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

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

Walaliho namhala umo, akang’wila ng’wana wakwe, “Ihaha uli munhu ntale gete. Kobhaga nkima utole.” Ng’wana ung’wila ise. “Ng’hana nakutola, aliyo tame nite kwibhegeleja haho natali kutola na kutunga ndoa.” Hangi uhaya, “Nazenge numba tame, nulu nalitola nikale chiza na nke wane.”

Aho wamala kuzenga numba, jingila kidiku. Nyanda ng’wenuyo uhaya hangi giki, “Nalime tame, nguno ulu nalatole, unene nu nke wane tulayulya chiza.” Aliyo aha wamala kulima, lyubhiza ikanza lya ngese. Uhaya, “Nalimile ngese jane, shiliwa jane jizidukenaguka. Ulu numala nutola.”

Aliyo aha wamala ukulimila migunda yakwe, lyushika ikanza lya mavuno. Uyomba, “nakume tame ishiliwa jane nanalatole.” Wakamala ukukuminga ishiliwa jakwe. Uyomba hangi, “Natule chiza shiliwa jane ng’wibhelele nanatole.” Aho wamala kulima. Gukumiga na kutula shiliwa jakwe ng’wibhelele, usata wangu. Na shitabhitile shiku ningi ucha. Akacha adatolile.

Kiswahili: Mmaliza Kazi Alikufa Bila Kuoa

Kulikuwa na mzee mmoja alimwambia mwanae, “Sasa wewe ni mtu mzima kabisa. Tafuta mwanamke uoe.” Mtoto alimwambia baba yake, “kweli nioe, lakini nijiandae kabla ya kuoa na kufunga ndoa.” Tena alisema, “Nijenge nyumba kwanza, ndipo nioe ili nikae vizuri na mke wangu.”

Alipomaliza kujenga nyumba yakaingia masika. Kijana huyo akasema tena kwamba, “Nilime kwanza, sababu nikioa, mimi na mke wangu tutakuwa tunakula vizuri.” Lakini alipomaliza kulima ukawa wakati wa palizi. Akasema, “Nipalilie palizi yangu, chakula changu kisiharibike. Nikimaliza nitaoa.”

Lakini alipomaliza kupalilia mashamba yake, ukafika wakati wa mavuno. Alisema, “Nikusanye kwanza chakula changu ndipo nioe.” Alipomaliza kukusanya chakula chake, alisema tena, “Niweke vizuri chakula changu kwenye gala ndipo nioe.”

Alipomaliza kulima, kukusanya na kuweka chakula chake kwenye gala, aliugua haraka. Hazikupita siku nyingi akafa. Alikufa bila kuoa.

ENGLISH: THE WORK FINISHER WHO DIED WITHOUT MARRYING

There was an old man who said to his son, “Now you are an adult. Find a woman to get married to.”The child told his father,“ I really want to get married, but let me prepare myself before I get married.”He also said, I should build a house first, then I will live comfortably with my wife.

When he had finished building the house, the rain season came in. Again, the young man said, “Let me  first cultivate because when I get married, my wife and I will be eating well.” But when he finished ploughing, the weeding time came. Then, he said, “Let me finish my weeding as I don’t want my farm to be destroyed by weeds. I shall marry after finishing weeding.

But when he had finished his weeding, there came time for harvesting. At that time, he said, “Let me first store my food.” When he finished collecting and putting the crops into his stores, he suddenly fell ill. After a few days, he passed away. That means he died without marrying.