Kiswahili

Risala enuka hima
sikae ukaatwili

nina jambo takutuma
ubalegheshe suali
nipate jawabu njema
yenye amani na kweli
    ...
Nauliza Kiswahili
ni lugha ya watu gani.

Lugha nyingi duniani
zatamkwa mbalimbali
na zote ulimwenguni
zina wenyewe mahali.
    ...
Si Hindi si Uzunguni
    ...
mewaumbia Jalali.
    ...
Nauliza Kiswahili...

Wakamba wana kikwao
lugha yao ya aswili
na Wazungu pia nao
wana zao mbalimbali
na Wameru wana yao
wengini ni Wasomaii
ndizo matamshi yao.
Na yetu ni lugha gani.

Wahindi wana Kihindi
kwa kabila mbali mbali
na Wanandi ni Kinandi
    ...
ndizo zao akuwali
Wengine ni Wakilindi
    ...
wana yao ya aswili
Jee hichi Kiswahili
ni lugha ya watu gani.

Kuuliza si ujinga
musinifanye sahili
nautafuta muanga
tuzunduane akili
ndipo shairi 'katunga
kubaleghesha suali.
Nielezwe Kiswahili
    ...
Ni lugha ya watu gani.

Mara nyingi husikiya
kuwa hichi Kiswahili
hakina mtu mmoya
ambaye ni yake kweli
Na wagine huteteya
Kina wenyewe aswili.
Ndipo 'kamba Kiswahili
    ...
ni lugha ya watu gani

Masai ana kikwao
lugha ya tangu azali
na Mahara wana yao
    ...
wengine Mashelisheli
    ...
na Waluo lugha zao
si sawa na Maragoli
    ...
Jee hichi Kiswahili...

Na jamii wengineo
wana lugha mbalimbali
na kujua za wenzao
ni kujifunza ya pili
Lakini wana na zao
lugha za tangu aswili.
Jee hichi Kiswahili...

Sasa ambalo nataka
kwa wenye kujua hili
wa Kenya na Tanganyika
na walo kila mahali
nipani ilo hakika
tusifitane ukweli
Nambiani Kiswahili
ni lugha ya watu gani

Mimi mefikiri mno
kuamua jambo hili
na 'kaona lugha hino
lazima ina aswili
kwa sababu kulla neno
lina mwanzo wa usuli
Ndipo 'kamba Kiswahili
Ni lugha ya watu gani.

Na iwapo hivi sivyo
nilivyoamua hili
nioneshani vilivyo
mudhihirishe ukweli
nijue ambavyo ndivyo
tutoane mushikili
    ...
Kifunuke Kiswahili
ki lugha ya watu gani...

Na iwapo atakuja
wa kunijibu suali
namuomba jambo moja
twambiane kiakili
tusionyane miuja
    ...
jambo lisilokubali.
Na nambie Kiswahili
ni lugha ya watu gani?

The Swahili Language

Messenger, rise quickly,
don't linger, don't dawdle,

I have an errand for you,
carry my question to the addressee
so that I may receive a good answer,
one that gives peace because
    it contains the truth:
I ask, for what sort of people
is Swahili the language?

There are many languages in the world,
pronounced in different ways,
and all the languages on earth
have people who belong to them,
    in a special place
Not only in India, not only in
    Europe and America
[but everywhere] has the Almighty
    created language.
I ask...

The Kamba have their own language
which has been there since their genesis;
and the British too [or the Europeans]
have their own several languages;
and the Meru people have their own,
and the Somali are a different people again
and so they have their own language.
And which language is ours?

The Indians have Hindi
for various tribes,
and for the Nandi there is
    the Nandi language,
that is their own speech;
and different again are the
    people of Usambara,
they have their own original language.
Tell me, for what sort of people
is Swahili the language?

Asking is not stupidity;
do not think that my question is easy,
I am searching for light,
that we may shake the minds awake,
that is why I made a poem
in order to communicate this problem.
Let it be explained to me,
    for what sort of people
is the Swahili language?

One often hears
of this Swahili language, that
there isn't anyone
for whom it is his own language.
And others argue
that it does have original speakers [owners].
that is why I am saying,
    for what sort of people
Is Swahili...

The Masai has his home language
ever since the beginning of Creation,
and the people of the island
    of Socotra have theirs;
the people of the Seychelles
    are different again;
and the Nilotes have their languages,
which are different from those
    of the Ragoli people.
Tell me, for what sort of people...

And all the others
have different languages
and some know the languages of their neighbors,
which means studying a second language;
but they still have their own languages
ever since their origin.
Tell me, for what sort of people...

Now that which I am asking,
from those who know this,
the people of Kenya and Tanganyika
and that means those who live everywhere,
give me a true answer,
let us not hide the truth from one another!
Tell me, for what sort of people...

I have thought a great deal
to solve this problem,
and I have realized that this language
must have an origin;
because every word
has a beginning for its roots.
So I say, for what sort of people
is Swahili...

And if this is not so,
as I have solved it,
show me how it is,
make the truth clear,
that I may know how it really is,
that we may help each other
    out of the difficulty!
May it be discovered for what sort of people
is Swahili...

And if there arrives
a person who can solve my problem,
I beg of him one thing:
let us talk together in an intelligent manner,
let us not show each other miracles
    [throw dust in each other's eyes]
[by saying] something that is not acceptable.
So tell me, for what sort of people
is Swahili...