Kumkaribisha Mgeni/Welcoming the Visitor

Kumkaribisha Mgeni/Welcoming the Visitor

In many communities in East Africa, people visit each other with or without a notice. Culturally, the host is expected to welcome the guest/visitor by serving them with tea and food. On the other hand, it would be considered rude for the visitor not to accept what they are served. Guests request to be allowed into the house by saying, “*hodi*!” which can either be accompied by a knock on the door or not.

Msamiati / Vocabulary

Hodi!
May I come in?
Karibu
welcome
Asante
thank you
Salamu
Greetings
kiti
seat
chai
tea
Chakula
food
safari
journey
familia
family
Kazi
work
chuo
university
toka
leave
Fika
arrive
mgeni
visitor
mwenyeji
host
Maktaba
library
bafu
bathroom
rudi
return
Choka
tired
Pumzika
rest
bahati
luck
kwa hiyo au hivyo
therefore

Mazungumzo I #

Mgeni: Hodi! Hodi!

Mwenyeji: Karibu! (baada ya kufungua mlango). Karibu ndani.

Mgeni: Asante. Shikamoo mama. Jina langu ni Erin.

Mwenyeji: Marahaba. Hujambo? Mimi ninaitwa Mama Fatuma. Karibu kiti.

Erin: Sijambo. Asante sana, Mama Fatuma.

Mama F: Hamna shida. Habari za safari?

Erin: Nzuri sana lakini imekuwa ndefu sana.

Mama F: Pole kwa safari. Habari za familia?

Erin: Salama sana.

Mama F: Baba na mama hawajambo?

Erin: Hawajambo.

Mama F: Vizuri sana. Kaka na dada je hawajambo?

Erin: Hawajambo pia.

Mama F: Karibu Kenya.

Erin: Asante sana. Fatuma yuko wapi?

Mama F: Yeye anasoma maktabani lakini atarudi karibuni. Je, utaoga kwanza ama utakunywa chai?

Erin: Naomba kuoga kwanza.

Mama F: Sawa. Nitakuonyesha bafu ilipo.

Erin: Asante sana, mama.

Zoezi I: Mazungumzo na baba/mama wa Afrika Mashariki

With a partner, rehearse a conversation that you would have with your host mom/dad upon your arrival in East Africa.

Mazungmzo II: Fatuma na Erin #

Fatuma: Mambo Erin!

Erin: Poa. Habari gani?

Fatuma: Safi sana. Karibu Nairobi!

Erin: Asante sana dadangu. Habari za masomo?

Fatuma: Nzuri kabisa lakini nina wasiwasi wa mitihani wiki kesho. Habari za familia?

Erin: Bahati njema katika mitihani. Familia haijambo. Nimependa nyumbani kwenu sana!

Fatuma: Asante. Ungependa kufanya nini leo jioni?

Erin: Karibu dadangu. Labda nitalala mapema kwa sababu nimechoka sana.

Fatuma: Naelewa. Pole kwa safari.

Erin: Asante, lakini kesho ningependa kwenda mjini kama utakuwa na nafasi.

Fatuma: Bila shaka. Kesho sina madarasa, kwa hiyo tunaweza kwenda mjini.

Erin: Asante. Nitaenda kulala sasa.

Fatuma: Karibu na usiku mwema.

Erin: Usiku mwema pia.

Zoezi II: Mazungumzo na kaka au dada wa Afrika Mashariki

In pairs, rehearse a conversation that you might have with your host brother or sister in East Africa.