This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Sheng Language Spreads Across Kenya and Beyond ¶
Sheng, a Kenyan slang language originating from the urban underclass of Nairobi, has rapidly evolved in recent years. Coined from the two languages it is mainly derived from – Swahili and English, Sheng has become a popular language among the youth and has even spread to neighboring countries like Uganda and Tanzania.
Comedian Kartelo and music group Ethic have been instrumental in introducing fresh Sheng words inline with the evolving pop culture in Kenya. Kartelo, in particular, has become a celebrity in his own right, mastering the Sheng language and crossing over from social media to mainstream media.
K24 TV news anchor Shiksha Arora has also caught the Sheng wave, learning the language and impressing netizens with her skills. She took to Twitter to show off what she has learnt, captioning the video with a few Sheng words, saying 'Niaje wathii bado mnacheza narieng. I've been learning Sheng and I must tell you it's been fascinating to say the least. Watch the video to hear what I've learnt so far.'
Netizens were impressed by Shiksha's skills, with many reacting to her video on Twitter. Some of the reactions include 'Mikono pia ukafunzwa kumove kama geng geng', 'Just come for lunch hapa kwa kipanda ya mathe and ask for chapati maharagwe and you will enjoy a one hour free lesson for Sheng', and 'Wamlambaz!!'
