Learn Hardcore Swahili: Wanakijiji huandaa shughuli za kijamii sokoni. - Villagers usually organize social activities at the market.

It marks the habitual/general aspect: it says the action is something that typically, usually, or generally happens. So huandaa means “(they) usually prepare/organize,” not something happening right now.

Why doesn’t the verb have a subject prefix like wa- (as in wanaandaa)?

With the habitual marker hu-, Swahili normally omits the subject prefix on the verb. The subject is supplied by the noun phrase (Wanakijiji) in front of the verb. This is standard with hu-.

How would I say it if I mean “are preparing (right now)” instead of “usually prepare”?

Use the present tense marker -na- with a subject prefix: Wanakijiji wanaandaa shughuli za kijamii sokoni (sasa). That means “The villagers are preparing … (now).”

What’s the difference between hu- and huwa?

hu- is a verb prefix that marks a habitual, and it doesn’t take a subject prefix on the verb: huandaa.
huwa is an adverb/auxiliary meaning “usually.” It’s followed by a normal finite verb with subject marking: Wanakijiji huwa wanaandaa … (They usually prepare …).
A bonus: hu- doesn’t have a direct negative form, but huwa can be negated: Wanakijiji huwa hawaandai … (They don’t usually prepare …).

How do I make a negative that still means “(don’t) usually …”?

Avoid negating hu- (it doesn’t negate). Use:

Wanakijiji huwa hawaandai shughuli za kijamii sokoni. (They don’t usually prepare …), or
Kwa kawaida, wanakijiji hawaandai … (As a rule, they don’t …).

Is huandaa the infinitive “to prepare”?

No. The infinitive is kuandaa (“to prepare”). huandaa is the habitual finite form (“(they) usually prepare”).

How is Wanakijiji formed, and what’s the singular?

It comes from the pattern mwana- + X meaning “person of X.”

Singular: mwanakijiji = “a villager”
Plural: wanakijiji = “villagers”
Note the plural changes mwana- to wana-.

Does wana- in wanakijiji mean “they have”?

No. Here it’s part of the noun “villagers” (wanakijiji), not the verb wana (“they have”). Context and word class distinguish them.

How can I tell that shughuli is plural in this sentence?

The connector za shows it. Shughuli belongs to noun class 9/10 and has the same form in singular and plural; agreement tells you the number:

Singular: shughuli ya kijamii (one social activity)
Plural: shughuli za kijamii (social activities)

What does kijamii mean and how does it work grammatically?

kijamii means “social,” derived from jamii (“society”). It’s used in genitive phrases like ya/za/wa kijamii to mean “of a social nature.” The form kijamii itself doesn’t change; the connector (ya/za/wa) shows agreement with the head noun.

Why is it za and not ya before kijamii?

Because the head noun is plural (shughuli in class 10). The genitive connector must agree:

Singular (class 9): ya — shughuli ya kijamii
Plural (class 10): za — shughuli za kijamii

What does -ni in sokoni do?

It’s the locative suffix meaning “in/at/on.” sokoni means “at the market/in the market.”
Compare:

soko = market
sokoni = at/in the market
kwenye soko = at the market (using the preposition kwenye; a bit more neutral/explicit)

Could I say kwenye soko instead of sokoni?

Yes. sokoni is concise and very idiomatic; kwenye soko is also correct and slightly more general/explicit. Meaning-wise here, they’re interchangeable.

How would I say “at the markets” (plural)?

Make the noun plural and keep the locative: masoko (markets) → masokoni (at the markets).

Is the word order (… sokoni at the end) required?

Swahili’s default is Subject–Verb–Object and then places/times, so putting sokoni at the end is natural. You can front it for emphasis: Sokoni, wanakijiji huandaa shughuli za kijamii, but the neutral order is as given.

Can I use a passive to focus on the activities instead of the villagers?

Yes. Passive keeps the same habitual meaning: Shughuli za kijamii huandaliwa sokoni (na wanakijiji). This means “Social activities are (usually) prepared at the market (by the villagers).”