Tanzania Partnership

Pastor Naftal & Anjelina Ng'amillo In just a couple short weeks, we will be hosting guests from Tanzania. Pastor Naftal and Anjelina Ng'amillo from Tungamalenga Parish, along with Dr Mufwimi and Dora Saga from the Ilula Lutheran Hospital, will arrive in Minnesota October 21 for a stay of just over two weeks. What better way to welcome them than to learn a few words in their language? Karibu sana or, if you are addressing more than one person, Karibuni sana , means "we warmly welcome you." It's pronounced like this: KAH ree boo SAH nah or KAH ree boo nee SAH nah. Jambo means "hello." Another greeting is Habari, which is more like "how are you," to which a Tanzanian might respond Nzuri [good], Salama [peace], or Njema [fine, well, good] and then they might add, Habari yako [and how are you?]. When Tanzanians are in a gathering, like at church or at a meeting, and they rise to speak to the assembly, they almost always start by say...

Habari, Kamwene, How are you? One of the small but telling details about Tanzanian culture is the attention and care that is given to greeting people. Sometimes I am walking about with my Tanzanian friends and I watch them greet so many people they pass and find out only later that they barely know the person. But each person they pass or meet is greeted with the same respect and warmth. It's an interesting contrast to our american culture that teaches its children not to speak to strangers, and that emphasizes moving forward to the goal rather than enjoying the journey. Think about the time I spend in the grocery store at home. I'm focused on my list, on getting in and out in as short a time as I can. I don't stop for conversation with other shoppers. Yet here in the market we all stop for 'how are you' and to exchange a word or two or three. When I was at Idodi Secondary School last week, I had a young woman walk me across campus a couple times. She would hold my ...