So if you grew up in Kenya from the 80’s onwards you obviously speak sheng or understand sheng in one way or another. Even if you don’t agree with sheng, Safaricom and other corporates ensure you do as they try to outdo each other with new catchy sheng slogans. Ama huna bonga points?
Sheng has been studied by scholars from all over the world and there’s yet no agreement if sheng can be classified as a language or not. According to renowned Kenyan scholar Ali Mazrui, Sheng plays an important socio-psychological function of promoting a sense of group solidarity within the speakers, mainly youth. Sheng speakers feel a unity of motives, feelings, beliefs which is expressed in various localisations of sheng throughout Kenya.
Some months ago, we were part of a project Jukumu Letu with the aim of educating the youth on the different issues in the Constitution including health, youth representation and participation, youth employment, gender and human rights issues. One of the important tools for this task is a simplified version of the constitution (Katiba Mtaani) which incorporates sheng.
Jukumu letu intends to enhance the participation of the people in the exercise of the powers of the state and in making decisions affecting them. The citizens are educated on their responsibility of ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
Sheng speakers were separated from the rest the other day when speakers engaged each other in the sheng debate using the hashtag #MorioDebate. All I can say is it looks like we need to update our sheng knowledge.
The number of people that felt lost in the new sheng is astounding. We will need refresher courses.
I grew up in Eastlands but #MorioDebate is on another level
— Olé Laibuta (@Olez) June 5, 2015
After going through #MorioDebate nime realize ile #sheng najua ni kama number line kwa hesabu ya high school!
— Maurice Oniang’o (@moniangoh2030) June 5, 2015
The sheng’ on #MorioDebate or whatever language that is is out of this planet.
— Mayore 2.0.4 (@bwrca) June 5, 2015
The #MorioDebate was generally light hearted with a lot of new words thrown in.
So what is Ondeng na Maweng? @shengnation saidia pris. #MorioDebate pic.twitter.com/tCEachIxHm
— Yuri B. (@ArcherMishale) June 5, 2015
Kwenye #MorioDebate leo tunadiscuss kama ondeng ni necessary kupata mawomens. Kwa mjadala tujuilize bicep ama maweng gani muhimu.
— Super Morio (@LordKelvin273) June 5, 2015
Nijea mabazenga niko nandi RT @SafaricomLtd: Itabidi tumechora raiyaa inaelewa sheng in case rende ya #MorioDebate ianze kututweet.
— ARMU™ thatNIGGA ©® (@armuisME) June 8, 2015
Some corporates got involved and made it even livelier.
Itabidi tumechora raiyaa inaelewa sheng in case rende ya #MorioDebate ianze kututweet.
— Safaricom Limited (@SafaricomLtd) June 5, 2015
Although HELB loan did not cater for your Sheng classes , we facilitated your power to read and write .#MorioDebate#LipaHelb#HelbCares
— HELB (@HELBpage) June 5, 2015
The only constant thing with sheng is the change it seems and we have to keep adapting lest they lock us out.
