Research sponsored by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Mbuki ya kahayile kenako ililola munhu uyo agasumaga migeka aliyo ub’ulilo bhokwe hasi, kulwa nguno oimala pye migeka guyijinja, usaga nuwei aligasha hasi duhu.

Akahayile kenako, kagayombagwa kuli munhu uyo agatumamaga nimo uyo gudabhab’ejaga uwikaji bhokwe, nulu ikaya yakwe. Abhanhu bhagayombaga, ‘Ugusumaga migeka aliyo ubhulilo hasi.’

Akahayile kenako kagalenganijiyagwa nu kuli munhu uyo alinsuluja o ginhu kudi mawalwa, nulu jingi, ijojidadule gung’wenhela solob’o ahakaya yakwe. Uwalwa bhudenhaga solobho aha kaya ya njinja nguno, unjinga owalwa, nulu unsizi agabhujinjaga pye ubhose bhoshila. Uwei agasagaga alimakoye duhu.

Akahayile kenako kakomile gulenganijiwa nu kuli munhu uyo adatumilaga chiza ijikolo ijo alijipandika ijinaguyibheja ikaya yakwe. Umunhu ng’wunuyo agajikenagulaga ijikolo ijo alijipandika ku mihayo ya sagala.

Akahayile kenako kagalangaga bhanhu higulya ya gwiyangalila ulu bhajipandika ijikolo. Bhaleke ugujikenagula sagala. Bhalondeje imihayo iyo igudula gub’ambilija mgikalile kabho.

Ijinagongeja, akahayile kenako kalanga bhanhu higulya ya kulondeja kajiile kawiza ako kadulile gub’ambilija umuwikaji b’ob’o. Uwikaji bhunub’o hubho bhudulile gub’enhela bhub’eja wiza bho kaya jab’o.

KISWAHILI: NASUKA MIKEKA LAKINI NILIAPO CHAKULA NI SAKAFUNI

Chanzo cha msemo huo kinaangalia mtu ambaye huwa anasuka mikeka, lakini anapomaliza kusuka anaiuza mikeka yote anabaki yeye anakaa chini tu. Msemo huo hutumika pale ambapo mtu anafanya kazi fulani ambayo haijengi maisha yake. Watu hao humuonya kwa kusewa, ‘Unasuka mikeka lakini uliapo chakula ni sakafuni.’

Msemo huo hulinganishwa kwa mtu anayeuza pombe au kitu kingine ambacho hakiwezi kumletea faida maishani mwake. Muuza pombe au mpika pombe huyo huuza bila kubakisha kitu. Hii ni kutokana na uzoefu kwamba, pombe mara nyingi huwa haimletei faida muuzaji pale nyumbani. Mtu huyo mara nyingi hubaki na matatizo yake tu.

Msemo huo pia hulinganishwa kwa mtu ambaye hatumii vizuri mali azipatazo katika kujiletea maendeleo kwenye familia yake. Mtu huyo hutumia mali hizo hovyo kwenye mambo yasiyofaa.

Msemo huo hufundisha watu juu ya kuwa makini katika matumizi ya mali zao maishani kwa maana ya kuacha matumizi yasiyo na maana. Badala yake, watu watumie mali zao katika kuleta maendeleo kwenye familia zao.

Zaidi ya hayo, msemo huo hufundisha watu juu ya kufuata mienendo mizuri inayoweza kuwasaidia katika maisha yao. Maisha hayo huweza kuwaletea maendeleo kwenye familia zao.

ENGLISH: I MAKE MATS BUT I EAT FOOD ON THE FLOOR

Literal meaning

The above saying refers to someone who makes mats, then sells them all, thereby ending up having his/her food while sitting on the bare ground.

Deeper meaning

The above saying is used to refer to someone who does something that does not bring any benefit to their life. People will castigate such a fellow thus: ‘You make mats but you eat food on the floor.’

For instance, it is believed that people who sell or consume alcohol do not add any value into their lives. Such people suffer the severe consequences of alcoholism.

Such proverbial saying can also be used to refer to a person who misappropriates his/her resources, resulting to failure to provide for his/her household’s basic needs.

Therefore, the proverb is used to advise people to use their resources with care, for example by avoiding unnecessary expenditure. Rather, people should use their resources wisely to raise successful families.

ANOTHER ENGLISH VERSION: I MAKE MATS BUT I EAT FOOD ON THE FLOOR

The source of the above saying looks at the person who makes mats, but when he/she has finished making them he/she sells all of them. He/she continues staying down while eating.

The above saying is used when a person does something that does not bring benefit his/her life. The people warn him/her saying, ‘You make mats but you eat some food on the floor.’

It is compared to a person who sells alcohol or something else that can not bring benefits to his or her life. An alcoholic drinker or an alcoholic seller sells all of it. This is due to an experience that, alcohol routinely does not bring advantage to the homemade of the seller. Such person is regularly left with his/her own problems.

The proverbial saying is also compared to a person who does not use the resources he or she has in providing his or her household with basic needs. He/she uses his/her goods in an improper way.

Therefore, the above saying instills people to be careful about the use of their assets in life in the sense of putting aside an unnecessary expenditure. Rather, people should use their resources for bringing progress to their families.

Additionally, it imparts people on following positive ways which are good enough to support them in bringing progress to their lives. Such a life-style conveys success to their kinfolks.