Utamaduni
(Cultural Notes)
Unit
1
Greetings
are a very important part of the culture of the African people. Likewise,
Swahili speakers take greetings very seriously. People take time to greet
others even if they are strangers. This cultural habit is more visible in
the rural areas than in the city where the pressure to greet others as a cultural
norm is minimal. However, when friends and acquaintances meet, they generally
stop and exchange an extended greeting ritual.
Age
determines who should initiate a greeting.
In general, the younger person should initiate using the proper greeting:
SHIKAMOO. The response by the older person is: MARAHABA. Otherwise, context
will determine the initiator. For example if one enters a room already occupied
by others, he/she is expected to initiate the greeting unless seniority dictates
otherwise.
The
general greeting that can be used by anyone is ---jambo and habari
gani.
When
one says hujambo/hamjambo or habari gani. , the respondent is
expected to affirm rather than respond to the contrary. In other words, one
does not say for example I am not well as their initial response to hujambo.
The proper way is to say ‘I am fine’ and after a few exchanges bring up any
unpleasant news.
In
greetings, one can refer to the gender of the respondent, baba for
someone who is a father-figure, mama for someone who is a mother-figure,
dada for a kin-sister or a female within the same age group, kaka
for a kin-brother or a male within the same age group. In both Tanzania and
Kenya, one may use bwana Mr. Also, in Tanzania, one may use ndugu
brother or brethren. The term mzee may also be used for a male elder.
Female elders are referred to as bibi or simply as mama. Thus:
hujambo
baba? how are you father.
hujambo
mzee? how are you old man/elder.
hujambo
ndugu? how are you brethren (male or female).
hujambo
kaka? how are you brother.
The length of a greeting exchange depends on
the level of familiarity between the parties concerned. Thus it may take between
a minute and longer. Even when people are in a hurry, they will take time
to exchange greetings in a proper fashion. Most men would shake hands when
greeting one another. Men more than
women will initiate a greeting especially a handshake. Also when men shake
each other’s hands they may use both hands, women tend to use only one hand
when greeting men. Women rarely greet each other with a hand shake. Rather
they may use body language such as a nodding of the head or a raising of the
eyebrows. Influences from other cultures have also been introduced into greetings,
especially in the case of women, a hug, a kiss on both cheeks, and holding
each other’s hands while conversing.
C. Terms of Response: naam and labeka
These
responses are gender specific. The response naam is used by men while
labeka is used by women. In addition, women have the option to use
a shorter form abe/be. Both the male and female responses simply: ‘I
hear you or here I am.’
Like
greetings, age and seniority is observed in initiating a farewell. In general,
adults would announce their intention to leave, to allow younger ones to initiate
the farewell protocol. It is not polite for those who are remaining behind
to initiate the farewell.
Farewell
terms are simple and do not have restrictions. One may use: kwaheri (to
one person) or kwaherini (to more than one person). The appropriate
response is kwaheri ya kuonana goodbye until we see you again. It is
considered impolite to respond with just kwaheri.. It may be interpreted
as a sign that the visit was unwelcome (good riddance). It is also a sign
of politeness to escort your guest out of the house and often times out of
the premises. Often the terms haya ‘o.k’, or baadaye later are
used repeatedly (almost like a chorus from either party) until the one leaving
is completely out of sight.