In Swahili culture, greeting is very crucial. It is used in judging whether a person is well mannered or not. Normally young ones are supposed to initiate greetings when meet elders. The initiate word is “Shikamo” elder will respond “marhaba”
This culture of greeting in Tanzania differ from one tribe to another. Some tribes do bend or knell down as they greet respectable people i.e. Elders. It is done especially by women in many parts of Tanzania.
It is normal to shake hands when greeting each other. Agemate greetings are of different style like “mambo” which means how are things? The response is safi (nice) poa (cool)
Kiswahili greetings
Shikamo
Respectful greeting in Swahili culture Young ones initiate this greeting to any person above their age.
Marhaba .
Response of that greeting for some body elder than you.
Habari bwana (greeting to a man) and Habari bibi (greeting to a woman)
Habari za Asubuhi, News(habari)of (za) morning (Asubuhi)=direct translation
Good morning=Communicative translation
Habari za mchana , Good After noon = communicative translation.
Good Evening, habari za jioni = communicative translation
Mambo. how are things = communicative translation
Response can be safi(nice),poa ( cool) Shwari (fine),and good
Vipi ,How = Communicative meaning Response can be safi, poa, salama, Shwari, or Sheba
Umeamkaje?
How did you weak up= communicative translation
Umelalaje, how did you sleep = communicative translation
Watoto hawajambo, Are the children fine?= Communicative translation
Hujambo. are you ok ,are you fine = communicative translation
Sijambo, I am fine (meaning that ,you have no bad news) Communicative translation
Hajambo ( second person singular) he any news ( jambo)=direct translation
Is he or she fine?= Communicative translation. The response is “hajambo”
We will continue next time
