When languages intermarry

Sheng, a mixture of Swahili, English, and vernacular, is a fascinating phenomenon with different meanings to various groups. To Nairobi’s urban youth, it serves as an identifier: the more conservative view it as a language that corrupts Swahili and English and negatively impacts students’ performance in these languages. For linguists, Sheng represents the socioeconomic tensions in Nairobi’s society. Meanwhile, politicians and ad marketers recognise its potential to tap into youth votes and purchasing power.

Sheng’s vocabulary draws on several vernacular languages, including Kikuyu, Dholuo, Kamba, and Luhya, reflecting Nairobi’s cosmopolitan nature as it evolved into a city during colonial times. The colonialists’ policies disrupted the way of life of indigenous communities, leading to migration to cities such as Nairobi. As a result, these communities were segregated into African quarters, ultimately leading to the need to communicate across different languages, hence the emergence of Sheng.

Sheng’s fluidity has given rise to Engsh, a hybrid of English and Sheng. Engsh is prevalent among Nairobi’s affluent residents settled in what was once the European quarters. While older generations tend to use Nairobi Swahili or English, Sheng and Engsh are mainly employed by the youth, with room for code-switching as the need arises. Sheng’s origins and development provide valuable insights into Nairobi’s social and linguistic landscape.

Code-switching is a practice where individuals switch from one language to another based on group and class dynamics. For example, Kenyans often identify themselves primarily by their ethnicity. This way of identification led to a debate surrounding the concept of positive ethnicity, which refers to celebrating and taking pride in one’s identity as belonging to a specific community and related heritage and culture. In contrast, tribalism involves giving undue advantage to members of one’s community, often through acts of commission and omission.

Code-switching can be an almost reflexive action. For instance, two young men from Eastlands who have secured employment with an Englishman will likely switch between English and Sheng, depending on the situation. While in the presence of their employer, English would be the medium of communication, while on lunch break, Sheng or their mother tongue may take over. In this example, Sheng is the mother tongue of the two young men, even though they were born and raised in the city, with little connection to their ancestral lands.

Sheng blurs tribal lines and the associated political and social issues from tribalism. Some may criticise individuals for not knowing how to speak their mother tongue and cite Ngugi wa Thion’go’s push for the vernacular in literature as an example of embracing one’s native language. However, it is essential to note that many powerful nations, such as the US, the UK, Germany, Spain, China, France, Russia, and Japan, have wholly-owned their languages in communication and technology. It is also essential to acknowledge that English is not indigenous to the US and that the country is a melting pot of diverse languages and cultures.

Sheng’s fluidity notwithstanding, it is here to stay, and Nairobians are a step ahead as they can seamlessly switch between Sheng and English. Ultimately, embracing code-switching and Sheng is an asset that enhances our communication and cultural understanding.