Jambo means hello

I recently purchased two children's picture books giving a very simple introduction to Kiswahili to children. They are Moja means one: Swahili counting book and Jambo means hello: Swahili alphabet book; both written by Muriel Feelings and pictures by Tom Feelings.

In Moja means one, Muriel wrote something that reminded me of the missionaries in Uganda.

Karibu [kah-ree-boo] means welcome
A caller says, Hodi? which means
May I come in? The reply is always
Karibu, whether it is a relative,
friend, or stranger.

When I would go over to the Wrights to scan documents into the computer, I would say, "Hodi?" before entering, and would enter once I heard "Karibu." It was the same when I would go over to Kris and Craig's.