Kenyans, and maybe Tanzanians… Ok, you too Ugandans, the next time you address singer Victoria Kimani, please let it be in English.
The singer has confessed she doesn’t know Swahili and comments in Swahili on her social media accounts have always confused.
He statement comes after a follower insulted her in Swahili and she had to get someone to translate to her. Maybe she doesn’t trust Google translate enough.
“Lazima ni baraka za Mungu kwamba sielewi Kiswahili kwa sababu sitawahi kuelewa zile chuki huelekezwa kwangu….. Haha ..Endeleeni kuongea, sioni, siskii, Wala sielewi neno, ni herufi tuu. Like a stamp of Gods protection over my heart, soul and mind,” read a post on her Instagram.
The singer confessed that she tried learning Swahili but stopped because people mocked her. Kimani was born in the US and stayed there for the better part of her life till 10 years ago where she relocated back to Kenya.
Backlash
She posted in Swahili asking why other artists from abroad are not getting a backlash for not speaking Swahili.
“Napenda sana, Tanzania na Afrika Mashariki kwa jumla. Lakini inakera sana wakati baadhi ya watu wanadhania kuwa, sizungumzi lugha ya kiswahili kwa kupenda kwangu, ama kwa sababu nimekataa kujaribu nijue….. Ukweli ni, hata wakati ninapoweka bidii na kujaribu kwa kadri yangu, wengi wananicheka kwa matamshi mabovu, wananihukumu na kunipiga mkwara kwa kukosa uzoefu wa Swahili, wakati wao walizaliwa uswahilini.
Nimejieleza Mara kwa Mara kwa zaidi ya miaka 6, lakini kwa wengine bado.
Naomba niulize… Je, mbona hawaulizwi wasanii wa USA na sehemu zingine sababu za kukosa kuongea Swahili?
Ni muziki zao muna enjoy… bila maswali. Wengine hupata raha wenzao wanapopata tabu!
La Kwanza, sijui Kiswahili, ninapojaribu, pia bado ni mbaya , matamshi mabovu, na kunifanya bonzo wa kuchekelea! Nishaawahi kuja kazini kwako nikikuambia la kusema au kufanya?
Uzoefu wako wa kuongea kiingereza na matamshi yanapokua mabovu? – sijakukosoa. Kwa kweli mambo kama haya yananifanya nisiwe na nia lugha yeyote- ila Kizungu! Unapopenda mziki yangu, unaipenda, kama huipendi, huipendi.
Lakini sita anza gumbaru ya swahili sababu yako wewe!” read her post.
