Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Namhala umo lina lwakwe Maduhu agita bhunwani na Padri nnebhe. Padri ng’wunuyo omalaga unyelela. Lushigu lumo, umaduhu agang’wila upadri, “Nzugu nagolekeje umulungu one,” Padri agazunya.

Maduhu agantongela u Padri mpaga mulugutu lo ng’ombe jakwe. Aho bhashiga, Maduhu agang’wila u Padri, “Ubhebhe Padri usage nu Mulungu oko, nu nene nasage na mulungu one. Ing’ombe iji nu mulungu one. Najisanije jiniji du. Naduhayaga ginhu jingi. Amambo gako aga dini bhuli bhubuli.”

Maduhu agazumalika musi. Ni ngholo yakwe yugimila habhutongi bho ng’wa Mulungu. Bhanhu bhingi bhagaja aha bhujikwa bhokwe. Aho bhoshila ubhujikwa bhokwe, abhadugu bhakwe bhagasola pye ing’ombe jakwe (yaani mulungu okwe) na bhakima bhakwe.

 

Kiswahili: Mzee Maduhu Na Padri

Mzee mmoja jina lake Maduhu alifanya urafiki na padri fulani. Padri huyo alikuwa akimtembelea mara kwa mara. Siku moja, Maduhu  alimwambia padri, “Njoo, nikuoneshe Mungu wangu,” Padri  alikubali.

Maduhu alimwongoza Padri hadi kwenye zizi la ng’ombe wake. Walipofika, Maduhu alimwambia Padri, “Wewe Padri ubaki na Mungu wako, na mimi nibaki na Mugu wangu. Ng’ombe hawa ni Mungu wangu. Ninawategemea hawa tu. Sitaki kitu kingine. Mambo yako ya dini kwangu ni upuuzi mtupu.”

Baadae, Maduhu alifariki dunia. Na roho yake ikasimama mbele ya hukumu ya Mungu. Watu wengi walihudhuria mazishi yake. Baada ya mazishi, ndugu zake waliwachukua ng’ombe wote (yaani mungu wake) na wake zake wote.

 

ENGLISH: MADUHU AND THE PRIEST

One old mannamed Maduhu made friendship with a certain priest. The priest was visiting him regularly. One day, Maduhu said to the priest, “Come, so that I show you my God.” The priest agreed.

Maduhu led the priest to his cowshed. When they arrived, Maduhu said to the Priest, “You, Priest , will remain with your God, and I will be with my god. These cattle are my god. I only depend on them. I don’t want anything else. Your religious affairs are nothing but nonsense.”

Later, Maduhu died. And his spirit stood before the judgment of God. Many people attended his funeral. After the funeral, his brothers took all the cattle (his god) and all his wives.