Collected by: Don Sybertz,   Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu

With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Waliho ngosha umo lina lyakwe Manyanda. Agading’wa bhusese ugagulwa hikulu, hali Ntemi Bhudoshi. Umu milimo yakwe wali nkomezu no.

Ntemi nang’hwe akantogwa no ung’winha na cheo (bhutale), nose ubhiza ntale o bhasese. Uitanwa nkujiwa wa ntale nsese manyanda (mheshimiwa wa mkuu, mtumwa manyanda).

Kushika nose bhiza bhabyaji bhakwe kunkomola (kung`winja mu bhusese). Aliyo iki cheyo jakwe ijo winhwa akalema. Ubhawila bhabyaji bhakwe giki. “Bhabyaji bhane nalina bhulumbi bhutale no iki ng`wizaga kunikomola, aliyo natajile, na manila no ukunu.” (kulemela mu shibhi)

Huna lulu bhabyaji bhakwe bhandya kulila, nu Nina ung’wila giki ulu walemaga tutibhona nu bhebhe hangi (izumo. Kumb 30:19) Kuhayimanila Ntemi Bhudoshi uzumalika. Mu shiku jene kaliho kajile, ulu ucha Ntemi akujikwa na nganji wakwe (mpaga kuja na nsago).

Lushiku lwene lwa kucha Ntemi, bhanamhala bhakang’witana Manyanda nang’hwe akayega no uhaya, “Lelo nagubhiza Ntemi.” Aho washika bhanamhala bhung’wila, “Lelo ugujikwa uli mpanga, iki kajile kise kali chene, uyo bhitogilwe nu Ntemi akujikwa nang’hwe mpanga.”

Aho Manyanda wigwa agasunduhala no, ugema na kupela aliyo uding’wa utungwa utulwa ng’wichongo.

Ntemi Bhudoshi nang’hwe utulwa higulya, bhandya gufugila, ukunu Manyanda akulilaga mugati. “Ulu ninazunije ya bhabyaji bhane,

ninatapandikile makoye.”

Kiswahili: Mtemi/Mfalme Bhudoshi Na Manyanda

Alikuwepo mwanaume mmoja jina lake Manyanda. Alikamatwa na kupelekwa utumwani akanunuliwa kwenye ikulu, kwa mfalme/mtemi Bhudoshi. Katika kazi zake alikuwa hodari yaani, alikuwa mchapa kazi mno.

Naye Mfalme alimpenda mno, akampa cheo cha ukubwa, mwishowe akawa mkubwa wa watumwa. Akawa anaitwa mheshimiwa wa mkuu mtumwa Manyanda.

Kufika mwishowe wakaja wazazi wake kumkomboa, (kumuondoa kwenye utumwa). Lakini alikataa kwa sababu ya cheo chake alichopewa. Aliwaambia wazazi wake, kwamba,  “Wazazi wangu nina shukrani kubwa mno kwa vile mmekuja kunikomboa, lakini siendi, nimezoea mno huku.” (Alikatalia kwenye dhambi).

Ndipo wazazi wake wakaanza kulia, na mama yake alimwambia kwamba, kama umekataa hatutaonana na wewe tena (laana. Kumb. 30:19).

Kushitukia, Mfalme Bhudoshi alifariki. Kulikuwepo na desturi katika siku hizo, ya kwamba, kama akifa mfalme, atazikwa na mto wa kulalia kichwani (mpaka aende na mto wake).

Siku hiyo ya kufa mfalme, wazee walimwita Manyanda naye alifurahi mno akisema, “Leo nitakuwa mfalme.” Alipofika wazee walimwambia, “Leo utazikwa ukiwa mzima, kwa vile desturi yetu iko hivyo, yule anayependana na mfalme atazikwa naye mzima.”

Manyanda aliposikia hivyo, alihudhunika mno, akajaribu na kukimbia, akashikwa akafungwa na kuwekwa shimoni.

Naye mfalme Bhudoshi akawekwa juu yake, wakaanza kufukia, huku Manyanda akilia ndani. “Kama ningekubali ya wazazi wangu, nisingepata matatizo haya.”

ENGLISH: EMPEROR/KING BHUDOSHI AND MANYANDA

There was a man named Manyanda. He was arrested and sent to slavery purchased at the palace, of the king / governor Bhudoshi. In his work he was brave ie, he was a hard worker.

And the king loved him so much, and gave him a great position. He finally became the greatest of the slaves. He was called the master of slaves honorable Manyanda.

At last his parents came to redeem him, (to get rid of slavery). But he refused because of his assigned position. He told his parents, that, “My parents I am very thankful that you came to redeem me, but I do not go, I am very familiar here.” (He remained in sin).

Then his parents began to weep, and his mother told him that, “if you have refused, we would never see you again” (curse Deutronomy 30:19).

Suddenly, King Bhudoshi died. There was a custom in those days that, as the king died, he would be buried by the pillar of the head (until he went with his pillar).

At that time the king died, the elders called Manyanda. He was very happy, saying, “Today I will be the king.” When he came to the elders, they said to him, “Today you are going to be buried alive, as our custom is, the one who was loved by the king will be buried with him.”

When Manyanda heard of it, he was so overwhelmed. He tried and to escape, without succeeding. He was arrested and they restrained him.

The King Bhugoshi was put on him, and they began to put soils covering the tomb, while Manyanda went in crying. “If I had agreed with my parents, I would have not got these problems.”