LARRY MADOWO SHOCKS THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

CNN journalist Larry Madowo on Monday elicited discussion on Twitter over Tanzanian Swahili vocabulary which he felt is increasingly becoming made up.

The renowned media personality was dumbfounded upon learning that the Swahili word for smartphones is “vishkwambi”, a word he didn’t believe exists.

“Tanzanians call smartphones “vishkwambi” in Kiswahili sanifu. They’re just making up words now. Tanzanians need to be stopped,” Larry tweeted. 

Tanzanians are known for speaking the finest Swahili that even citizens from other Swahili-speaking countries like Kenya and Uganda find hard to comprehend.

For instance, on the “vishkwambi” vocabulary, it appeared Larry got it all wrong, at least going by one user’s response to his tweet.

Maria Sarungi, seemingly a Tanzanian, said the word refers to tablets.

“Noooo Larry vishkwambi are tablets – smartphones are simu janja! Laptop is tarakilishi mpakato or kipakatalishi.  Pole aisee!

KTN journalist Ali Manzu also weighed in on the matter and said all new Swahili words that originate from Tanzania are well-researched by professionals.

“They have a whole department of Swahili at the University of Dare-Salaam where they conduct research on the development of the Swahili language. New Swahili words are made here,” Manzu said.

He gave two examples of such new words; Makani and Kisengeretua.

The words were researched and approved by Baraza la Kiswahili la Taifa (BAKITA), a Tanzanian institution responsible for regulating and promoting the Kiswahili language.

It said Makani means “sehemu maalumu ya kupumzika na kufanyia mazungumzo” which in English is basically a lounge.

Kisengeretua on the other hand is “kifaa kinachotumika kuwashia na kubadilishia mawimbi au chaneli ukiwa mbali hususan katika televisheni, redio na hutukima kufunga na kufungulia mlango wa gari au nyumba”.

The above, in simple terms, is a remote control.