....Muta Mwanamke kwenda........

When Dad was younger he did National Service in Kenya. While he was there he learned quite a bit of Swahili, and when we were kids he used bits of it all the time.

When the Daughter was baptised the priest was a locum who had just returned from several years in Kenya and had done hundreds of baptisms in Swahili, so he asked if we would mind if he included some Swahili in the service. We of course said it was ok....and Dad was in his element....until after the service when he foolishly tried to engage the priest in conversational swahili. The priest was fluent.....Dad hadn't spoken it much for 30 years...but they got by.

I remember bits of what Dad used around the house, he once taught me a little bit for a project we were doing at work.

He frequently greeted people with the words, "Jambo Bwana" or "Jambo Bibie".....Hello Sir/Hello Madam......or even "Jambo Effendi".

When he wanted us to do something he would tell us what was wanted and add "Pesi, Pesi"....Quickly, quickly..........and once we'd done it he would say "Asante sana".....Thankyou very much.

But the thing I remember most was a song he taught us.........

Mutu mmoja kwenda
Na kwenda li ma shamba
Mutu mmoja nam bwa waki
Kwenda li ma shamba

You probably all know this song....well at least all the Brits probably do.....in its English version.

Todays blip is a clue.....what is the Boss doing?......and the word mwanamke (woman) needs swapping for mmoja (man).

Now do you know what the song is?

Das vidanya moy padruga.