Kiswahili Kitukuzwe

I think Nabongo Mumia must have been in a situationship with a Swahili babe before finally settling with his Luhya honeys - home is where the heart is manenos. So while they had their thing, her language really stuck with him so he passed it on to his wives and children ilimradi all of us vitukuu to the nth power speak the language. 

It all begins while all of us Bantus were chilling in the Congo Basin. Us Luhyas were curious to learn another language because in the tower of Babel, as different languages emerged, we descended with the Arabs and were interested with how they spoke. But years later, the Arabs could only enter Kenya through the Coast, then Swahili was born, then one of the babes comes to Western for something, and meets Nabongo. Damu zilivutana hehe. Then the rest is history. You know the vibes. (Don't let me teach your kids history) 

All this to say that it should come as no surprise that I, daughter of the Luhya nation, find Kiswahili to be a very beautiful and expressive language. (Btw do they have those ancestry DNA tests for Kenyans? I'm sure I'd be like 98% Luhya and say 2% Luo, for the soft life I like and Coster's music that I enjoy. Also, I'm sure one of my ancestors must have crossed over the border and died for Nyash)

Kiswahili, especially when Sanifu, is so poetic. 

Who remembers the program Tausi? I don't recall much content about it but the song, I'll always remember.

🎶tausi ndege wangu, ndege wangu wa fahari, ndege ulokwisha mali, sasa wataka nini 🎶

It also had a mganga named Karumanzira and whenever he'd pop up on the screen, he'd scare the living daylights out of me. As a tiny child, even the image of an old Mother Teresa on the newspaper scared me. I must've been a weird kid with a wild imagination. 

Anyway, someone else I vividly remember from the program is the character Rukia. Rukia, like the rest, spoke fluent Swahili but the thing that stood out for me was that she had a nose ring! Maybe she was the first lady I saw with one, because I really admired it. I thought to myself "what a beautiful accessory". I must have been 5/6 then, or maybe slightly older. I eventually got one in 2023 at 29, but only lived with it for two years. One day while I was in hospital this year, it was removed and I just never bothered to return it. My inner child I believe, was satisfied when it came to that matter.

Rukia as a name also sounded so artistic to me. Clearly I was in awe of this lady. We didn't have any pets that I could name Rukia. We only had a white dog in shagz called Boxy. There's no way Boxy could be renamed Rukia lol. 

Anyway, those were my early memories of me really hearing Kiswahili Sanifu on TV and being intrigued by it. As I grew older in primary school, for some reason, the Kiswahili lessons weren't as exciting for me. In fact, I found it boring and tedious, up until highschool. 

In came Utengano... 

"Kuna mambo matatu Kazija anayachukia" 

I was like 'Heh! Ehee, ni mambo magani haya?' I was HOOKED. Till the end. It has a really good story line. In the book, there's a part I vividly remember; Maimuna kuandaa meza kwa (min)ajili ya Mzee Abdalla na marafiki wake. "Aliandaa wali, kuku, samaki wa kupaka na mengi mengineyo." Samaki wa kupaka?? It sounded so yummy, especially when I'd get to that part just before going for lunch...in boarding school = maize and beans. Pure torture. How I wished I was one of marafiki wa Mzee Abdalla during those times. (Like I said, I'm Luhya)

It was such great story telling. Shout-out to Said Mohamed. 

Here's how that ties into my love for Swahili music. As I'm back in love with the language in highschool, in form 2/3, I discover Sauti Sol.

🎶Naomba unipe namba yako nikupeleke java, tunywe kahawa, tukizubaa🎶

Heh! Who were these that were singing Kiswahili Sanifu within a context that I could relate to? I was HOOKED. Such poetry I would find their music to be. Also, no surprise as well that out of the 4, three are Luhyas... I remember I lied to my Dad that I needed money for textbooks and with the money, I went to Capital Center and bought their album 'Mwanzo'. The next term during one insha, I just copy pasted the whole story from their song 'Subira' and wrote it as a story. I got like a 5/30 and an "umepotoka kimaudhui" lol

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You know how during those meet ups when you're new people and as an ice breaker, the leader says "let's go round the room saying if we were fruits, what type of fruits we'd be" Oh my days. Hizo vitu saa zingine hu bore (no offence to you if you've ever asked this). I usually imagine if they asked what type of musical instrument we'd be. I'd say "Hi, my name is Liz Litali and if I were a musical instrument I'd be a bass guitar because at first it's unassuming but once you give it time, you experience its' depth" then I'd look at the next person. 

In short, what I'm saying is that the bass guitar is my favorite musical instrument of all time. When I hear it in a song I give it a chance. 

Do you guys remember King Saul from the Bible. He was a tormented King, but would bring David to play the harp for him. That's how you know he was living a lifestyle of the rich and famouuus.  My 'There will be signs' moment is that every weekend, I'd have an artist with their band play their music live, then later, a dj later to play for oontz people,  in my backyard... Back to Saul. 

1st Samuel 16:23 : Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better, and the spirit of distress would depart from him

I totally get it King Saul. Now for me, replace the harp with the bass guitar.

Which brings me to Zaituni.

First of all, what a name.

Zaituni. 

I only discovered her catalogue last week. While on IG, I heard a song on someone's story then run to spotify and that's when I met 'Labor of Love', her album and was immediately hooked.

First, it's the stories she tells in her songs. Then, she sings in Kiswahili Sanifu guys. Her voice is very soothing and weaves beautifully through the instruments. It's how the bass guitar is incorporated.... Sigh..... With the African drums as well and percussions. It is such a beautiful work of art. 

For my daily walks, in the evenings, I love to listen to music on my headphones, to hear each instrument and harmony. I take 'my' songs on these walks and return so rejuvenated.

Yesterday while on my walk, I was thinking about the Titanic Band; How they kept playing until near the end to calm passengers as the ship sank. How deep that moment was.

 

If I were Rose, story ya Jack ningekuwa nimeachana nayo kitambo kidogo. As soon as the ice berg is hit, I'd be like "Jack, I love you! You can have the plank, I'm going to the dance floor. Mwah". I romanticize how I'd request the band to play me my current two favorite songs from Zautuni's album. 'Huyo' and 'Pressure'. I'd stand in the middle of the dance floor with my white flowy linen dress, eyes closed, rocking side to side with my hands raised, letting the music drown me before the water eventually does. 

In real sense, I read that it was "Nearer my God to thee" that the band kept playing which makes sense because it's gospel and you're just minutes away from meeting God Himself. 

If the Titanic happened this week, what two songs would you be going out to? Since I'm also listening to a lot of Asake in preparation, if Nyayo Stadium starts sinking, I'd request for 'Ototo' and 'Nzaza'. The instrumentation is insane on those two for me. 

Anyway, let me know your current two songs. Watu wa oontz, Rose Muhando and lingala, you're restricted 1 song only because surely by the time ata the song starts being sang/beat drops, the ship has  already sunk. I'd love to create a playlist of you guys' choices and take them on my walks.

This was a long one, thank you for reading till the end ❤️