Learn about Kenyan historical figures
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Michael: Hi, everyone, I'm Michael. |
| Medina: And I’m Medina! |
| Michael: And welcome to Culture Class: Essential Swahili Vocabulary, Lesson 24! In this lesson you'll learn five essential words related to society and culture. These are five historical figures in Kenya. Hand picked. You can find a complete list of vocabulary at SwahiliPod101.com. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Michael: Medina, what’s our first word? |
| Medina: Dedan Kimathi |
| Michael: Dedan Kimathi |
| Medina: (slow) Dedan Kimathi (regular) Dedan Kimathi |
| Michael: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Medina: Dedan Kimathi |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Michael: Also known as Kimathi wa Waciuri, Kimathi was a leader of the rebel group the Mau Mau, which organized an uprising against the British colonial government in the 1950s. Kimathi and his group are considered to be heroes who fought for Kenyan independence, although they were defeated by the Kenyan government after Kimathi was executed in 1957. |
| Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Medina: (normal) Isingekuwa ujasiri wa Dedan Kimathi, pengine Kenya haingepata uhuru mapema. |
| Michael: If it were not for the courage of Dedan Kimathi, maybe Kenya would not have attained independence early. |
| Medina: (slow) Isingekuwa ujasiri wa Dedan Kimathi, pengine Kenya haingepata uhuru mapema. |
| Michael: Okay, what’s next? |
| Medina: Mwai Kibaki |
| Michael: Mwai Kibaki |
| Medina: (slow) Mwai Kibaki (regular) Mwai Kibaki |
| Michael: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Medina: Mwai Kibaki |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Michael: Known for his highly intelligent and competent technocrat way of leadership, Mwai Kibaki served as the Kenyan president from December 2002 to April 2013. However, during the 2007-2008 political instability, a Grand Coalition Government was formed in which president Kibaki remained president while a newly created prime minister position was formed. |
| Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Medina: (normal) Ingawa kulikuwa na ghasia wakati Rais Kibaki aliteuliwa mwaka wa 2007, Rais huyu anakumbukwa zaidi kwa kuinua uchumi wa Kenya. |
| Michael: In spite of the chaos when president Kibaki was elected in 2007, there's no doubt that he is remembered for boosting the Kenyan economy. |
| Medina: (slow) Ingawa kulikuwa na ghasia wakati Rais Kibaki aliteuliwa mwaka wa 2007, Rais huyu anakumbukwa zaidi kwa kuinua uchumi wa Kenya. |
| Michael: Okay, what’s next? |
| Medina: Jomo Kenyatta |
| Michael: Jomo Kenyatta |
| Medina: (slow) Jomo Kenyatta (regular) Jomo Kenyatta |
| Michael: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Medina: Jomo Kenyatta |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Michael: He was the first prime minister from the time Kenya gained independence in 1963 to 1964 and later became the first president of the republic of Kenya until his death in 1978. Kenyans regard him as the founding father of the nation. |
| Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Medina: (normal) Mzee Kenyatta alipigana kufa kupona kuona kuwa Kenya imepata uhuru. |
| Michael: The late Kenyatta fought tooth and nail for Kenya to attain independence. |
| Medina: (slow) Mzee Kenyatta alipigana kufa kupona ili Kenya ipate uhuru. |
| Michael: Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Medina: Daniel Torotich Arap Moi |
| Michael: Daniel Torotich Arap Moi |
| Medina: (slow) Daniel Torotich Arap Moi (regular) Daniel Torotich Arap Moi |
| Michael: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Medina: Daniel Torotich Arap Moi |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Michael: Moi was Kenyatta's successor. He reacted to an unsuccessful coup by temporarily closing the University of Nairobi and bestowing more power on himself. Under his rule, Kenya was left in a rift of corruption, tribalism, high population growth, unemployment, and political instability until he stepped down. |
| Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Medina: (normal) Kulikuwa na ghasia nyingi Kenya wakati wa mamlaka wa Moi. |
| Michael: There was a lot of disorder in Kenya during Moi's reign. |
| Medina: (slow) Kulikuwa na ghasia nyingi Kenya wakati wa mamlaka wa Moi. |
| Michael: Okay, what’s the last word? |
| Medina: Wangari Maathai |
| Michael: Wangari Maathai |
| Medina: (slow) Wangari Maathai (regular) Wangari Maathai |
| Michael: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Medina: Wangari Maathai |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Michael: As the founder of The Green Belt Movement in 1977, Wangari Maathai greatly contributed to Kenya’s environmental sustainability. She became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. |
| Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Medina: (normal) Profesa Wangari Maathai alinyanyaswa alipopigania uboreshaji wa mazingira. |
| Michael: Professor Maathai was tortured when she was fighting for the sustainability of the environment. |
| Medina: (slow) Profesa Wangari Maathai alinyanyaswa alipopigania uboreshaji wa mazingira. |
| QUIZ |
| Michael: Okay, listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the words you just learned? Medina will give you the Swahili – please repeat it out loud! Are you ready? |
| Medina: Dedan Kimathi |
| [pause]Michael: Dedan Kimathi |
| Medina: Mwai Kibaki |
| [pause]Michael: Mwai Kibaki |
| Medina: Jomo Kenyatta |
| [pause]Michael: Jomo Kenyatta |
| Medina: Daniel Torotich Arap Moi |
| [pause]Michael: Daniel Torotich Arap Moi |
| Medina: Wangari Maathai |
| [pause]Michael: Wangari Maathai |
Outro |
| Michael: There you have it – five historical figures in Kenya! We have more vocab lists available at SwahiliPod101.com, so be sure to check them out. Thanks, everyone, see you next time! |
| Medina: kwaheri ya kuonana. |
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