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 waliho ngosha umo mu si ya Bhulima ya Ng`wanza. Mushiku ja ng`wa Ntemi Lunyalula, ngosha ng`wenuyo lina lyakwe witanagwa Matambo (kupela nhambo) Walabhahebhile bhose bhupeji, hangi wali nkali wabhulugu.

Basi wajaga alipela kubhanishi kujubhabhulaga. Ntemi walantogilwe no. Hangi ng’wenumo kaliho ka munhu kajishegena, kakushimizila madako. Nang’hwe walatogilwe kwesa isolo nu Ntemi hangi walantogilwe no iki wanungujaga.

Lushiku lumo Matambo wiza hikulu wamalaga kubhabhulaga bhanishi bhatandatu kubhulugu. Wandya lulu kwihaya bhupeji hali Ntemi na kundalahija Jishegena. Jishegena bhebhe utadulile kupela nulu hado nimo gwako kwigasha na kwesa isolo.

Basi huna lulu Jishegena ulema uhaya, “Bhebhe matambo nakukilile bhupeji, bhose abhali hikulu bhandya kunseka Jishegena. Huna lulu Jishegena upelana na uhaya tupele lulu ulu ukunishiga.

Tupelage ng’ombe. Jishegena upiga ng’ombe ibhili. Matambo ng`ombe inne. Huna lulu ngoma ubhahamila, chuu kako (kako lulu) Matambo winga haho na haho Wandya kupela.

Jishegena upela kuja ku magulu ga ng’wa Ntemi kunu aling’wila Matambo, “Bhebhe ulimpela ntemi bhuli, ulu bhose tukampela Ntemi akusaga na nani.” Basi bhanhu bhandya kuseka na kunyegela Jishegena iki Wampelelaga Ntemi. Ntemi nang’hwe ung’winha jishegena wanangwa na ng’ombe. Wa masala atabhunagwa nigo.

Kiswahili: Mwenye akili hazidiwi Mzigo

Siku za zamani alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja katika kijiji cha Bulima Mwanza. Zilikuwa siku za utawala wa mfalme Lunyalula, mwanamume huyo jina lake aliitwa matambo (kukimbia mbio). Alikuwa anawazidi wote ukimbiaji, tena alikuwa mkali wa vita.

Alienda kwa kukimbia kwa maadui kwenda kuwaua. Mfalme alikuwa anampenda mno. Tena humo kulikwa na mtu kiwete, wa kutembelea matako. Naye alikuwa anapenda kucheza bao na mfalme, tena mfalme alikuwa anampenda mno kwa vile alikuwa anamfariji.

Siku moja Matambo alifika Ikulu akiwa amemaliza kuwaua maadui sita kwenye vita. Alianza kujitamba ukimbiaji kwa mfalme, na kumdharau Jishegena, ambaye ni mtu atembeae kwa matako. “Jishegena wewe huwezi kukimbia hata kidogo kazi yako ni kukaa na kucheza bao.”

Basi Jishegena alikataa akisema, “Wewe Matambo nakupita mbio, wote waliokuwepo pale Ikulu walianza kumcheka Jishegena. Ndipo jishegena alikasilika akasema “tukimbie basi kama utaniacha.”

Tupatie ng’ombe. Jishegena aliahidi ng’ombe mbili. Matambo ng’ombe nne. Ndipo basi ngoma ikapigwa, akawaambia, “Chuu hako (hako basi), Matambo aliondoka hapo hapo akaanza kukimbia.

Jishegena alikimbilia kwenye miguu ya mfalme huku akimwambia, Matambo, “Wewe kwa nini unamkimbia Mfalme, kama wote tutamkimbia, atabaki na nani?” Basi watu walianza kucheka na kumfurahia Jishegena kwa

vile amemkimbilia mfalme. Mfalme naye alimpa Jishegena, viongozi “wanangwa” na ng’ombe. Mwenye akili azidiwi mzigo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENGLISH: THE INTELLIGENT ONE IS NOT OVERLOADED BY THE CARGO

In the past, there was a man in Bulima village, Mwanza. It was during the reign of King Lunyalula.The man’s name was Matambo. He was a leading runner. He was also a great warrior.

He run fast enough to catch  the enemies. He could easily  kill them. Because of that, the king loved him very much. Again, there was a man with disability.He walked using his buttocks. The man with disability liked to play with the king.The king loved him so much because he was comforting him.

One day, Matambo arrived at the palace after he had killed six enemies in the battle. He began to boast beforethe king. As he boasted, he expressed contempt to Jishegena, the man who walked by using buttocks. “You, Jishegena cannot run even a little.The only work you can do play traditional games (bao).

So Jishegena refused and said, “Let you, Matambo and I run the race and see who will win.” All those who were present at the palace started to laugh at Jishegena. Then Jishegena became furious and said, “Let us run and I will show you.”

The two decided to bet. Jishegena promised two cows. Matambo promised four cows. Then the drum was beaten to allow them run.   Matambo started to run.

Surprisingly, Jishegena ran towards the king’s feet. As he did that, he said, “Why do you run away from the king. If all of us run away from him, who will stay with him to give him company? Seeing how caring he was, the king gave Jishegena a title as an award. He made him ‘mwanangwa’, the “leader” and gave him cows. This shows that an intelligent person cannot fail to carry the load and therefore, he is never overburdened.