The Batemi of Tanzania- The lost Mount Kenyans

[upepo]

The Batemi or Sonjo are a small ethnic group inhabiting the Arusha region of Northern Tanzania. Although they have absorbed considerable cultural influences from the much larger Maasai community that surrounds them, they still retain language elements indicative of a recent migration from the Mount Kenya region. Here is a sample recording of the Batemi language, containing many archaic words identifiable only by language enthusiasts.



For more sound recordings, visit
https://globalrecordings.net/en/program/9391

 

[Clemens]

they are also great thieves.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Watu wetu ni wengi hiyo zone ukienda west kwa WaNgurimi na Kuria.

 

[QuadroK4000]

they are also great thieves.

Afande manze si unapenda kuchoma......

 

[Clemens]

Afande manze si unapenda kuchoma......

Zii I once worked in the border of Kenya and Tanzania in Narok West, hao majamaa ni magondi ile mbaya.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Zii I once worked in the border of Kenya and Tanzania in Narok West, hao majamaa ni magondi ile mbaya.

Wanaiba wanapeleka wapi na wanaishi juu ya miti?

 

[Clemens]

Wanaiba wanapeleka wapi na wanaishi juu ya miti?

View attachment 45375

Mambo ya kale hayo, when you were there in the early 80's and now are two different things.

 

[Nattydread]

The intonation is very Greek.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Mambo ya kale hayo, when you were there in the early 80's and now are two different things.

Nilikuwa mid 90s.

 

[Clemens]

Nilikuwa mid 90s.

I was there in 2016, mambo hubadilika Kaka.

 

[mzeiya]

That auuuuuwi woiiiii is definitely related to ours

 

[Field Marshal]

Zii I once worked in the border of Kenya and Tanzania in Narok West, hao majamaa ni magondi ile mbaya.

Yaani unasema ni genetic? Isokei, isorait...

 

[Clemens]

Yaani unasema ni genetic? Isokei, isorait...

They must have learnt it from the Chaggas.

 

[Luther12]

Watu wetu ni wengi hiyo zone ukienda west kwa WaNgurimi na Kuria.

Was very surprised, hata majina yao ni ya Central kabisa.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Was very surprised, hata majina yao ni ya Central kabisa.

Kwanza Murimi ni wengi.

 

[Luther12]

Kwanza Murimi ni wengi.

There's even Nyambura and Wanjira.

 

[Clemens]

If you are a lover of history like I am, and read the records by the Portuguese people who had colonised part of the Kenyan coast in the 1500's, they talk of a fearsome community inland of Kenya known as the Segeju, it's claimed that it's the corruption of the name Thagichu owned by the Mt Kenya people, and the Segeju and neighbouring ethnic communities of northern tz that's why Kioko, mungai, wambura, mutie, kariuki are common name over there, it's claimed that it broke into the numerous Bantu people who were later convinced that they came from Cameroon-Congo forest and thus they could be easily disposed off their lands.