Bemba

The Bemba language is spoken in Central African countries including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Botswana.
In Zambia, it is spoken by over six million people. Several Zambian dialects have evolved. “Bemba Lite” (Town Bemba) is spoken along the line of rail and is characterized by words borrowed from various local languages and English.

COOKING VERBS – Bemba Lesson 35

Cooking Verbs

COOKING VERBS SCRIPT Bake Ipika Barbecue Ocha inama Beat Kumbawila Blanch Ubula Blanch Ubula Blend Sankanya Boil Ipika Boil down Kamya Braise Ipika inama Broil Kanga Carve Basa Chop Putula Cook Ipika Cream Shinga kilimu Deep-fry Salwisha Dice Putaula Drizzle Sansa Flip Pilibula Fold Peta Fry Salula Garnish Waminisha Grate Fungaula Grill Ocha Julienne Putaula…

1 – Bemba Wisdom – Mother Carry Me…

Bemba Wisdom - Mother Carry Me - thumbnail

Mother Carry Me, And I Will Carry You.” “Mayo mpaapa, naine nkakupaapa.” (Bemba) “Imagine a seed, cradled in the earth, patiently absorbing nutrients and energy. It’s not just a speck in the dirt, it’s a promise of life, of growth, of harvest. This is the essence of nurturing. In the heart of Africa, the wise…

73 Ways to Say Hello – Bemba Lesson 34

Villagers greeting each other

It is commonly known that Zambia has 73 languages. If you are like me, you will be familiar with a handful of them but not all of them. I don’t know of anyone who understands all 73 languages. When it comes to greetings, however, we can make some progress by pooling together and teaching each…

Bemba Lesson 33 – The Head – Umutwe

Umutwe - The Head

ENGLISH BEMBA BEMBA (Singular) (Plural) Head Mutwe Mitwe Hair Mushishi Mishishi Grey hair Lufwi Mfwi Body hair Ipipi Bupipi Bald patch Pala Mapala Forehead Mpumi Mpumi Crease Lukanshi Nkanshi Eye Linso Menso Eyelash Lukopyo Nkopyo Eyelid Cipa ca linso Fipa fya menso Eyebrow Cikumbi Fikumbi Jaw Isaya Masaya Tears Cilamba Filamba Nose Môna Myona Ear…

The Bemba Heritage Facebook Page

By Dewet - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66978

Ukusefya pa Ng’wena-Bemba Cultural Identity If you want to find out more about some of the Bemba traditions from the past, The Bemba Heritage Facebook Page is a chronicle of traditional culture and wisdom of the Bemba people of Zambia.  The following are some of the topics currently covered: BEMBA INITIATION SONGS: THE FIRST DAY…

Bemba Lesson 31: Welcoming The In-laws

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Welcoming the in-laws can be a daunting experience. Welcoming them in a second language adds to the excitement! As in other situations where a person makes an effort to communicate in the other person’s language, this creates a sense of appreciation of the effort you are putting in. You don’t have to be perfect to…

Bemba Lesson 29 – How is …?

How are you? Muli shani? (pl.) Uli shani?(sing.) How is your family? Ulupwa luli shani? How is the baby?  Umwana ali shani? How are the children? Abana bali shani? How is Bwalya? Ba Bwalya bali shani?(pl.) Bwalya ali shani?(sing.) How is work? Incito ili shani? How is the fruit? Ifisabo fili shani? How is the…

Bemba Lesson 27: Emergencies

Emergency Bemba Phrases

Bemba Phrases to Use in Emergencies.In this lesson you will learn some phrases that will come in handy in emergency situations. It will help you to understand what someone may be trying to communicate to you in an emergency. It can also prepare you to communicate in Bemba when you are faced with an emergency. If…