KISWAHILI - THE LINGUA FRANCA FOR EAST AFRICA (PART II)
By Abdullah Amur Suleiman*
Another important festivals in the annals of the Muslims is the Birth of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be on him) which falls on tenth day of Rabi al Awal, corresponds to 1oth day of “Mfunguosita’.
The Muslims all over the world recite – Milad Nabii, the biography of the Prophet Muhammad and feasts are held daily at different places and different times. These feast and other celebrations are not held on the same day but continue to be held for the whole month of Rabi al Awal “Mfunguosita”.
In Tanzania 11th day of S Rabil Al Awal is declared a public holiday. Grand Milad Nabii are held in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Nairobi and Kampala on month of Rabil Awal. But the Milad Nabii held annually at Lamu, Kenya, attract people from all East a Africa to attend the festival. This festival is held a bit later but during the same month.
To come back to our calendar month with unwritten records, the people of Kiswahili areas collect thirty small pieces of bamboo or any wood of equal size such as 4 to 6 inches in length of human fingers and fasten together in a string.
When all the sticks – 30 are together, it suggest that the lunar month has in this month – 30 days. Sometime the moon is sited on the 29th day of the month and next day there will be one piece of wood on one end and 29 pieces on the other end.
For every day of the month a piece of wood is removed to another end to enable the persons to know what is the date is today. The farmers in the villages are very much particular in sighting of the moon. The string with pieces of wood is hung on the wall at a height which mischievous children would not reach.
Kiswahili can be practically written in Arabic script, the earliest manuscript in this languages could be seen in the Museum in Mombasa, Kenya. Even to-day it is common thing amongst the coastal people including Zanzibar and Pemba to see people write Kiswahili in Arabic scripts. The villagers who supply milk to the milkmen, usually collect heir monthly rates the first day of the now moon. Until recently tenants occupying housed and those who were scatters used to pay rents on the first day of the new moon.
The farmers prefer this sort of arrangement as the Christian calendar has sometimes 28, 28, 30 and 31 days. This unwritten calendar will have either 29 or 30 days only.
This kiswahili calendar has nothing to do with the Nehruz Year which custom originated in Persia, this day in Kiswahili which will fall in June/July this year is known as “Mwaka” and the celebrations attach to it as “Kukoga Mwaka”.
The Persians who settled in this region about 500 years ago, built a strong civilization along the coast. They settled in Lamu, Kenya, Zazibar, Kilwa and Mafia. Some the relics left behind by them are still visible to-date. The Persian mosque at Kizimkazi (Kadhim-kadhi) originally, is in use till day. The people who call themselves Shirazis are the descendents of these early Persian settlers.
When a boy is born on Friday, in some cases he is called ‘Juma’ and the child is a girl “Mwajuma”. It might be the first baby boy born on Saturday and called “Mosi” that means one or first one. On Sunday the child might be called “Pili” that the second one. Name Mosi and Pili are common to boys and girls.
A girl born on Monday is called “Tatu” the third one. No boy is called by this name. On Tuesday, the son might be called Jumanne or in case of a girl “Wanne” the fourth one. A girl born on Wednesday is called “Wanno” the fifth one. There is no record for the boy’s name on this day. Wanno is always a girl.
A boy born on Thursday is called “Khamis” and if a girl “Khamisa” the fifth one but not necessary the fifth child.
A boy born in the month of Rabi Al Awal will be called Muhammad or Ahmed in certain cases, this is the month which Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be on him) was born.
A boy born in the month of Rajab or Mfunguokumi is called Rajab or Mrisho. Whilst the one born in Shaaban is called Shaaban. One born during the fasting month of Ramadhan is called Ramadhan.
A boy born on the day of Id el Fitr or Id el Haj is known as Iddi. Whilst the one born on the night following Id el Haj is called Arafa, this name is common to males and females but in Kiswahili it is restricted to females only.
A boy born on 9th Muharram or Mfunguonne is known as Ashur and if the baby is a firl – Ashura. The births which occur on the Nehruz Fetival, “Sherehe ya Kukoga Mwaka” the children are called “MWAKA”. The name Mwaka is common to males and females.
In some cases, a girl born at night is called “Chausiku” and in case of a boy “Masiku”. Whilst the name such as “Kitwana” which used in strong terms might be insulting, the name means either a boy or a man. Same as “Kijakazi” a girl, this can be used to insult a woman also to mean that the person either a girl or a woman.
In Kiswahili you can use insulting terms and it might mean nothing, much depends on the tone and the mood with which the speaker is found. For instance you can say “Mtwana wewe Huna Adabu” meaning you are a manner less chap and will men nothing if the speaker is not angry but when he is angry. It means he is annoyed and the whole term – insulting.
Names in Kiswahili are given by descent, suppose a man is called Salim Bin Ali, you can take for granted that he will call his son as Ali Bin Sali, the son inherited the name of his grandfather.
The same thing with a daughter she inherits the name of either her paternal grandmother or maternal one. In Kiswahili women are referred as daughter of so and so. Even if they are married this does not change, to call them as Mrs. So and so is rather foreign and not in keeping with Kiswahili.
