On International Labor Day, Kenyan workers both celebrate the gains the working class has achieved and demonstrate for further rights. In this article, you’ll learn about Labor Day celebrations in Kenya, the significance of this holiday for the country, and more. Let’s get started. 1. What is Labor Day? Labor Day began in the 1880s in the United States with the Haymarket Affair and the harakati ya masaa nane kwa siku ("eight-hour day movement" ). In Kenya, Labor Day is a public holiday dedicated to celebrating the ufanisi wa uchumi ("economic achievement" ) and ufanisi wa ujamaa ("social achievement" ) that the country has seen in recent years. More importantly, however, many Kenyans see this holiday as an... Show more

The Jamhuri Day celebrations in Kenya reflect the joy Kenyans have in their country’s freedom and independence from British colonial rule. They also reflect the unique and colorful culture of Kenya as a whole. In this article, you’ll learn about Jamhuri Day in Kenya, including its history and current celebrations. At SwahiliPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative, starting with this article! Ready? Let’s go. 1. What is Jamhuri Day? Jamhuri Day is Kenya’s celebration of its independence and freedom. The Swahili word jamhuri translates to "republic" in English, and Jamhuri Day is also called "Republic Day" or "Independence Day." 1- Jamhuri Day History Germans... Show more

Learn all the Swahili New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join SwahiliPod101 for a special Swahili New Year celebration! Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated. So, how do you say Happy New Year in... Show more

Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Swahili? SwahiliPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Swahili Christmas phrases! Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Swahili speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas... Show more

There are plenty of destinations where you can get by with English, but sometimes you want to do better than just ‘get by’. Here are 6 reasons you should learn the basics of the language of your next trip destination. 1. You will be able to discover your destination better than other tourists. Getting by is one thing, but actually experiencing a trip abroad is quite another. No amount of guidebooks and online research can compensate for a basic lack of language ability. Speaking the language of your destination permits you to explore that destination beyond the regular tourist traps. Your language skills will not only allow you to dig into all the hidden gems of your destination, but they will also allow you to mingle with the... Show more