Sukuma Proverbs

1281. INYUMBA YINOGA PEYINA VANU. (BENA)

KISWAHILI: NYUMBA INAPENDEZA IKIWA NA WATU.

ENGLISH: A HOUSE IS BEAUTIFUL IF IT HAS PEOPLE.

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

This proverb talks about a man who was rich and owned a luxurious house. Unfortunately, he did not know how to live and socialize with people. The Wabena Ethnic Group around 1,322,000 people use this proverb.  This ethnic group is one of the Bantu Ethnic Groups in Tanzania. They like to live in the mountains and in places with rivers with a lot of water.  The Bena people use stories, dances, idioms, songs, games and various sayings in teaching, criticizing and educating the community, especially their younger generation.  Inyumba yinoga peyina vanu means (A house is beautiful if it has people) is one of the proverbs they use.

It happened that in their village of Navalonge Swela, there was a Mr. Nyongise, a rich man who built many housing estates. He had a large area, enough entertainment grounds and a place to raise animals. People really liked the houses and went to plan them so that they could live and others could do their business. However, unfortunately, people did not manage to live in those houses; they stayed for a short time and then left. No one could stay long. The houses remained empty, the locals were surprised and wanted to know what was going on.

Fortunately, when a tenant was going out, he passed by saying that this old man is disrespectful, very annoying and wants the tenants to live by doing what he wants. He is also a drunkard and a person who loves luxury so “we have decided to leave because we are afraid that his behaviour will destroy our children.”

After a while old Nyongise spent all his assets. He was left with nothing, he gave up and looked for a way to demolish his house and move to another area because he was ashamed in front of the villagers due to his pride.

Locals and well-wishers approached him, advised and encouraged him to stop his bad behaviour and cooperate well with others. The old man agreed and apologized, he promised to change his behaviour and that he would help the poor since he had a lot of wealth. He fulfilled his promise to help the poor.

Then the locals after seeing this said Inyumba yinoga peyina vanu that means A house is beautiful if it has people. This is how this proverb started and continues to be used until now.

This proverb is compared to many rich people who forget that their wealth comes from God, so when they have wealth they look down on others.  These people are the same as old Nyongise who abused them, despised them and refused to have a relationship because of his wealth. People laughed at them because in the end he ended up being poor like the others.

This proverb teaches to love, to care for all people and to respect them, whether they are rich or poor.

Biblical Parallels

Luke 14:23: “And the lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Isaiah 32:18: “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

2 Chronicles 8:2: “Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them.”

Deuteronomy 8.12, 14: “Look, when you have eaten and are full, and build a beautiful house and live in it, then your heart should not rise, and forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

This Bena Proverb encourages all people to keep and to maintain their good traditions. We need to build cooperation so that we can live as one family. That is why the Catholic Church today emphasizes the importance of participating in Small Christian Communities (SCCs). It is a good place to meet, teach and help each other. Children are helped to grow in good Christian traditions and customs. Let us work together as brothers and sisters.

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Text by:

Sister Felisia Mbifile, SCSF

Email: felisiambifile@gmail.com

1280. MBELE ILINAOKO UTIPAMA ISHIKE.

 

 

 

KISWAHILI: UKIWA NA WA KUKUONGOZA HUWEZI KUJIKWAA.

 

 

ENGLISH: IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE LEADING YOU, YOU CANNOT LOSE THE WAY.

 
 

 


Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

The Sukuma People, one among the ethnic groups found in Tanzania, use proverbs, sayings, songs and riddles to convey some important messages to a particular person or to a group of people in the community, depending on the certain circumstances.

In Tanzania there is very common Swahili proverb known as zimwi likujualo halikuli ukakwisha (a ghost that knows you cannot devour you completely). This proverb is well used to address people to live a suitable life in the community so as to keep the gift of fraternity alive because no one knows about tomorrow. Thus you can undermine someone today and tomorrow you go to seek for his or her help. This Swahili proverb made me to go to my Sukuma language to search for a similar proverb. When I asked, immediately my grandfather told me such a proverb in Sukuma known as mbele ilinaoko utipoma/utipama ishike (if you have someone leading  you, you cannot lose the way).

This Sukuma proverb shows the complexity of the Sukuma language and the difficulty of translation. First, both utipoma and utipama are used depending on what part of Sukumaland you are living in, for example, Mwanza or Nyalikungu. Second, there are three possible English translations:

The meaning of this proverb is: ON THE NECESSITY OF LEAVING A GOOD LEGACY.  When you are living somewhere, try to be nice to people because you never know what will happen in the future. If you are a parent leave a good legacy to your children. Such a legacy will help them build their daily activities and be trusted.

Biblical Parallels

John 14: 1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled. I will go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and I will take you to myself. That where I am you may also be.”

Romans 16: 1-2: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord as benefits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well.”

1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”

Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity!”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

We are living in intercultural societies, where we can help each other through sharing the core values found in our cultures. It our task today here and now to rediscover the treasure found in our cultures. Through them we can transfer a message or speech of many words in a single sentence that communicates the same thing that could be given in a long message. Thus this proverb can be a compendium for all of us to leave a life worthy for all called to be Christians. Leaving a legacy behind us makes us to be alive even in our absence.

Think of some of our legacies such as: Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the Founding President of Tanzania. Among Catholic Bishops Bishop Christopher Mwoleka, one of the Bishop Founders of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Eastern Africa. Among African theologians Father Laurenti Magesa. More recent legacies are the SCC Model of Church and the Synodal Process.

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Prepared by:

Rev. Deacon Paschal Mahalagu

Deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga

P.O Box 47

Shinyanga, Tanzania

Email: paschalmahalagu@gmail.com

Cellphone: +255755180893

Photographs by:

Rev. Zakaria Kashinje, OSA
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Cellphones:
+255-756-887787 Vodacom
+255-717-3337787 Tigo
+255-786-337787 Airtel
Email: zkashinje@gmail.com
zkashinje@yahoo.co.uk

1279.UMWANA VA MYAGO YE MWANA VAKO. (Bena)

Umwana va myago ye mwana vako. (Bena)

Mtoto wa mwenzako ni mtoto wako. (Swahili)

 

 ENGLISH: YOUR COLLEAGUE’S CHILD IS YOUR CHILD
 

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

This proverb is used by the people of the Bena Ethnic Group. It encourages unity and cooperation in raising a child. About 1,322,000, the Wabena are in Tanzania. They are found in the Njombe Region. The Wabena, like other ethnic groups in Tanzania, have different cultures, sayings, proverbs and stories that are used in teaching their generations. They have five dialects that are used and vary in speaking according to the places where they live.

The Wabena are famous in teaching good morals to their children. For example, the Wabena confess and believe that their legacy — that will make them recognized and loved by many — is to raise a child in good morals so the children grow up in great discipline and respect that goes along with working for hard work and to bring solidarity and unity in the community.

In the beginning these Bena families were living far apart — from one family to another family. In this situation each of the families was struggling to raise their children and set regulations and rules for themselves that were different from other families, so there was a great lack of understanding that perhaps caused marriages to break.

Because of this, the Chief of the Bena decided to call a meeting of the elders who gathered together and held a joint discussion on how to protect, maintain and take care of their culture. They agreed that every parent and each person should realize that their colleague’s child is his or her child wherever they see and meet them. Then they created this proverb: Your colleague’s child is your child. In this sense even the children respected each parent as their own parent.

This proverb is compared to families who until today maintain a good culture of upbringing regardless of whose child it is. It is also compared to the humble people who live with the Bena and like to draw this wealth of upbringing mixing it with their good traditions in the upbringing of the child. They differ from those who are proud and see that these customs are outdated and do not accept to learn anything.

This proverb is likened to people of families who are unstable and careless, who like to live alone and think they don’t need others in the care of children. They continue every day to lose their good traditions and customs and instead imitate the bad ones and thus destroy the whole moral system of children in society and even adults.

Biblical Parallels

Proverb 22:6: “Bring up the child in the right way, and he will not leave you, even when he or she is old.”

Luke 2:52:“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature pleasing God and people.”

Deuteronomy 6:7: “Teach your children diligently. Speak to them when you are in the house and when you walk on the road and when you sleep and when you leave.”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

This proverb teaches people to be united and to repeat their good customs, to stick together in the whole matter of the upbringing and development of a child especially in today’s world. These days we gather with our colleagues in Small Christian Communities. Let us go with our children to the SCCs. Then go through the teachings and the help they will hear in these gatherings. The children can be strengthened not only personally but spiritually and morally as well.

The Bishops of AMECEA in their meetings encourage and strengthen the growth of Small Christian Communities in Africa that is a whole system of cooperation and unity, reading the Word of God and finding a way to live that Word. These are the challenges we have to strengthen our children in Christian teachings and social values.

This proverb about children and families is especially timely as the delegates from Africa who are participating in the Second Session of the Synod in Rome in October 2024 plan to  highlight the importance of the family as the Domestic Church and the Church Family of God.

 

 

Text by:

Sister Felisia Mbifile, SCSF

Rome, Italy

Phone No: +254792229035

Email: felisiambifile@gmail.com

 

Photographs by:

Rev. Zakaria Kashinje, OSA
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Cellphones:
+255-756-887787 Vodacom
+255-717-3337787 Tigo
+255-786-337787 Airtel
Email: zkashinje@gmail.com
zkashinje@yahoo.co.uk

1274. LUGOYE LUGATINIKILAGA GU MHELO.

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo iholelile bhutiniki bho lugoye aho luganogelaga. Ulugoye lunulo lugatungilagwa ginhu jose jose ukumhelo yalo. Uloyi luganogolekaga ugumhelo yalo kunuko mpaga nose lotinika kunguno ya gumanalutungilwa bho gugandagulwa bhuli likanza. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, “lugoye luganitikilaga gu mhelo.”

Ulusumo lunulo, lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo agatumamaga nimo mpaga wegela gugumala na uguleka ugugumalija, umukikalile kakwe. Umunhu ng’wunuyo agakilagaga nulu mongo guganemelela ha mhelo yago, nulu agalimilaga ngese mgunda ntale, ogailekela aha mhelo yago, kunguno ya guduma gwiyumilija chiza, umubhutumami bhokwe bhunubho. Uweyi agagayiyagwa ijikolo aha kaya yakwe kunguno ya gugayiwa wiyumilija bho guimala chiza imilimo yakwe yiniyo, umubhutumami bhokwe bhunubho.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agikolaga nu lugoye ulo ugatinikila gumhelo, kunguno nuweyi agatumamaga milimo mpaga wegela uguimala na uyileka, umubhutumami bhokwe. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagangwilaga giki, “lugoye lugatinikilaga gu mhelo.”

Ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gubhiza na wiyumilija bho guyitumama chiza imilimo yabho mpaga bhayimala umubhutumami bhobho, kugiki bhadule gupandika matwajo mingi umuwikaji bhobho bhunubho.

Luka 13:22-24.

Yeremia 10:19.

Mathayo 10:22.

KISWAHILI: KAMBA HUKATIKIA MWISHONI.

Chanzo cha methali hiyo huongelea juu ya ukatikaji wa kamba pale inapochokea. Kamba hiyo hufungiwa vitu mbalimbali kwenye upande wake mwishoni. Yenyewe hulainika sana kwenye sehemu hiyo ya mwishoni inapotumika kufungia vitu mpaga mwishowe hukatika kwa sababu ya kukunjwa mara nyingi inapofungiwa vitu hivyo. Ndiyo maana watu husema kwamba, “kamba hukatikia mwishoni.”

Methali hiyo, hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule ambaye hufanya kazi na kuiacha anapokaribia kuimaliza, katika maisha yake. Mtu huyo, hufanya kazi kama vile kuvuka mto na kushindwa anapokaribia mwishoni, au kupalilia palizi na kushindwa kuimaliza anapokaribia mwishoni, kwa sababu ya kushindwa kuvumilia vizuri, katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yake. Yeye hukosa mali kwenye familia yake kwa sababu ya kukosa uvumilivu huo wa kuzimaliza vizuri kazi zake, katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yake.

Mtu huyo, hufanana na ile kamba iliyokatikia mwishoni, kwa sababu naye hufanya kazi na kuziachia mwishoni, bila kuzimaliza, katika kazi zake. Ndiyo maana watu humwambia kwamba, “kamba hukatikia mwishoni.”

Methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kuwa na uvumilivu wa kuzimaliza vizuri kazi zao, katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yao, ili waweze kupata mafanikio mengi, maishani mwao.

Luka 13:22-24.

Yeremia 10:19.

Mathayo 10:22.

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ENGLISH: THE STRING BREAKS AT THE END.

The basis of the overhead proverb discusses about a breaking of a rope when it gets tired. This rope is tied to various things on its side at the end. It is very soft at the end when it is used to tie things, and eventually it breaks due to being folded sundry times when those things are tied. That is why people say that, “the string breaks at the end.”

This proverb is related to a person who works and leaves it when he is about to finish it, in his life. Such person, does a job like crossing a river and fails when he gets close to the end, or weeding weeds and fails to finish it when he gets close to the end, because of his inability to endure well, in the implementation of his duties. He lacks capital in his family because of his lack of strong patience enough to finish his works properly, in carrying out of his duties.

This person is like the rope that broke at the end, because he also works and leaves them at the end, without finishing them, in his works. That is why people tell him that, “the string breaks at the end.”

This proverb imparts in people an idea of having strong patience enough to finish their works well, in the fulling their responsibilities, so that they can get a lot of success in their lives.

Luke 13:22-24.

Jeremiah 10:19.

Matthew 10:22.

1270. UDIZUJA GWIGULILU LYA MBULI OZWALAGA SKETI YA MALANDO.

Ulusumo lunulo lulolile bhuzwaji bho malando ayo jitokigilwe gugalya mbuli. Alihoyi munhu uyo agazwala sketi ya malando aho ojaga gwigulilu lya mbuli. Aliyo lulu ikimbuli jigatogilwe amalando genayo aho jagabhona jumpelela na gugandya gugalya amalondo genayo mpaga yushila isketi yakwe usaga duhu. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagang’wila giki, “udizuja gwigulilu lya mbuli ozwalaga sketi ya malando.”

Ulusumo lunulo, lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo ali ngumanija ojikola jakwe umukikalile kakwe. Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agajaga ha mkwilikano go bhanhu bhingi ogajilekanija sagala isabho jakwe mpaga nose jamalwa gusolwa na manhu bhenabho, kunguno ya gujilekenija sagala chiniko. Uweyi agamajiyagwa isabho jakwe bho gusolwa sagala na bhanhu kunguno ya bhujidadilila bhokwe bhunubho, umuwikaji bhokwe.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agikolaga nuyo agaja gwigulilu lya mbuli ozwalaga sketi ya malando gugaliwa ni mbuli amando genayo mpaka usaga duhu, kunguno nuweyi agajilekenijaga sagala isabho jakwe mpaga jamalwa gusolwa na manhu, umukikalile kakwe. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagang’wilaga giki, “udizuja gwigulilu lya mbuli ozwalaga sketi ya malando.”

Usulumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gudebha gujidilila chiza isabho jabho kugiki bhadule gujitumamila bho gubheja chiza ikaya jabho, umuwikaji bhobho.

KISWAHILI: USIENDE KWENYE MNADA WA MBUZI UMEVAA SKETI YA MALANDO.

Methali hiyo, huangalia uvaaji wa malando ambayo mbuzi wanayapenda kuyala. Alikuwepo mtu aliyevaa sketi ya malando hayo alipokuwa akienda kwenye mnada wa mbuzi.

Lakini kwa vile mbuzi wanayapenda kuyala hayo majani ya viazi, walipoyaona waliyakimbilia na kuanza kuyala mpaka wakayaimaliza sketi yake hiyo, akabaki uchi. Ndiyo maana watu hao walimwambia mtu huyo kwamba, “usiende kwenye mnada wa mbuzi umevaa sketi ya malando.”

Mtu huyo, hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule ambaye huwa havijali vitu vyake katika maisha yake. Mtu huyo, huenda kwenye mkusanyiko mkubwa wa watu wengi na kuvitelekeza vitu vyake mpaka watu wanavichukua vyote, kwa sababu ya kuvitelekeza hovyo mali zake hizo. Yeye huzimaliza mali zake kwa kuchukuliwa na watu hovyo kwa sababu ya kutozijali vizuri, maishani mwake.

Mtu huyo, hufanana na yule aliyeenda kwenye gulilu la mbuzi amevaa sketi ya malando ikamalizwa kuliwa na mbuzi sketi yake hiyo, mpaka akabaki uchi, kwa sababu naye huzitelekeza mali zake hovyo mpaga zinamalizwa kwa kuchukuliwa na watu, katika maisha yake. Ndiyo maana watu humwambia mtu huyo hivi, “usiende kwenye mnada wa mbuzi umevaa sketi ya malando.”

Methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kuelewa kuzijali kwa kuzitunza vizuri mali zao, ili waweze kuzitumia kwa kuziendeleza vizuri familia zao, maishani mwao.

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ENGLISH: DO NOT GO TO THE GOAT’S AUCTION WEARING A SWEET POTATO’S LEAVES SKIRT.

This proverb looks at a dressing of sweet potato’s leaves that goats like to eat. There was a woman who wore a skirt of that kind when she was going to the goat’s auction.

But since the goats like to eat those potato’s leaves, when they saw them they ran to them and started eating them until they finished her skirt, leaving her naked. That is why people told such woman that, “do not go to the goat’s auction wearing a sweet potato’s skirt.”

This proverb is paralleled to a person who does not care about his things in his life. Such person goes to a large gathering of people and abandons his things until people take them all, because of careless abandonment of his possessions. He ends his possessions by being taken carelessly by people because of not taking good care of them, in his life.

This person is like the one who went to the goat’s market wearing a sweet potato’s leaves skirt and the goat ended up eating her skirt, until she was left naked, because he also abandons his possessions to the point of being taken by people, in his life. That is why people tell him that, “Do not go to the goat’s auction wearing a sweet potato’s leaves skirt.”

This proverb teaches people on understanding ways of of taking care of their properties by taking good care of them, so that they can use them for nicely developing their families in their lives.