Black History : What were the indigenous Numbers/Months/Days in Swahili?

[Asomfwaa]

Peace Family,

I'm trying to study Swahili from books and I am running into the problem of the Number system being part Arab and the months being part English.

1 = Moja
2 = Mbili
3 = Tatu
4 = Nne
5 = Tano
6 = Sita
7 = Saba
8 = Nane
9 = Tisa

Source:
http://www.masai-mara.com/mmswn.htm

Where 6 and 7 are Arab numbers. As well as 20 and 30, and more.

This leads to the Months being Arab too.

For instance:

Jumatatu (Monday)
Jumanne (Tuesday)
Jumatano (Wednesday)
Alhamisi (Thursday)
Ijumaa (Friday)
Jumamosi (Saturday)
Jumapili (Sunday)

Source: http://www.afropedea.org/african-science/swahili-calendar

Where Thursday and Friday are clearly Arab. Not without irony, Saturday has the number 1 in it; Sunday, 2; Monday, 3 . . . so clearly Thursday and Friday would have 6 and 7 yet neither the numbers 6 nor 7 are non-Arab so one can't use them to find out the original names of these weekdays.

Separately,

Januari
Februari
Machi
Aprili
Mei
Juni
Julai
Agosti
Septemba
Oktoba
Novemba
Desemba

Source: Ibid.

Are clearly English. This site did suggest that there were traditional names of Month 1 and Month 2 e.g. mwezi wa pili . . . but that still doesn't give us insight into what were the original numbers of 6 and 7.

Anyone have any insight?

 

[Destee]

I don't have any insight ... but i've learned already ... with what you've shared above ...

I didn't know that Swahili used some Arab and English to form their words / phrases.

It's all very interesting and i'll continue reading and learning with you ... if you let me ...

Much Love and Peace.



Destee

 

[sekou kasimu]

Peace Family,

I'm trying to study Swahili from books and I am running into the problem of the Number system being part Arab and the months being part English.

1 = Moja
2 = Mbili
3 = Tatu
4 = Nne
5 = Tano
6 = Sita
7 = Saba
8 = Nane
9 = Tisa

Source:
http://www.masai-mara.com/mmswn.htm

Where 6 and 7 are Arab numbers. As well as 20 and 30, and more.

This leads to the Months being Arab too.

For instance:

Jumatatu (Monday)
Jumanne (Tuesday)
Jumatano (Wednesday)
Alhamisi (Thursday)
Ijumaa (Friday)
Jumamosi (Saturday)
Jumapili (Sunday)

Source: http://www.afropedea.org/african-science/swahili-calendar

Where Thursday and Friday are clearly Arab. Not without irony, Saturday has the number 1 in it; Sunday, 2; Monday, 3 . . . so clearly Thursday and Friday would have 6 and 7 yet neither the numbers 6 nor 7 are non-Arab so one can't use them to find out the original names of these weekdays.

Separately,

Januari
Februari
Machi
Aprili
Mei
Juni
Julai
Agosti
Septemba
Oktoba
Novemba
Desemba

Source: Ibid.

Are clearly English. This site did suggest that there were traditional names of Month 1 and Month 2 e.g. mwezi wa pili . . . but that still doesn't give us insight into what were the original numbers of 6 and 7.

Anyone have any insight?

The language is called Ki Swahili, the people are called Swahili. You really have me confused now! Smile

 

[Omowale Jabali]

Peace Family,

I'm trying to study Swahili from books and I am running into the problem of the Number system being part Arab and the months being part English.

1 = Moja
2 = Mbili
3 = Tatu
4 = Nne
5 = Tano
6 = Sita
7 = Saba
8 = Nane
9 = Tisa

Source:
http://www.masai-mara.com/mmswn.htm

Where 6 and 7 are Arab numbers. As well as 20 and 30, and more.

This leads to the Months being Arab too.

For instance:

Jumatatu (Monday)
Jumanne (Tuesday)
Jumatano (Wednesday)
Alhamisi (Thursday)
Ijumaa (Friday)
Jumamosi (Saturday)
Jumapili (Sunday)

Source: http://www.afropedea.org/african-science/swahili-calendar

Where Thursday and Friday are clearly Arab. Not without irony, Saturday has the number 1 in it; Sunday, 2; Monday, 3 . . . so clearly Thursday and Friday would have 6 and 7 yet neither the numbers 6 nor 7 are non-Arab so one can't use them to find out the original names of these weekdays.

Separately,

Januari
Februari
Machi
Aprili
Mei
Juni
Julai
Agosti
Septemba
Oktoba
Novemba
Desemba

Source: Ibid.

Are clearly English. This site did suggest that there were traditional names of Month 1 and Month 2 e.g. mwezi wa pili . . . but that still doesn't give us insight into what were the original numbers of 6 and 7.

Anyone have any insight?

The answer is provided in the link you provided.

"Swahili Calendar is a lunar calendar base on the Islamic calendar. It contains 7 days."

It's not based on a traditional calendar, nor is Swahili a purely indigenous language.

 

[Asomfwaa]

The answer is provided in the link you provided.

"Swahili Calendar is a lunar calendar base on the Islamic calendar. It contains 7 days."

It's not based on a traditional calendar, nor is Swahili a purely indigenous language.

Oh. But numbers like 6 and 7 (20, 30, and so forth) are Arabic. It seems strange to me that these numbers are Arab.

Thanks for insight!