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

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

Mu shiku ja kale lukabhiho lubhanza lwa ndimu. Hibhanza lyenilo bhana ndimu bhibhuja itabhelile tikale tusalang’hanile, ili chiza tupandike Ntemi tubhize bhumo.

Huna bhandya kwibhuja nani akubhiza ntemi wise? Umo wabho uhaya Ntemi wise akubhiza shimba. Kungunoki shimba akubhiza Ntemi? Nang’hwe ushosha, shimba hu ng’wenikili ikungu.

Ungi hangi uhaya giki ntale wise akubhiza muna mhela, kunguno ki? Iki alikifutumo sha bhukali.

Ungi uhaya Ntemi wise akubhiza mbogo, kunguno ki? Iki alinkali gete nu ntwe gwakwe ntale, nu mili gwakwe ntale, akapamaga mamiti gagwa.

Ungi uhaya gete Ntemi wise muna mhuli kunguno ki? Iki ng’wene atukilile pye nguzu nu mili. Basi bhizunilija halubhanza lwenulu.

Sayayi walatiho, aho bhasalang’hana, bhangi bhumang’hya na sayayi ubhabhuja giki, kinahe bhagosha ngaliko kulubhanza lwise? Taliko, ng’wantemya ntemi?

Bhuzunya, tatemya. Watema nani? Watema muna mhuli, aliyo walaliho wa magulu abhili? Magulu abhili walatiho, ahuu watemyaga aliyo mtatemije.

Shiku jitakwilile bhigwa muna mhuli wabhulagagwa na magulu abhili, ng’wana kang’wa uhaya namuwilaga watemyaga aliyo mtatemije. Kushika haha bhatina Ntemi, bhatemilwe na magulu abhili.

Bhana ndimu pye bhubhona magulu abhili aliyela ng’wipolu alina ngong’ho. Bhana ndimu bhuja kuli Ntemi wabho muna mhuli bhukang’wila, jaga ukamulage magulu abhili, ntondo dilu muna mhuli uja kuli magulu abhili kulwa bhugimu ung’wila, nene nali Ntemi nadugije kukubhulaga ng’hana, nang’hwe unshokeja gemaga, bhana ndimu pye bhalilolela nani akubhulagwa.

Aho mhuli yegela magulu abhili uyipiga isasi (munduji), bhana ndimu pye bhakabhona lyochi, bhana ndimu bhose bhogoha bhuhaya Ntemi wise magulu abhili.

Aho washika ku bhiye ubhawila natambaga mhuli. Aho kwigwa shilaka shitale Ntemi wabho ugwa hasi ucha na kucha.
Mw. 5:28

Kiswahili: Mkutano Wa Wanyama Pori Wote.

Siku za zamani kulikuwa na mkutano wa wanyama pori wote. Katika mkutano huo, wanyama pori waliulizana, haipendezi kukaa katika hali ya mgawanyiko hivi, ni vizuri tuwe na mfalme ili tuweze kuwa wamoja.

Ndipo wakaanza kuulizana, “Nani awe mfalme wetu?” Mmoja wao alisema, “Mfalme wetu awe, Simba.” Kwa sababu gani? Naye alijibu, “Simba ndiye mwenye nchi.”

Mwingine alisema, “mkubwa wetu awe, Falu.” Kwa sababu gani? Kwa sababu yeye ndiye mwenye hali ya Ukali.

Mwingine alisema, “Mfalme wetu awe Nyati.” Kwa sababu gani? Kwa sababu yeye ni mkali kabisa, na kichwa chake ni kikubwa, pia mwili wake ni mkubwa, husukuma miti mpaka ikaanguka.

Mwingine alisema, “Mfalme wetu awe Tembo, kwa sababu gani? Yeye katupita wote nguvu na mwili.” Basi wakakubaliana kwenye mkutano hivyo.

Sungura hakuwepo. Walipotawanyika, wengine walikutana na Sungura, akawauliza, “Vipi wanaume mmeafikianaje kwenye mkutano wetu? Mmemtawadha nani kuwa mfalme?”

Wakakubali, “tumetawadha.” “Ametawala nani?” “Ametawala  Tembo.” “Lakini wa miguu miwili alikuwepo?” “Miguu miwili hakuwepo.” Huyo mmetawadha, lakini hamkutawadha.

Hazikupita siku nyingi wakasikia Tembo ameuawa na wa miguu miwili. Mwanakang’wa (Sungura) alisema, “niliwaambia mmetawadha lakini hamkutawadha.” Mpaka sasa hawana mfalme, wametawaliwa na wa miguu miwili (miguu miwili).

Wanyama pori wote wakamuona miguu miwili akitembea porini na bunduki. Wanyama pori hao walienda kwa mfalme wao Tembo wakamwambia, “nenda ukamuue miguu miwili.” Kesho yake asubuhi Tembo alienda kwa wa miguu miwili, na kwa kutokuogopa kwake, akamwambia, “mimi ni mfalme naweza kukuua kweli.” Naye alimwambia, “jaribu.” Wanyama pori wote wakiwa wameangalia ili kuona nani atauawa.

Tembo alipokaribia, miguu miwili alimpiga risasi (bunduki), wanyama pori wote wakaona moshi. Wanyama pori wote wakaogopa, wakasema, “mfalme wetu ni miguu miwili.”

Alipofika kwa wenzie aliwaambia, “nimeua Tembo.” Aliposikia sauti kubwa, mfalme wao alianguka chini, akafa na kufa.

Genesis. 5:28.

English: The Meeting of all wild animals

THE GATHERING OF ALL WILDLIFE ANIMALS

In the past, there was a gathering of all wild animals. At that meeting, wild animals asked each other, to live in harmony and not division. They said, “We should have a king so that we could be united.”

Then they began to ask each other, “Who shall we choose as our king?” One of them said, “Let our king be, the Lion.” Why?”, they asked.  He answered, “The Lion is the owner of the land.”

Another one said, “Let our king be the Rhino.” “Why?”, they asked. He replied, “Because he is fierce.”

Another animal said, “Let our king be the Buffalo.” “Why?”, others asked.  “Because he is a very fierce one, and his head is big, and his body is also big. It pushes down trees.”

Another animal proposed, “Let our king be Elephant.” As usual, others asked, “Why?” He answered, “He is the biggest of all of us.He has power and big body size.” They finally agreed that Elephant would be their king.

Hare did not attend the meeting. When the animals had dispersed, some of them met with the Hare on the way and he asked them, “Gentlemen coming from the meeting, whom have you made the king?”

They said, “We have made Elephant the king.” Then, he asked “Was the two legged animal there?” They replied, “The two legged animal was not there.”

A few days later, it was heard that Elephant had been killed by two legged animal. Then Hare said, “I told you that you were wrong for not making him king.” Since then, they have no king. They are ruled by two legged animal.

It was narrated that it was like this. All wild animals had seen the two legged animal walking in the field with a gun. The wild animals then went to their king Elephant and told him, “Go and kill the two legged animal.”  King Elephant confronted the two legged one.King Elephant then said, “I am the king. I can kill you.” the two legged animal   said, “Try and you will see” All the wild animals were watching to see who would be killed.

As Elephant approached, the two legged animal shot him.  All the wild animals witnessed the smoke produced during the firing exercise. All the wild animals were frightened and said, “Now our king will be the two legged animal.”

When the two legged animal came to his friends he told them, “I killed Elephant.” He continued, “When I fired, the animals were shocked by the loud voice. Elephant their king, fell to the ground, and died.”

Genesis. 5:28.