Learn Hardcore Swahili: Baada ya tukio hilo, umati ulitawanyika polepole. - After that event, the crowd dispersed slowly.

Baada is a noun (“aftermath/after”), so it links to the following noun with a possessive/genitive connector that agrees with baada’s class (class 9), which is ya. Literally: “the aftermath of [that incident].” You’ll see the same pattern in time nouns like kabla ya (before) and katika behaves differently because it’s a preposition, not a noun.

Why is it “tukio hilo” (noun + demonstrative) and not “hilo tukio”?

In Swahili, the default place for a demonstrative is after the noun: tukio hilo = “that incident.” Fronting the demonstrative (e.g., hilo tukio) is either ungrammatical or very marked in ordinary prose. So stick with noun + demonstrative.

What nuance does “hilo” add? Could I just say “baada ya tukio”?

tukio hilo points to a specific, previously mentioned incident (anaphoric “that”).
baada ya tukio is grammatically fine, but it can sound less specific or generic (“after an incident/after the incident” depending on context). Adding hilo makes the reference explicitly definite and anchored to what’s already known.

How does “hilo” differ from “lile” and “hili”?

All three are class 5 demonstratives for “incident” (tukio):

hili = this (near me/just introduced)
hilo = that (near you or previously mentioned/anaphoric)
lile = that yonder (visibly far/remote) In narrative writing, hilo is the go-to for “that [previously mentioned] incident.”

What is the plural of “tukio”?

Class 5/6 pairing: tukio (sg.) → matukio (pl.). Example: Baada ya matukio hayo = After those events.

What noun class is “umati,” and how does that affect the verb?

Umati is an u- class noun (often treated like class 14/11 for agreement). It takes the subject agreement u- on the verb. That’s why we get u-li- in u-li-tawanyika. With a different subject, the agreement changes:

Watu (people, class 2): wa-li-tawanyika
Kundi (group, class 5): li-li-tawanyika

How is the verb “ulitawanyika” built?

u- = subject prefix agreeing with umati
-li- = past tense
tawanyika = verb stem “disperse/be scattered” (intransitive) So: “the crowd dispersed.”

What is the difference between “tawanya” and “tawanyika”?

tawanya = to scatter something (transitive). Example: “Polisi walitawanya umati” = The police scattered the crowd.
tawanyika = to be scattered/disperse (intransitive). Example: “Umati ulitawanyika” = The crowd dispersed.

Where does “polepole” go? Can it move?

Adverbs like polepole usually come after the verb phrase: … ulitawanyika polepole. You can front it for emphasis (Polepole, umati…), but the neutral spot is postverbal. Synonyms include taratibu (“gently/slowly”), and you can intensify: polepole sana, or contrast: haraka (“quickly”).

Is the comma after “tukio hilo” required?

It’s stylistically common to place a comma after a fronted time/prepositional phrase. You’ll also see it without the comma. Both are acceptable; the comma helps readability.

Can I put the time phrase at the end instead?

Yes. Umati ulitawanyika polepole baada ya tukio hilo. Swahili allows flexible fronting for topicalization. Beginning with Baada ya… foregrounds the timeline; ending with it keeps focus on the main clause first.

How would I say “The crowd did not disperse (slowly/quickly)”?

Negative past uses the negative marker + subject + -ku-:

Umati haukutawanyika. = The crowd did not disperse.
You can add an adverb: … haraka (quickly), … polepole (slowly), depending on the meaning you want to negate or contrast.

What’s the difference between “baada ya” and “baadaye/baada ya hapo”?

baada ya
- noun/gerund: “after [something]” (e.g., baada ya tukio).
baadaye (one word): “later/afterward(s)” as an adverb. Example: Tutaonana baadaye = We’ll see each other later.
baada ya hapo: “after that (point/time).” Useful when referring to the previously mentioned moment/event without naming it again.