Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mama atakuwa akifua nguo bafuni, na mimi nitakuwa nikiandika insha mezani. - Mother will be washing clothes in the bathroom, and I will be writing a composition at the table.

Future of kuwa (to be):
- atakuwa = a- (she) + -ta- (future) + -kuwa (be) → she will be
- nitakuwa = ni- (I) + -ta- (future) + -kuwa (be) → I will be
Main verb with -ki- (progressive aspect):
- akifua (from kufua) → washing
- nikiandika (from kuandika) → writing

Together: future “be” + -ki- form of the main verb = future continuous.

Why are there two verb-like parts (atakuwa akifua, nitakuwa nikiandika) instead of just one verb?

Swahili often uses auxiliary + main verb to express certain aspects, just like English will be washing uses will be + washing.

Structure:

atakuwa akifua
- atakuwa → auxiliary (will be)
- akifua → main verb with -ki- (washing)
nitakuwa nikiandika
- nitakuwa → auxiliary (I will be)
- nikiandika → main verb with -ki- (writing)

This combination:

highlights that the action is ongoing at a specific time in the future
sounds very natural when describing parallel activities, like here: Mum doing one thing, you doing another at the same time.

What is the difference between atakuwa akifua and atafua?

Both talk about the future, but with a different nuance:

atafua nguo → she will wash the clothes
- simple future: a future event, no special focus on duration.
atakuwa akifua nguo → she will be washing the clothes
- future continuous: emphasizes that at that future time, she will be in the middle of washing.

So:

Use atafua for a simple statement of a future action.
Use atakuwa akifua to show the action is ongoing or to set a background scene in the future, often alongside another action.

What exactly does the -ki- in akifua and nikiandika do? How is it different from -na- (as in anafua)?

The marker -ki- generally expresses a progressive or ongoing action, especially in combination with kuwa:

atakuwa akifua → she will be washing
nitakuwa nikiandika → I will be writing

The marker -na- is also progressive, but it usually works in simple present/progressive:

anafua nguo → she is washing clothes / she washes clothes
ninaandika insha → I am writing an essay / I write an essay

Key contrasts:

-na- (simple present/progressive):
- anafua = she is washing / she washes (now or generally)
-ki- with kuwa (compound progressive, often in future/past):
- atakuwa akifua = she will be washing
- alikuwa akifua = she was washing

-ki- is also used in other ways (e.g., when/while clauses), but in this sentence it is clearly progressive aspect tied to a future time.

How do a- and ni- work as subject markers for Mama and mimi?

Swahili uses subject prefixes on the verb instead of separate subject pronouns.

Relevant prefixes:

ni- → I (mimi)
u- → you (sg) (wewe)
a- → he/she (yeye)
tu- → we (sisi)
m- → you (pl) (nyinyi)
wa- → they (wao)

In your sentence:

Mama atakuwa akifua
- a- in atakuwa and akifua agrees with Mama (3rd person singular: she)
mimi nitakuwa nikiandika
- ni- in nitakuwa and nikiandika agrees with mimi (1st person singular: I)

So even if you omit the pronouns:

Atakuwa akifua nguo bafuni = She will be washing clothes in the bathroom.
Nitakuwa nikiandika insha mezani = I will be writing an essay at the table.

The subject is clear from the prefix on the verb.

Why do we say na mimi instead of just mimi in the second part?

na here means and, linking the two clauses:

Mama atakuwa akifua nguo bafuni, na mimi nitakuwa nikiandika insha mezani.
→ Mother will be washing clothes in the bathroom, and I will be writing an essay at the table.

Usage:

na joins the two actions: Mum’s action and your action.
mimi is kept to emphasize the contrast: what I will be doing vs what Mama will be doing.

You could grammatically say:

Mama atakuwa akifua nguo bafuni, nitakuwa nikiandika insha mezani.

…but it sounds more natural and clearer to include na (and) and often mimi for the contrast:

… na mimi nitakuwa nikiandika … → … and I will be writing …

What does the -ni at the end of bafuni and mezani mean?

The suffix -ni is a locative marker, roughly meaning in / at / on depending on the noun.

bafu → bathroom
- bafuni → in the bathroom
meza → table
- mezani → at the table / on the table (depending on context)

So instead of saying:

in the bathroom = katika bafu
at the table = kwenye meza

Swahili very often uses the locative -ni:

bafuni = in the bathroom
mezani = at the table

It is compact and very common in everyday speech.

Could I use katika or kwenye instead of the -ni ending, like katika bafu or kwenye meza?

Yes, that is possible and grammatically correct:

Mama atakuwa akifua nguo katika bafu.
… na mimi nitakuwa nikiandika insha kwenye meza.

However:

bafuni and mezani (with -ni) are shorter and more natural for these very common places.
katika is a bit more formal/literary.
kwenye is common and clear, but where a straightforward -ni exists (like bafuni, mezani, nyumbani), people tend to prefer -ni.

So native-like preference here is:

bafuni (not katika bafu unless you have a special reason)
mezani (not kwenye meza unless you want to specify something like “right on the surface of the table” in contrast to somewhere near it).

Why is the order akifua nguo bafuni instead of akifua bafuni nguo?

Typical Swahili word order in such phrases is:

Verb – Object – Place/Locative

So:

akifua (verb: washing)
nguo (object: clothes)
bafuni (place: in the bathroom)

→ akifua nguo bafuni

You could say akifua bafuni nguo, and it wouldn’t be ungrammatical, but it would sound odd and marked. Normally:

Verb + direct object + place is the default and most natural pattern.

This is similar to English preferring:

washing clothes in the bathroom
not
washing in the bathroom clothes.

Is it correct to say Mama atafua nguo bafuni, na mimi nitaandika insha mezani instead? What changes?

Yes, that sentence is grammatically correct.

Mama atafua nguo bafuni → Mother will wash clothes in the bathroom.
… na mimi nitaandika insha mezani → … and I will write an essay at the table.

The difference is:

atafua / nitaandika → simple future (will wash, will write)
atakuwa akifua / nitakuwa nikiandika → future continuous (will be washing, will be writing)

So your original sentence paints a picture of ongoing actions happening at the same time in the future, while the simple future version just states future events without that continuous, in-progress feeling.

Why is it insha mezani and not something like insha juu ya meza?

Both can be correct, but they don’t focus on exactly the same thing:

insha mezani
- uses the locative -ni on meza → at the table / on the table
- emphasizes the general location: you are at the table working on your essay.
insha juu ya meza
- juu ya = on top of
- focuses on the physical position of the essay on top of the table.

In your sentence, the important idea is where you are working (at the table), not the exact physical placement of the paper. That’s why mezani is the most natural choice.