Why nani instead of nini when asking name?
Why "Jina lake ni nani?" instead of "Jina lake ni nini?"?

Question

Answer

neno " nani" linatumika kuuliza majina ya vitu vyenye uhai kwa mfano majina ya watu ,majina ya mifugo etc

Answer

Hello, I am not sure about whether there is a historical (in linguistic terms, diachronic) reason to it or not but from the current (synchronic) perspective, languages appear idiosyncratic as regards this issue. For example, Indonesian uses "siapa" "who" as well, rather than "apa" "what."

Answer

Nini> translates to > what,  and its usually used for clarifying the word > it
Nani> on the other hand is used human beings it has the same meaning as > who? in English

Answer

neno " nani" linatumika kuuliza majina ya vitu vyenye uhai kwa mfano majina ya watu ,majina ya mifugo etc

Answer

neno "nani" linatumika ili kujua au kuuliza Ji na  la mtu au kitu usichokijua jina lake lakini  unakijua kwa umbile