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.
“Last night I saw something that I have never seen before. A young woman took a smooth stone out of her bag. She touched it and it started glowing in the dark. She pointed at it and the face of her mother appeared on the surface of the stone. She touched the face with her…
Adverbs of Place and Space Space and places are described using different adverbs. In some cases, more than one word is available. Where this is the case, the words are here separated by a coma. Examples show how the words can be used. In front, forward, before = Kuntanshi, Pantanshi She is standing in front of…
In this short video lesson, we will look at the way adjectives are used in Bemba, as compared to English. A noun is a part of a sentence that names a person, place, thing, idea, action or quality. Examples: Itaba = cob of maize Umuntu = person Kapenta = a type of small fish…
Akashi ushilala bakakumbwa umutenge. Emukutiila: Tekwesha ukulakumbwa in’ganda yabanobe nangula ubwikalo bwabo pantu tawaishiba ifyo baikala muli ilya ng’anda. Literal meaning: There are many people who admire other people’s lives not knowing that they also have got their own problems which may even be too hard as compared to them.(“The grass is always greener on…
Amapinda Ne Nsoselo “Amasuku yakutolelwa mapompo.” English Meaning: That is to say: Do not leave a task that you can manage to do with others because it may not be done as you expected or it might be spoiled. Bemba Meaning: Emukutila: Wilalekela ababiyo ukuti bakubombele umulimo untu wingakwanisha ukubomba wemwine pantu limbi kuti bakulufyanishisha.…
Amapinda Ne Nsoselo We ushishi njili soimwene mulunweno. That is to say: You who does not know the person we were talking about, come and see him now. Emukutila: Mune weushaishiba ulya muntu twalelandapo, ala somumone uyu.
Letters From a Retired Miner Greetings my friends. I want to say that Joseph Mwila Bwembya is only a baby, but in his brains he is a wise man. This is why he said let me write a book to explain the sayings of my Bemba ancestors. I wish other young men and women can…
Learn to Speak Bemba: At the Market Place – Video This week we present a Bemba Lesson video by 0rphan Medical Network International (OMNI). It is freely available on YouTube. THE SCRIPT: Here are the phrases covered in this video: I want to buy fruit = Ndefwaya ukushita ifitwalo No = Awe Yes = Ee I…
A friend received this translation of the Laws of Nature, from a friend of a friend, and forwarded it to me. It is too good not to share: Science taught in Bemba (1) FARADAY’s LAW Whenever there is a change in the magnetic flux linking a circuit, an EMF is produced in that circuit the magnitude…
If you went out on the streets of Kitwe and asked a hundred people what “Nsalankwale yandi” means, you will be lucky if you got one or two who knew that it means “my rose.” If, on the other hand you asked what “iluba lyandi” means, everybody will tell you it means “my flower.” This…
