Bembe

Franco is an old-style Bembe warrior from the Uvira region, aged around sixty-five.

The mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006

Speaks his native Bembe, Swahili, poor French, and somewhat surprisingly Kinyarwanda which he acquired in prison, as well as its close cousin Kinyamulenge.

the mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006

"So a Munyamulenge rabbi ting away to a Bembe would talk about a semi-automatique so to speak?"

The mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006

"Well, for instance, a Bembe might speak Kinyarwanda, but not be able to make the total bridge to Kinyamulenge."

The mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006

I am still mortifying my soul with these thoughts when, like a message of redemption, comes the bass voice of old Franco speaking, not Bembe, but his prison-acquired Kinyarwanda.

The mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006

Overwhelmed by the solemnity of the occasion, old Franco had lapsed into his native Bembe, a language I did not possess above the waterline.

The mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006

Bembe was ousted from the head of the FCD and Flec in February this year, he added.

ANC Daily News Briefing 2006

FLEC's rebel leader denied knowledge of the agreement last week and said Bembe had no authority to negotiate it.

ANC Daily News Briefing 2006

Bembe could not be immediately reached for comment.

ANC Daily News Briefing 2006

Speaks his native Bembe, Swahili, poor French, and somewhat surprisingly Kinyarwanda which he acquired in prison, as well as its close cousin Kinyamulenge.

The mission song Le Carre, John, 1931- 2006