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

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

Kale walaliho munhu, wali ntegi wa nzwabu. Aho alija kujulinga wakabhitila kagoso kigashije ha mahushi. Kang’wila “Ligisha,” nang’hwe walema kuzunya. Nako kang’wila giki, “Nene ndakuyangula bhebhe nu bhutegi wako”.

Huna lushiku lumo ubhita, kung’wi1a hangi, ulema, uja. Wahayushika ha lwabu lwakwe, ulisangaho lishimba lyagwashiwaho. Lyung’wila giki, “Nitaligulilage wanduhaja no no no, bhujiku wa lelo natadimile nulu ndimu imo yaya.” Ulitaligulila.

Lyung’wila giki, “Ninhage ngobho yako nalye natubhaga no.” Ulinha. Lyumala, lyulomba shilalo sha lushu, na hene lyumala. Hangi lyulomba nshipi gwa munkimbili, lyugumila nugwene.

Huna lyunomba nkono gumo alibhutileho, ulila no. Huna kiza lulu akagoso, ako wakabhitilaga. Kuhaya giki, “Ni bhuli ng’wanikungu watubha giki?” Shimba yuhaya, “Natubhiwagwa na lugoye lwa ntegi.” Leka kuhaya chene ng’wanikungu. Ali lulu gemelaga nabhone umo ukizila.

Ntegi uwilwa na ngoso, “Tegaga agemele tulole.” Ugemela nakiza giki, “Chene manyandishi, nupanda aha, chene ng’wanikungu.” Nose ugwashiwa ho hangi.

Ngoso yung’wila ntegi giki, “Dupelage lulu, wizuke nakuwilaga kinahe? Ndakuyangulaga.” Uzunya untegi giki, “Lelo waniyangula gete. Ali lulu naja kaya. Wabhizaga mpija wane mu Shimba. Ulize unigishe na bhiyo bhingi no no no. shose ukusanga nabheja shabhuhondo shingino.”

Huna ngoso yung’wila untegi, “Ali lulu, ulu ndizage mutizita shiliwa shigehu. Abhichane bhali no. uhaya giki, “Bhatudula kushimala.” Huna bhubhuka.

Ngoso ya magana shiku. Jushikila mu mahaka na ha nyango. Shiliwa shulebha, julya ni ndili shaho, nijene jushila. Nose jukalya na ntana. Huna bhusaya abhanhu, bhujitula. Ngoso kufuma henaho juzenga mu bhanhu. Kale jikalaga mu mahushi ng’wagala.

Kiswahili: Panya Na Mtegaji Wa Wanyama Pori Kwa Kamba (Nzwabu)

Zamani aliwepo mtu, aliyekuwa mtegaji wa “Nzwabu” Mwindaji wa wanyama wa porini kwa kutumia Kamba.” Alipokuwa anaenda alimpita panya amekaa kwenye miti iitwayo Magushi. Kalimwambia, “Nisalimie,” naye alikataa kukubali. Nako kalimwambia hivi, “Mimi nitakuamulia wewe na utegaji wako wa wanyama wa porini.”

Basi siku moja alipita, kakamwambia tena, akakataa, akaenda. Alipofika kwenye mtego wake, akakuta pale simba amenaswa. Akamwabia, “Nifungulie hili limenitesa mno, usiku wa leo sijashika hata mmoja wa wanyama wa porini hapa” Akamfungulia.

Simba akamwambia hivi, “Nipe shuka yako nile nina njaa mno. Akampatia. Simba akamaliza, na kumwomba kile kilalio cha kisu nacho, simba akakimaliza. Aliomba tena mshipi wa kiunoni,  simba akaumaliza nao.

Basi, akamuomba mkono mmoja amkatie hapo, alilia mno. Ndipo sasa ka Panya kakaja, kale alikokuwa anakapita bila kukasalimu. Kakasema kwamba, “Kwa nini Mwanikungu umeshikwa njaa hivi?” Simba akasema, “Ninanjaa kwa sababu ya Kamba ya Mtegaji.” Panya akasema, “acha kusema hivyo, mwanikungu, hebu jaribia tuone vile ulivyokuja.”

Mtegaji akaambiwa na Panya, “Tega ajaribie tuangalie.” Simba alijaribia, “Nilikuja hivi, Kweli Manyandishi, nikakanyaga hapa, kweli Mwanikungu.” Mwishowe akakamatwa tena hapo.

Panya akamwambia Mtegaji hivi, “Tukimbie basi, ukumbuke nilikuambiaje? Nitakuokoa.” Akakubali mtegaji kwamba, “Umeniamulia, kwa maana ya kuniokoa kabisa. Hivyo basi, naenda nyumbani. Umekuwa mkombozi wangu kutoka kwenye hali ya kuliwa na Simba. Utakuja unisalimu na wenziyo wengi mno mno mno. Vyote utakuta nimeandaa vya kufurahia vingi sana.”

Panya alimwambia mtegaji, “Basi, nikija msiandae chakula kidogo. Wenzangu wanakula mno. Akasema hivi, “Hawataweza kukimaliza chakula. Ndipo wakaanza safari.

Panya ya mamia siku. Wakafikia kwenye miti iliyoezekewa nyumba yao na mlangoni. Chakula kikapungua, wakala na ngozi zao, nazo zikaisha. Mwishowe wakala na vitu vilivyofichwa. Ndipo watu wakakasirika, wakawafukuza. Kutoka hapo Panya akajenga kwa watu. Zamani waliishi kwenye miti ya mahushi, kule Mwagala.

 

ENGLISH: THE MOUSE AND THE TRAPPER OF WILD ANIMALS

Once upon a time, there was a man who was a trapper of “Nzwabu” wildlife hunter who used to trap with a string.  One day, the trapper passed a mouse sitting on a tree called magushi. The mouse told the trapper, “Greet me.” The trapper refused to do as requested. Then the mouse said to the trapper, “There is something I will tell you about your wild animal trapping.”

One day, the trapper passed as usual. The mouse asked him again to greet him. Again, the trapper refused, and went. When he got to his trap, he found that the lion had trapped. Seeing him, the lion said to trapper, “Open this one to me. This night I have not caught one of the wild animals here.” The trapper released the lion.

Then the lion said to him, “Give me your pieces of cloth as I am very hungry. The trapper gave him the pieces of clothes. The lion ate them and finished them,. Then, the lion asked for a knife, and the lion ate it too. He also asked for a waistband, and he ate and finished it too.

After that, the lion asked for one hand of the trapper to eat. All of a sudden, the   mouse came and saw that it was the same man who used to be passing by without greeting.  The mouse asked the lion, “Why ng’wanikungu are you hungry like this?” Then the lion said, “I am getting all this trouble because of the string of the trapper.” The mouse told the lion, “Stop saying so ng’wanikungu, let us examine the trouble you have been going through.”.

The mouse then told the trapper, “Trap and let us see the trouble the lion has going through.” In response, the lion ignorantly approached the trap.” Then the lion said, “Manyandishi, I am dancing here, really delightedly, ng’wanikungu.” Finally, the lion was caught by the trap again.”

As the lion struggled in the trap, the mouse said to the trapper, “Let us run.  Remember what I told you? I once told you that I will save you.” The trapper said, “You have saved me absolutely. Now I am going home. You have saved me. I could be eaten by the lion. I promise you that I will not only invite you but also your friends o visit me. I will make a big party for you.”

The mouse asked the trapper, “When I come to visit you with my friends, do not prepare little food. My friends and I eat too much.” The trapper replied, “It does not matter how much they eat, they will not be able to finish the food.” Then the mice began the journey to the trapper’s home.

After finishing the food that was given to them, the mice started eating the trees that were in their house and those that were at the door. They ate everything they were able to see. Finally, started eating hidden things. As a result, the people got angry and drove the mice away. From there, mice started building people’s residence but in the far past, they lived in the grove of trees around Mwagala.