In honour of our brand new Kiswahili language platform, Swahili volunteers Michael, Straton, and Davis would like to share their favourite Swahili words, what the words mean in English, and why these words are special:

Member: Davis Nyabero (TIG username: dnyabero)

Favourite word: Amani

Meaning of word:  Peace

Why it's special: With peace everything is possible, there is so much hate around the world right now. [With peace] millions of people would still be alive.

Member: Evans Micheni (TIG username: Michen)

Favourite word: Upendo

Meaning of word: Love

Why it's special: Everyone deserves to be loved and to love as well. Life void love is meaningless. In my life experience there are two special individuals whose genuine love for me is an awesome source of inspiration. Love is universal concept not only limited to human beings, but also to nature and super-being, nurture...just everything. Thus love is inherent, absolute and worth sacrifice. (For God so loved the world..."Kwa vile Mungu aliipenda dunia..".)

Member: Mwashighadi Mwambeo Straton (TIG username: Mwashi)

Favourite Word: Hakuna Matata!

Meaning of Word: No worries!

Why it's special: That's original, it's Kenyan and it's our slogan. Just the way an American would say, "America, Land of the free" a Kenyan would say, "Karibu Kenya; Hakuna matata!"  I am sure you have heard of that cause it was adopted in Lion King the movie.

Member: Michael Awiti (TIG username: MichaelAwiti)

Favourite Word: Mtu Mzima

Meaning of Word: This can mean someone who is "well" or in control of their destiny.

Why It's Special: This one speaks for itself 

• Swahili has 18 dialects but all form words in a similar way and different dialect speakers can easily communicate.

• Swahili is the National language in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Within much of East Africa, it is often used as a lingua franca.

• Total number of speakers estimated at 100 Million.

• Popular words like SAFARI, MAMA, MAMBO are Swahili.

• Some Swahili vocabulary is derived from Arabic through more than twelve centuries of contact with Arabic-speaking inhabitants of the coast of Zanj. 

• Your 3 Magical Words:

  Jambo (Prounouced; ju-MBOH!)-Hello

  Asante (Prounced, aa-sun-teh!) –Thank you

  Kwaheri! –(prounced, Kuah-ha-rih! )-Bye Bye