Swahili: pronunciation of m- and n-

[vinyljunkie619]

I have seen several materials show the pronunciation of m- in swahili as ᵊm (as in mtoto, mtu, mnasoma) however a close friend of mine, from uganda is a native speaker and pronounces them as mᵊtoto, mutu, mənasoma, etc.
Are both correct?

 

[Ghabi]

Perhaps the short schwa in the materials is only added to help a learner? The initial m- should be a syllable by itself, without accompanying vowel, either before or after it (cf. this Forvo entry for "mtoto", which clearly shows the m- as a syllable by itself).

 

[WannaBFluent]

Yep, I agree, you should not add any vowel to it. It's the same in Soninke with the N.