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

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo ililola Ngoso. Ingoso jilisumbwa ijo jilidololo gete. Aliyo lulu, ingogo yiniyo yajaga gwagwagwa gujubebena, nulu gujulya ndili ya mhuli, iyo ili ndimu noi na hangi ilinhale gete. Iki ingoso yiniyo bhuligwa ikalaga igujaga yagabebena, nose igimala yose ndili yiniyo kihamo nubhudimu, nu bhutale bhoyo bhunubho.

Ulusulo lunulo lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo agatumamaga nimo ntale na ndimu bho gumana uja bhuli lushigu ogagutumama. Umunhu ng’wunuyo agadulaga ugugumala unimo gokwe gunuyo, kimamo na bhutale bhogo, kunguno ya gumana uja ogagutumama bhuli lushigu.

Gashinaga yigelelilwe umunhu agudilile chiza unimo gokwe bhogumana uja bhuli lushugu ogagutumama, nose agugumala duhu, ahashigu ijahabhutongi, mumo gugakulila, nulu mumo gugadamila unimo gunuyo.

Ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gubhiza na bhukamu bho guyuja gujuitumama chiza imilimo yabho bhuli lushuku. Ubhukamu bhunubho bhugubhambilija chiza uguimala pye iyose imilimo yabho, na gupandika matwajo mingi ayogadulile gujibheja chiza ikaya ni jumuiya jabho.

Ijinagonja, ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gubhiza na wiyumilija bhoguitumama chiza imilimo yabho gosegose, iyo ilimitale guti gulimila ngese ingitu nulu inhale gete. Uwiyumilija bhunubho bhugubhambilija uguitumama bhuli lushigu mpaga bhuimala imilimo yabho yiniyo.

KISWAHILI: TAFUNA TAFUNA KILAKUKICHA  KILA SIKU, PANYA ALIMAZA NGOZI YA TEMBO.

Chanzo cha methali hiyo chaangalia Panya. Panya ni kiumbe kidogo kabisa. Lakini basi, Panya huyo alikuwa akienda kila siku kutafuna au kula ngozi ya Tembo ambayo ni ngumu sana, tena ni kubwa kabisa. Kwa vile panya huyo alikuwa akienda kila siku kuitafuna au kuila, mwishowe, aliimalima ngozi hiyo, pamoja na ugumu pia ukubwa wake huo.

Methali hiyo, hulinganishwa kwa mtu ambaye hufanya kazi kubwa na ngumu kwa kuendelea kwenda kuifanya kila siku. Mtu huyo huweza kufaulu kuimaliza kazi hiyo yote, pamoja na ukubwa au ugumu wa kazi hiyo, kwa sabahu ya kuendelea kwake kwenda kuifanya kila siku.

Kumbe yafaa mtu aijali kazi yake kwa kwenda kuifanya kila siku, mwishowe ataimaliza tu katika siku za mbeleni, hata kama kazi hiyo itakuwa kubwa au ngumu kiasi gani.

Methali hiyo yafundisha watu juu ya kuwa na bidii ya kwenda kufanya kazi kila siku. Bidii hiyo itawasaidia katika kuzimaliza kazi zao na kupata mavuno mengi yawezayo kutumika katika kuziletea maendeleo familia na jumuiya zao.

Zaidi ya hayo, methali hiyo hufundisha watu juu ya kuwa na uvumilivu  katika kuyatimiza majukumu yao, yakiwemo yale ya kufanya kazi ngumu za kupalilia palizi zenye nyasi kubwa au zile zilizoshonana kabisa. Uvumilivu huo utawasaidia katika kuzifanya kazi hizo kila siku mpaka watazimaliza.

Luka 9:62.

Wagalatia 6:9.

Waebrania 10:38.

Wafilipi 3:12.

ENGLISH: NIBBLE NIBBLE DAY IN DAY OUT, THE RAT ATE UP THE WHOLE ELEPHANT’S HIDE

The above proverb relates to one of the activities of a mouse, which is a very tiny creature. The proverb states that when the rat chews repeatedly on the elephant hide, which is quite big and very hard, it eventually finishes it off. And that is in spite of the scoundrel’s small size. It is the rat’s consistency – of biting away and eating the hide day in day out – that pays off.

The proverb is likened to someone who does great and difficult work through every day effort. Such a person succeeds in completing the task, despite its difficulty or magnitude, because of his/her continuous attempts at it.

It is fundamental for a person to care about his/her work by doing it consistently, for he/she is bound to complete it eventually, be it overwhelming or difficult in nature.

The adage teaches people on how to work hard every day. That is because such zeal will enable them complete their work and obtain bounty harvest for the benefit of their families and communities.

In addition, the truism imparts in people the virtue of patience in carrying out their responsibilities, which may include the difficult exercise of weeding tough grassy areas. Such patience will help them in performing those tasks until they complete them.

Luke 9:62.

Galatians 6: 9.

Hebrews 10:38.

Philippians 3:12.