📘 Lesson 1: Greetings and Family Talk in Bemba
From: WhatsApp Bemba Stories – Episode 1: The Visit Begins
👋 Welcome to our first lesson in the WhatsApp Bemba Stories series! This series uses real-life style WhatsApp chats between two friends to teach you everyday Bemba. Each episode reveals more of the story—and helps you build your vocabulary and confidence.
🧑🤝🧑 Meet the Characters:
- Chanda – A reflective, polite man with something on his mind.
- Bwalya – His friend, grounded and warm-hearted.
📱 WhatsApp Conversation – Episode 1
| Character | Message (English) | Message (Bemba) |
|---|---|---|
| Chanda | Good morning. | Mwashibukeni. |
| Bwalya | Morning to you too, How are you my friend? | Endita mukwai. Uli shani mune? |
| Chanda | How is the family? | Ulupwa luli shani? |
| Bwalya | Fine. Bupe’s mum has escorted her to school. | Bwino. Bana Bupe bamushindika ku sukulu. |
| Chanda | I want to come see you today. | Ndefwaya ukwisa mimona lelo. |
| Bwalya | Is everything OK over there? | Mwati kuli bwino uko kuntu? |
🎓 What You’ll Learn in This Lesson:
🗣 Key Vocabulary
| English | Bemba | Phonetic |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Mwashibukeni | mwah-shee-boo-keh-nee |
| How is the family? | Ulupwa luli shani? | oo-loo-pwah loo-lee shah-nee? |
| Fine. Bupe’s mum has escorted her to school. | Bwino. Bana Bupe bamushindika ku sukulu. | bwee-no. bah-nah boo-peh bah-moo-sheen-dee-kah koo soo-koo-loo |
| Children | Abaice | ah-bah-ee-che |
| I want to come see you today. | Ndefwaya ukwisa mimona lelo. | ndeh-fwah-yah ook-wee-sah mee-moh-nah leh-lo |
| Is everything OK over there? | Mwati kuli bwino uko kuntu? | mwah-tee koo-lee bwee-no oo-koh koon-too? |
💡 Grammar Tip: Formal vs Informal
- “Mwashibukeni” is a polite and formal greeting. Use it when greeting elders or in respectful contexts.
- The word “mukwai” is often added for politeness, similar to “sir” or “ma’am.”
💬 Practice Activity:
Try replying to these Bemba messages:
- Chanda says: “Ulupwa luling shani?”
➤ How would you reply in Bemba? - You want to say: “I want to visit today.”
➤ Type it in Bemba: “______ lelo.”_
(Scroll up for hints!)
🔚 Episode Summary:
Chanda checks in with his friend Bwalya using polite Bemba greetings. But then—he drops a surprise: he wants to visit. The episode ends with Bwalya asking “Mwati kuli bwino uko kuntu?” — Is everything OK over there?
🎯 Cliffhanger: Why does Chanda want to visit so suddenly? What’s he hiding?
▶️ Watch & Subscribe:
Catch the full chat with text-on-screen and English subtitles on our YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe to follow the story and improve your Bemba week by week.
