….they speak Kikuyu, a Kenyan language.
At least that’s what George Lucas would have us believe.
Any Kikuyu speaker/understander who has seen Star Wars VI: Return of The Jedi will know exactly what I am referring to.
I am talking about the scene that is shot inside the Millenium Falcon cockpit, scene 81 to be exact.
Here is a quick recap:
Lando: (cute brother…but is that a gheri curl?)
Admiral, we’re in position. All fighters accounted for.
Admiral Ackbar (freaky looking dude in a hi-tech Stannah Stairlift)
Proceed with the countdown. All groups assume attack coordinates.
Nien Numb (alien co-pilot, fluent in Kikuyu)
Atĩ-rĩrĩ inyue haria mũrĩĩ haria muũke haha
This literally translates to:
Atĩ-rĩrĩ all you lot over there who are over there come here
In NO way shape or form does it translate to this:
One thousand herds of elephants are standing on my foot.
(props to IMDB for correcting this but you still got it slightly wrong)
My first reaction to this scene was shock. It was so unexpected. The next time I watched the same scene I was annoyed that Kikuyu was considered an alien language. Surely the alien could just have said:
lhadlhaslkhlfa jlndiensyjshd sah dididnas gbajdkg
What has pissed me off even more is that Nien Numb’s Kikuyu moment is not recorded in the script. All they have to mark Kikuyu’s 2 seconds of fame is this:
Lando turns to his weird copilot.
I read through the credits at the end of the film and there is no mention of who provides Nien Numb’s voice.
This is just wrong!
There is a Kikuyu speaking actor/voice person (?) who contributed his /her talents and ability yet his/her work has not been credited.
I am not a huge Star Wars fan but I want to thank the person who uttered those Kikuyu words. Irrespective of the context - there is a certain happy feeling you get when you realise you are probably the only person in the cinema who understood what Nien Numb said.
Asante sana!
Kikuyu translationby Joan (again!) - Thank you girl.
The Kikuyu word, atĩ-rĩrĩ does not have an English equivalent. It is yet another example of our versatile words.
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P.S Chubby One - You think you are the only one who knows movies? Nani kama mimi 
i think this is the beginnin of war but this time brought all up in your blog not in bubudiu’s,memoire’s or aunty’s(ngamia comment noted!) its just me and you…bring it!!!!!
Mama JunkYard: You and this aunty business - you can’t just go attaching yourselves to families ovyo ovyo. As for wars…there is a very simple way to end this. Lakini kama ni vita…let’s go. (the naughty niece comment noted!)
Thanks for this information. I must remember it, just in case I’m a contstant on Jeopardy! and this is one of the answers.
Mama JunkYard Says: So long as we can share the winnings
I remember being in a movie theatre in the depths of Hounslow, Middlesex, when I heard the Gikuyu words. I nearly jumped off my seat and had an attack of the giggles. I got very strange looks from the audience - none who spoke and understood Gikuyu obviously
Mama JunkYard Says: They must have thought you were an alien pia
Oh bless - Mshairi giggles!
Mama JunkYard Says: You make me laugh wewe.
I have never watched a star wars movie, but this has really piqued my interest. It also must be sai, it made my day.
Mama JunkYard Says: Dude, those Star Wars films are not great. For a fee I would sell Mich’s collection
Wow - really interesting! I knew that they had borrowed sounds and elements from other languages to make up alien languages in the Star Wars films, but it seems that they have borrowed other languages completely.
I can remember some dude foaming at the mouth after watching star wars on that very issue. Looks like Kikuyu has joined exotic movie languages like Elven and Klingon!
whuot ara yuo toking ambout? that mufay won an awod at the annyuo muthokoi mufay celemony for mbest saodtlack. that ‘nien numb’ ferro was ifen made a honorary kikuyu! he even mbears a striking lesemblans to one of our more faymas foritishians.
I thought I was the only one who’d noticed…