes. Extensive stripes are
posited to have been be of little use to equids that live in low densities in deserts
(like asses and some horses) or ones that live in colder climates with shaggy coats
and annual shading (like some horses).[3] Fossils of an ancient equid were
discovered in the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in Hagerman,
Idaho. It was named the Hagerman horse with a scientific name of Equus
simplicidens. It is believed to have been similar to the Grevy's zebra.[4] The
animals had stocky zebra-like bodies and short, narrow, donkey-like skulls.[5]
Grevy's zebra also has a donkey-like skull. The Hagerman horse is also called the
American zebra or Hagerman zebra.