Kabla sinaulonga ulukani kwa vanu hodzage ta. (Bena)Kabla hujasema neno kwa watu, fikiria kwanza. (Swahili) Avant de dire un mot aux gens, réfléchis d’abord. (French) Before you say a word to people, think first. (English)

KISWAHILI. KABLA HUJASEMA NENO FIKIRI KWANZA.

Wabena ni kabila la Wabantu linalopatikana katika nyanda za juu kusini mwa Tanzania, hasa katika mkoa wa Njombe. Lugha yao inaitwa Kibena, na kituo chao cha kitamaduni kinajulikana kama Ubena. Idadi ya watu wa Bena inakadiriwa kuwa karibu watu 1,322,000. Kihistoria, walihama kutoka maeneo ya pwani, wakifuata Mto Rufiji hadi wakaweka makazi Mdandu.

Wabena wamegawanywa katika vikundi vidogo vitano: Ivong’ing’ombe, Sovi, Ikilavwugi, Nyikolwe, na Mfirika. Kibena kina lahaja kuu tano:

Ki-Kilavwugi – kinachozungumzwa katika Ilembula

Kisovi – inayozungumzwa katika Lusisi na Makambako

Kimaswamu – inayozungumzwa huko Imalinyi, Njombe mjini, na Mdandu

Ki-Lupembe – inayozungumzwa katika Lupembe

Ki-Mavemba – inayozungumzwa Uwemba na Igominyi.

Ingawa lugha ni sawa, matamshi hutofautiana. Kwa mfano, sauti “dz” ni ya kawaida katika lahaja nyingi, lakini katika Ki-Kilavwugi, hutamkwa “dj” (k.m., umuhudji). Katika Ki-Lupembe, “dzi” hutamkwa “chi” (k.m., umuhuchi kwa supu, achile kwa “imekuja”).

Ili kuhifadhi utamaduni wao, Wabena hutumia methali, ngoma, nyimbo, muziki na hadithi. Mithali, hasa, ina hekima nyingi na hutumiwa kufundisha, kuongoza, kuonya, kushauri, na kusahihisha.

Methali Kabla sinaulonga ulukani kwa vanu hodzage ta inatumiwa sana miongoni mwa Wabena. Inafundisha umuhimu wa kufikiri kabla ya kuzungumza. Watu wazima walitarajiwa kuiga usemi wa heshima, haswa wakati wa kulea watoto. Kwa mfano, mtoto hakuruhusiwa kumwita mzee mwongo (uwudesi), lakini badala yake alifundishwa kusema ukosie (“umekosea”). Hii ilidumisha heshima na maelewano katika jamii.

Ikiwa mtu alizungumza isivyofaa, walisahihishwa mara moja. Baba akikosea, mama anaweza kuwaambia watoto, Mmuhurumire ayagile mtanakumheka (“Mrehemu, amepotea, usicheke”). Hii ilifundisha watoto kwamba hata watu wazima wanaweza kufanya makosa, lakini wanapaswa kutibiwa kwa uelewa.

Huu hapa ni mfano halisi wa maisha: Mzee Maganga, mwenyekiti wa mtaa wa Kijiji cha Pamwambo, aliwahi kuandaa sherehe ya harusi. Wageni walikuja kutoka karibu na mbali. Baada ya ibada za jadi, ilikuwa wakati wa kula. Akiwakaribisha wageni alisema: “Ndugu zangu, wageni wapendwa, karibuni katika mtaa wetu, tumefurahi sana kwa ujio wenu, kwa kuwa watu ni wengi na viti havitoshi, naomba waungwana mkae mbele, na nyinyi wenyeji mliokuja kama kunguru, kaeni chini!

Sherehe hiyo ilisambaratika. Wenyeji walichukizwa sana na kuanza kuondoka. Wakamwambia yule mzee, “Kabla hujasema neno na watu, fikiri kwanza, sisi si kunguru, sisi ni watu wa heshima. Ingawa aliomba msamaha, uharibifu ulifanyika. Hata wageni walioheshimiwa walivunjika moyo. Maneno ya hovyo ya Mzee Maganga yaliharibu sherehe.

Hadithi hii inaonyesha jinsi kusema bila kufikiri kunaweza kusababisha fedheha na kuvunjika kwa mahusiano. Watu wanaozungumza bila kujali mara nyingi hujikuta wametengwa.

Sambamba za Kibiblia

Mathayo 5:37: “Acheni ‘Ndiyo’ yenu iwe ‘Ndiyo,’ na ‘Siyo’ yenu iwe ‘Siyo’; jambo lolote zaidi ya hayo hutoka kwa yule mwovu.”

Wakolosai 3:8: “Lakini sasa yaacheni nafsi zenu na mambo hayo yote, yaani, hasira, na ghadhabu, na uovu, na matukano, na matusi midomoni mwenu.”

Yakobo 3:8: “Lakini hakuna mwanadamu awezaye kuufuga ulimi; ni uovu usiotulia, umejaa sumu iletayo mauti.”

ENGLISH. BEFORE YOU SAY A WORD TO PEOPLE, THINK FIRST.

The Bena are a Bantu ethnic group located in the highlands of southern Tanzania, primarily in the Njombe region. Their language is called Kibena, and their cultural center is known as Ubena. The Bena population is estimated at around 1,322,000 people. Historically, they migrated from the coastal areas, following the Rufiji River until they settled in Mdandu.

The Bena are divided into five subgroups: Ivang’ing’ombe, Sovi, Ikilavwugi, Nyikolwe, and Mfirika. Kibena has five main dialects:

• Ki-Kilavwugi – spoken in Ilembula
• Kisovi – spoken in Lusisi and Makambako
• Kimaswamu – spoken in Imalinyi, Njombe town, and Mdandu
• Ki-Lupembe – spoken in Lupembe
• Ki-Mavemba – spoken in Uwemba and Igominyi

Though the language is the same, pronunciation varies. For example, the sound “dz” is common in most dialects, but in Ki-Kilavwugi, it is pronounced “dj” (e.g., umuhudji). In Ki-Lupembe, “dzi” is pronounced “chi” (e.g., umuhuchi for soup, achile for “has come”).

To preserve their culture, the Bena use proverbs, dances, songs, music, and storytelling. Proverbs, in particular, are rich in wisdom and used to teach, guide, warn, advise, and correct.

The proverb Kabla sinaulonga ulukani kwa vanu hodzage ta is widely used among the Bena. It teaches the importance of thinking before speaking. Adults were expected to model respectful speech, especially when raising children. For instance, a child was not allowed to call an elder a liar (uwudesi), but instead was taught to say ukosie (“you are wrong”). This maintained respect and harmony in the community.

If someone spoke inappropriately, they were corrected immediately. If a father misspoke, the mother might tell the children, Mmuhurumire ayagile mtanakumheka (“Have mercy on him, he is lost, don’t laugh”). This taught children that even adults could make mistakes, but they should be treated with understanding.

Here is a real life example: Elder Maganga, the local chairperson of Pamwambo Village, once hosted a wedding ceremony. Guests came from near and far. After the traditional rites, it was time to eat. As he welcomed the guests, he said: “My brothers and sisters, dear guests, welcome to our neighborhood. We are very happy for your arrival. Since there are many people and not enough seats, I ask the gentlemen to sit in front, and you locals who came like crows, sit on the ground!”

The celebration fell apart. The locals were deeply offended and began to leave. They told the elder, “Before you say a word to people, think first. We are not crows. We are honorable people.” Though he apologized, the damage was done. Even honored guests were disheartened. Elder Maganga’s careless words ruined the celebration.

This story illustrates how speaking without thinking can lead to humiliation and broken relationships. People who speak recklessly often find themselves isolated.

Biblical Parallels

Matthew 5:37: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Colossians 3:8: “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

James 3:8: “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

This proverb reminds us to weigh our words carefully. Inappropriate speech has led to broken marriages, lost jobs and damaged relationships. Many young people are discouraged by harsh words from elders or superiors. Words can build or destroy.

As the Swahili say: Ni heri kujikwa kidole kuliko kujikwa ulimi (“It is better to stumble with your toe than with your tongue”).

In our Small Christian Communities and our churches, this proverb encourages respectful and thoughtful communication. It calls us to speak truth with love and to build up, not tear down, the next generation.

As we use the Synodal Process in building a Synodal Catholic Church, this Bena Proverb can help us to develop our listening skills and non-positional thinking.

NOTE: The text was improved with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence) software.

Text by:

Sister Felisia Mbifile, SCSF

Rome, Italy

Email: felisiajmbifile@gmail.com