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

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

Kale walaliho ng’waniki umo, hakaya ya namhala Lyeta. Kaya yeniyo yali Nhale no. Yali na Bhanhu bhingi no. Sha Lushiku lumo agiza ngosha, kulunja (kukobha nkima wa kutola) Akapandika.

Agantola ng’waniki uyo witanagwa wanguzu. Myatila ya witoji ikitwa. Bhitoji bhuja gukaya. Bhukabheja kaya yabho, aliyo mukwikala gwabho, bhigashaga mu mayange no, nguno yombo na widumi wali bhutashilaga hakaya yabho. Na ng’hangala ningi, wanguzu wa shokaga kaya gujubhula. Umo agakoyejiwagwa nu ngoshi.

Aliyo bhabyaji bhakwe ni kaya bhugima bhaga nkolwa no unkwilima wabho nose uyise agabhaja mhayo, gogushosha sabho ijo agafunya ngosha ng’wenuyo.

Mhayo gwenuyo namhala, akilomela ikaya. Nabhakizunilija giki bhose, ulu alashokeje hangi ungosha kuntula nke, mumho ng’wisho go witoji wabho.

Aliyo aha ililungwa lungwa, yeniyo, Wanguzu waladegelekile. Na agatogwa no mung’holo yakwe. Aho wela Wanguzu uja kaya yakwe. Shiku jidakwilile Wanguzu wiza makanza ga limi, akulilaga giki watulagwa no, na nduhu nguno jose jose.

Uyise pye ni kaya ngima bhakasaya no. Gulekela nsumba umo. Namhala agantuma na haho ng’wana wakwe, uyo wali heke heke. Akang’wile unkwelaye, wize idilu atule shikolo shakwe. Nsumba uja ukang’wila.

Aha wela ntoji wiza dilu na nshigeli. Aho washika nsisaye wa nke usaya usola nang’ha antule. Aliyo mbehi, ng’wenuyo agiponeja hanshigeli upelela hangunda gwali hihi.

Pye bhukingila mo, aho ilitwa yeniyo nke wala lolile, akasega no aha wamona ungoshi alipejiwa. Na akasola ndobho, uja na kumongo kujudaha minzi.

Aha bhashiga hagati ya ngunda, nsisaye wanke ung’witana unkwelaye, “Ng’wana omayu, tujage kaya, na dina mhayo gogugutula, aliyo nalichola kumana Nke wako ulwa gutogilwe.”

Pye abhose bhushoka kaya. Aha bhashika hakaya. Nkwilima uchalwa, mumaji ya nkwelaye unsisaye wa nke. Uwilwa” ng’wana omayu ikalaga.

Nsisaye wanke ufuma hanze, udima mbuli wisinza. Wipindya kunpindo ya numba. Ubhinha bhabhagi bhandya kubhaga. Ng’weyi usola lushu lo kimasai, ulu tobha maninga. Uga lutula uko nzila iyi bhakizilaga abhadahi bha minzi.

Lidakulile ikanza nke wa ngosha ng’wenuyo, uyo wapejiwagwa wiza na bhiye bhadatu. Aho bhegela hakaya, nsisaye ukalusola ulushu wandya kuludima dima. Aliyo lo jimaga maninga no.

Aliyo aha bhashika hakaya ilumbuye umona nsisaye, nu lushu lwa maninga. Ahatali kutula ndobho ubhuja, “Ulushu lunulo ng’wasinzilaga ki?” Nsisaye uhaya, “Ambu nansinzaga uyo agagukoyaga.”

Haho na haho wilekela indobho yugwa. Wandya kulila aliyomba. “Ngwanibhulagila ngoshi wane, wamkenyaga ki nayi, nulu agamutulaga ying’we nayi. Mugunitola abhing’we?”

Haho na haho uchoma ng’wano, ali haya, “Anguhagi wabhulagwa munhu nu Sang’udi nsisaye, witanagwa Sang’udi. Ikanza litakulile bhanhu bhokala pa, nkima ulomela pye umo ya bhitilaga.

Bhanhu bhuntula hagati usang’udi giki mulagi. Sang’udi nang’hwe uyomba umo agabhakoyejaga. Nkima ng’wenuyo aha atina mala kuyomba Sang’udi, Wanguzu uhaya, “Iki nakamukoyaga ina muwila mumulage?’

Hambunu Sang’udi ung’hamukila unkwelaye, wiza kufuma mukaya. Ng’wano gujinjimala, gulamula afunye ng’ombe uwanguzu. Ufunya haho na haho. Na Wanguzu ucha soni, atalalile uja kaya na ngoshi.

Aha bhakashika ikaya wanguzu ung’wila ngoshi, “Ngoshi wane noyaga kufuma lelo amasemba.” Kwinga lushiku lwene bhagikala siza no. Yombo igashila. Agoya ukuja ikaya guchala iyanyalomolomo.

Kiswahili: Mwanamke Mwenye Uongo Wa Kichongezi Na Kaka Yake

Zamani alikuwepo msichana mmoja kwenye familia ya Lyeta. Familia hiyo ilikuwa kubwa mno. Ilikuwa na watu wengi. Siku moja alikuja mwanamume kuchumbia au kutafuta mwanamke wa kuoa, alipata.

Alimuoa msichana yule aliyekuwa anaitwa wanguvu. Hatua za uoaji zilifanyika. Wana ndoa walienda nyumbani. Wakaenda kutengeneza mji wao au familia yao.

Lakini katika kuishi kwao walikuwa na mahangaiko mno, kwa sababu ya kelele na kukosana vilikuwa haviishi. Mara nyingi Wanguzu maana yake, wa nguvu, alikuwa anarudi nyumbani kwa wazazi wake kwenda kushitaki, anavyohangaishwa na mmewe.

Lakini wazazi wake na familia nzima walimchukia mkwe wao mwishowe baba yake aliwaza neno la kurudisha mahari alizotoa mwanamume huyo.

Mzee aliiambia familia juu ya wazo hilo. Walikubaliana wote kwamba, akirudia tena yule mwanamume kumpiga mkewe, ajue ndiyo mwisho wa kuoana kwao.

Lakini walipokuwa wakiongea Wanguzu aliwasikiliza. Pia alifurahi mno moyoni mwake. Kesho yake Wanguzu alienda nyumbani kwake. Hazikupita siku nyingi wanguzu akaja wakati wa mchana, akilia kwamba amepigwa mno, na bila sababu yoyote.

Baba yake na familia nzima walikasirika mno isipokuwa kijana mmoja tu. Hapo hapo mzee alimtuma mtoto wake, aliyekuwa na muono tofauti na wao. Akamwambie shemeji yake, aje asubuhi achukue mahali yake. Kijana huyo alienda akamwambia.

Kesho yake muoaji alikuja asubuhi na baiskeli. Alipofika kaka yake na yule msichana alikasirika akachukua fimbo ampige. Jamaa yule alijitupia kwenye baiskeli yake akakimbilia kwenye shamba ambalo lilikuwa karibu.

Wote wakaingia humo. Wakati yanafanyika hayo mke wake alikuwa anaangalia, alicheka mno alipomuona mmewe akifukuzwa. Akachukua ndoo, akaenda mtoni kuchota maji.

Walipofika katikati ya shamba kaka yake na yule mwanamke akamwita shemeji yake, “Shemeji, twende nyumbani, sina neno la kukupiga, lakini natafuta kujua kama mke wako anakupenda.”

Wote wakaenda nyumbani. Walipofika nyumbani, mkwe alipelekwa kwenye nyumba ya kaka yake yule mwanamke. Aliambiwa, “shemeji kaa.

Kaka yake yule mwanamke alitoka nje akashika mbuzi na kumchinja. Akampeleka nyuma ya nyumba. Akawapa wachunaji wakaanza kumchuna. Yeye alichukua kisu cha kimasai, akakipaka damu. Akaenda kukiweka kisu hicho kwenye njia ile wanayopitia wachota maji wakati wa kurudi.

Haukupita muda mrefu mke wa mwanamume huyo, aliyekuwa akifukuzwa akaja na wenzake watatu. Walipokaribia kufika nyumbani kaka yake akaenda kukichukua kile kisu, akaanza kukishika shika hicho kisu lakini kilikuwa kimeenea damu mno.

Lakini walipofika nyumbani dada yake akamuona kaka yake, na kisu chenye damu. kabla ya kuweka ndoo aliuliza, “Na kisu hicho mmechinjia nini?” Kaka yake akasema, “Si nimemchinja yule anayekuhangaisha.”

Hapo hapo akaiachia ile ndoo ikaanguka. Akaanza kulia, akisema, “Mmeniulia mme wangu, kwani amewakosea nini? Amewakosea nini, au anawapiga ninyi kwani, mtanioa ninyi?”

Hapo hapo akapiga yowe, yuko hapa, “Wahini ameua mtu ni huyo Sang’udi kaka yangu, aliitwa Sang’udi. Haukupita muda watu wakajaa pale, mwanamke akaeleza yote ilivyotokea.

Watu walimweka katikati Sang’udi kama muuaji. Sang’udi naye alisema anavyowahangaisha mwanamke huyo. Kabla hajamaliza kusema, Sang’udi, Wanguzu alisema, “Kwa vile nawahangaisha, niliwaambia mmuue?”

Kushitukia Sang’udi alimwita shemeji yake, akaja kutoka ndani. Mkusanyiko ukashangaa, ukaamua atoe ng’ombe Wanguzu. Akatoa hapo hapo. Wanguzu alipata aibu, hakulala alienda na mmewe nyumbani kwao.

Walipofika nyumbani Wanguzu alimwambia mmewe, “Mme wangu nimekoma kutoka leo kufanya matani.” Kutoka siku hiyo walikaa vizuri mno. Kelele ilikwisha. Alikoma kwenda nyumbani kupeleka uongo uongo.

ENGLISH: THE DECEITFUL WOMAN AND HER BROTHER

Once upon a time, there was a woman called Wanguzu (of strength) in the Lyeta family. The family was very big. One day a man went to the house of the Lyeta family to ask for Wanguzu’s hand in marriage; he was successful.

Preparations for the wedding were carried out and finally Wanguzu and the man got married. They started their own family.

But in their life together they were very worried because of the tensions they had. Often Wanguzu returned to her parents’ house and told her family members that her husband had beaten her.

Her parents as well as the other family members developed hatred for Wanguzu’s husband. Her father began thinking of returning the dowry to the man.

The old man shared the idea with the other family members. They all agreed that, if the man beat his wife again, they would end the marriage.

When they were talking to Wanguzu, she listened to them intently. She was very happy. The next day Wanguzu returned to her husband. A few days later she returned to her parents’ house, complaining that she had been severely beaten, and for no reason.

Except for one young man, Wanguzu’s father and the other family members were very angry. Immediately the old man sent one of his sons, who had a different opinion on the matter from the other family members, to his brother-in-law’s house. They young man asked his brother-in-law to go to their house the following morning to collect his dowry.

The following morning Wanguzu’s husband went to his in-laws’ place by bicycle. The woman’s brother was so angry that he took a stick with which to hit him. The man mounted his bicycle and ran to a nearby farm.

Both entered the farm. When all this was happening, his wife was looking on. She laughed when she saw her husband being chased. She took a bucket and went to the river to fetch some water, along with her three friends.

While in the middle of the fields, Wanguzu’s brother called his brother-in-law, “Brother-in-law, let’s go back home. I didn’t intend to hit you, but I only wanted to know if your wife loves you.”

Both went home. When they got home, they went straight to Wanguzu’s brother’s house. “Brother-in-law, please sit down,” he said while offering him a chair. Then he entered his house, in which there were some people.

Wanguzu’s brother walked out of the house and took a goat and killed it. He took the dead goat back into the house and gave it to the people to skin. He took a Maasai knife and put some of the blood of that goat on it. He went and put the knife on the footpath on which those who had gone to the river to fetch water would walk on their way home.

A short while later, the man’s wife and her friends returned from the river. Her brother went to the footpath and picked up the knife. There was much blood on it.

The woman saw her brother holding the knife, which was covered in blood. Before she put down the bucket, she asked, “And what have you killed with that knife?” His brother said, “I’ve killed the man who had been mistreating you.”

Then she let the bucket fall down and began to cry, saying, “You’ve killed my husband. What did he do to you? Had he been beating you? Are you going to marry me? ”She started screaming, “Please help. My brother Sang’udi has killed my husband.”  The brother was called Sang’udi. Presently people started gathering at the man’s house and the woman told them everything that had happened.

The people saw Sang’udi as a murderer. Sang’udi told them how his sister had been troubling them. As Sang’udi was speaking, Wanguzu said, “Yes, I’ve been troubling you, but did I ask you to kill the man?”

Then Sang’udi asked his brother-in-law to come outside. The people were surprised and punished Wanguzu by ordering her to give them a bull. A few days later, she gave it to them. She was so ashamed that she didn’t stay on at her parents’ place. Instead, she and her husband returned to their place.

When they got home, Wanguzu said to her husband, “My husband, I’ll never again make jokes about our marriage.” The quarrel and tensions stopped and she stopped going to her parents’ place to tell lies about her husband. They lived happily ever after.