Imbuki ya kahayile kenako ingilile kunyama ya bhanamhala. Inyama yiniyo ili yidako lya ntugo goguntona ngeni, uyo ogenihaga hakaya ya ng’wa munhu nhebhe. Ulu mbuli, nulu ng’holo, nulu ng’ombe ub’ulagilwa ngeni, inyama iyidako bagazugilagwa bhanamhala b’a muzengo.

Umulilika lya bhanamhala bhagingilaga bho gufunya ntugo, uyo gugabhulagagwa, bhalya abhanamhala bhenabho. Gashinaga lulu, inyama yiniyo igaliyagwa nabhanabhala duhu. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘ulu udi namhala udulya nyama yabho.’

Akahayile kenako kagalenganijiyagwa kubhanhu abho bhagitaga milimo, nulu miito ayo gadigabho. Abhanhu bhenabho bhagishatyaga milimo nulu ginhu ijo jidijabho. B’agingilaga muluganda lo bhanhu bhatale, aliyo bhatali bhadoni. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagabhawilaga giki, ‘ulu udi namhala udulya nyama yabho.’

Akahayile kenako kalanga bhanhu  gub’iza na widohya bho gudima malagilo ayo gagabhambilijaga abhanhu ugwikala mhola. Kuyiniyo lulu, akahayile kenako, kalibhawila abhanhu bhenabho, bhatumame milimo yabho chiza bho nduhu ugwitula bhutale, nulu gwisanja mumagele gabhangi, umo bhoyi bhalemejiwe ugwingira.

(1Kor. 11:26-28)

KISWAHILI: USIPOKUWA MZEE, HULI NYAMA YAO.

Chanzo cha msemo huo hutokea kwenye nyama ya wazee. Nyama hiyo ni ya tako la mfugo uliochinjwa kwa heshima ya mgeni aliyeitembele familia inayohusika. Mbuzi au kondoo, au ng’ombe akiuliwa kwa heshima ya mgeni huyo, nyama ya tako, hutolewa kwa wazee wa kijiji hicho. Nyama hiyo hupikwa kwa ajili yao tu.

Mzee akitaka kuingia kwenye lika la wazee hutakiwa kutoa mfugo kama mbuzi au kondoo, ambaye hupikwa na kuliwa na wazee hao. Kumbe basi, nyama hiyo haruhusiwi kula mtu ambaye hajaingia kwenye ulika huo wa wazee. Ndiyo maana watu husema kwamba, ‘ukiwa sio mzee huli nyama yao.’

Msemo huo hulinganishwa kwa watu wale wavunjao sheria za amani katika jamii, kwa kufanya kazi isiyo yao, au kutenda wasiotakiwa kuyatenda. Watu hao hujiingiza kwenye kazi za wengine, kwa kuingia kwenye makundi wasiyoruhusiwa kuingia. Ndiyo maana watu huwaambia kwamba, ‘ukiwa sio mzee huli nyama yao.’

Msemo huo hufundisha watu  kufuata sheria ziwawezeshazo kuishi kwa amani. Huwataka watu kufanya kazi kwa kufuata sheria za nchi zao au jamii zao, kwa kutokujiingiza kwenye makundi wasiyofurusiwa kuingia.

(1 Wakorintho11:26-28).

 

ENGLISH: IF YOU ARE NOT AN ELDER, YOU SHALL NOT EAT THEIR MEAT.

The origin of this saying is the elders’ meat. Such meat is from the backside of a slaughtered animal in honour of a visitor of the relevant family. If a goat, sheep or bull is slaughtered in honour the guest’s, the backside meat is offered to the village elders. The meat is only cooked for them.

If someone wants to be initiated into elderly, he or she is required to provide a sheep or goat, which is then cooked and eaten by the elders as a rite of passage. However, it is not allowed to eat the meat for non-initiates. That is why people say, “If you are not an elder, you shall not eat their meat”.

The saying is comparatively used to warn those who violate the rules of peace in the community, by doing what they should not. Such individuals engage in activities of others, by joining unauthorized groups. That is why people tell them, “If you are not an elder, you shall not eat their meat.”

The saying teaches people to be compliant to the rules which create a peaceful environment for them to live. It directs people to work in accordance with the laws of their country or their communities, by not joining criminal groups.

(1 Cor. 11: 26-28)