Learn Hardcore Swahili: Shangazi na mjomba wamefika kutoka kijijini. - Aunt and uncle have arrived from the village.

Because the subject is plural. Shangazi na mjomba are two people, so the verb takes the human plural subject prefix wa-: wa-me-fika = they have arrived. The singular would be a-me-fika = he/she has arrived.

What does wamefika break down into?

wa-: 3rd person plural subject marker for people (noun class 2)
-me-: perfect/completive aspect (“have/has [already]”)
-fika: verb root “arrive”

What’s the difference between wamefika and walifika?

wamefika (perfect): they have arrived (relevant to now; you’re implying they’re here).
walifika (simple past): they arrived (at some time in the past; no necessary connection to now).

What does kutoka do here? Why is it kijijini and not just kijiji?

kutoka means “from.” It’s the infinitive of “to come/go out,” used as a preposition.
kijijini is kijiji (village) + the locative suffix -ni, giving “in/at the village.” With motion-from, Swahili commonly uses kutoka + [place]-ni: kutoka kijijini = from the village.

Is kutoka kijiji (without -ni) also possible?

You’ll hear it, but kutoka kijijini is the most natural/standard for “from the village” because the -ni explicitly marks the location. Without -ni it can sound less idiomatic.

Does na here mean “and” or “with”?

“And.” Shangazi na mjomba wamefika = “Aunt and (maternal) uncle have arrived.” If you want “with,” make one noun the subject and use na after the verb: Shangazi amefika na mjomba = “Aunt arrived with Uncle.”

There’s no “the” or “my” in the Swahili. Is that normal?

Yes. Swahili has no articles (no “a/the”). Possession isn’t assumed; add a possessive if you need it. Context usually clarifies whether you mean “the,” “my,” or just “a(n).”

How do I say “my aunt and my uncle” correctly?

Use possessive agreements that match each noun’s class:

shangazi yangu (my aunt; class 9 uses yangu)
mjomba wangu (my uncle; class 1 uses wangu) Together: Shangazi yangu na mjomba wangu wamefika kutoka kijijini.

What exactly do shangazi and mjomba mean—are they any aunt/uncle?

Traditionally:

shangazi = father’s sister (paternal aunt).
mjomba = mother’s brother (maternal uncle). In everyday speech, some speakers use them more generally for “aunt/uncle,” but the specific kinship is the default core meaning.

Which noun classes are involved in this sentence?

shangazi: class 9 (plural often class 6: mashangazi)
mjomba: class 1 (plural class 2: wajomba)
Verb agreement for a human plural subject: wa- (class 2) → wamefika
kijiji: class 7 (plural class 8: vijiji); locative -ni → kijijini

How do I make “aunts and uncles” plural if I’m not naming them individually?

mashangazi = aunts (plural of shangazi)
wajomba = uncles (plural of mjomba) Example: Mashangazi na wajomba wamefika kutoka kijijini.

What’s the normal word order here? Can I front the place phrase?

Neutral Swahili is S-V-(O)-[adverbials]. Your sentence is standard. You can front for emphasis or topic: Kutoka kijijini, shangazi na mjomba wamefika, which highlights the origin.

How do I say they haven’t arrived yet?

Use the negative perfect: Hawajafika kutoka kijijini. If you want to emphasize “yet,” add bado: Bado hawajafika kutoka kijijini.

How do I ask “Have Aunt and Uncle arrived from the village?”

Je, shangazi na mjomba wamefika kutoka kijijini?
Or just say it with rising intonation: Shangazi na mjomba wamefika kutoka kijijini?

Could I say wamewasili instead of wamefika?

Yes. -wasili also means “arrive,” often a bit more formal: Shangazi na mjomba wamewasili kutoka kijijini.

Does changing kutoka change the meaning? What about arriving at the village?

Your sentence: arrival here, origin is the village → … wamefika kutoka kijijini.
Arrival at the village: Shangazi na mjomba wamefika kijijini (no kutoka). That means they reached the village, not that they came from it.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

mjomba: pronounce the cluster as [m-jo-], like “m-jo-mba.”
kijijini: keep the repeated “ji” clear: [kee-jee-jee-nee].
wamefika: [wa-me-fi-ka], all vowels pronounced.
Stress is usually penultimate: wa-me-FI-ka; ki-ji-JI-ni.