Collected by: Don Sybertz,  

With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Aho Kale, jaliho ndimu ningi. Imo yajo yali Lung’wando. Bhasi, bhagiigwa gusimba lwinzi la minzi. Aho bhandya ugusimba ulwinzi, Ulung’wando uhaya, “Bhabehi, igwigelelwa dulombe giki mbula ipandike gutula. Ulu idishena igubhiza bhule.” Ibhujiku Ulung’wando wiza agwimbaga;

“Oo ndemle bhamayu ndemle,” “Oo ndemle Lung’wando Lung’wando aliza.” Agahodisha aho lwinzi, alihaya, “Hodii.”

Lidakulile ikanza Ulung’wando wingila umuminzi, wandya goga. Aho omala, unya mashi mumo. Uja lokwe. Intondo yaho bhagasanga mashi umu lwinzi.

Bhiyangula guntuula mnambiti ubhiza nindi o lwinzi lwobho. Ubhujiku Ulung’wando agashika hangi na kunu alimba lwimbo lwakwe lwenilo. Agahodisha, Mbiti agatima tochi na kubhuja, “Bhebhe uli nani?” “Nene aha!”

“Bhebhe uli lung’wando idishene?” “Ehee, jiliho ki?” “Bhebhe lung’wando huna uyo agubhipyaga a minzi gise, enh?”

Ulung’wando agashosha, “Iiii! Unene nadagamanile aminzi ging’we. Unene ninaminzi gane ayo galimasoga noi. Dujage nagagwinhe!”

Imbiti yuhaya, “Haya dujage.” Bhasi, ulung’wando na mbiti bhuja.

Aho bhashika aha lwande fulani ulung’wando ung’wila umnambiti, “Nahene, ubhebhe ikalaga aha si, unene nalinhe ng’wigulwa.”

Ulung’wando agandya kung’wikija. Inhalikilo, mbiti agiyibha, wandya kuntunga lugoye. Aho omala ugwita chiniko, Ulung’wando agiponeja mugati ya lwinzi lwobho, wandya goga. Aho omala goga, unya mashi, na kuja lokwe. Intondo yaho diyu, bhagibhuja, “Ng’wigisu ojaga hei?”

Imbiti yushosha, “Naliho kunu bhabehi, natungagwa lugoye na lung’wando!” Ulushigu ulo lugafuada, bhuntuula grumati giki alinde ulwinzi lwobho.

Bhung’winha bhulangeti na tochi. Bhujiku ulung’wando agashiga na gatolo/gajisabho ako kina bhuki na kunu aliimba lyimbo lwakwe linilo. Aho omala ugupiga ihodi, grumati agikala sele.

Ulung’wando agingila na gwigasha hahigula ya ng’wa grumati. Aho grumati wibhakila, agabhuja, “Ulinani ubhebhe? “Nali nene Lung’wando!” “Ahaa! Gashanaga nu bhebhe lung’wando!”

Aheneho grumati ufula mhembe. Ndimu pye jiza na mapanga. Uluwang’wando agabhawila, “Unene nadadulile gubhulagwa na mapanga.” Bhasi ndimu jigantunga lugoye umnalung’wando na guntuma gujila moto.

Aho lidakulile ikanza, ingoye ijo bhalibhantungila jutinika, na lung’wando agatoloka na gwandya gupela ukunu aliimba.

Lung’wando kanyama kadoo, aliyo kanyama kabhalaganu,

Ulung’wando kanyama kadoo, aliyo kanyaga kabhalaganu.

 Kiswahili: Uchimbaji Wa Kisima-Sungura Na Wanyama

Hapo zamani, kulikuwa na wanyama wengi. Mmoja wa wanyama hao alikuwa Sungura. Basi walikubaliana kuchimba kisima cha maji. Walipoanza kuchimba kisima, Sungura akasema, “Jamani, itafaa tuombe ili mvua ipate kunyesha. Vinginevyo itakuwa ni bure.” Usiku Sungura akaja akiimba;

“Oo ndemle wakina mama ndemle,

“Oo ndemle Sungura Sungura anakuja.”

Akapiga hodi pale kisimani, akisema, “Hodii!”

Mara Sungura akaingia katika kisima, akaanza kuoga, alipomaliza, akanya mavi humo humo. Akaenda zake. Kesho yake walikuta mavi katika kisima. Wakaamua kumweka Fisi kuwa mlinzi wa kisima chao. Usiku Sungura alifika tena na huku akiimba wimbo wake ule ule. Alipobisha hodi, Fisi akamulika tochi na kuuliza, “Wewe ni nani?”

“Mimi hapa!”

“Wewe ni Sungura sivyo?”

“Ndiyo, kulikoni?”

“Wewe Sungura ndiye unayechafua maji yetu, enh?”

Sungura akajibu, “Iiii! Mimi sichezei maji yenu. Mimi nina maji yangu ambayo ni safi sana. Twende nikakupe!”

Fisi akasema, “Haya twende.” Basi, Sungura na Fisi wakaenda. Walipofika mahali fulani Sungura akamwambia Fisi,  “Haya, wewe kaa chini na mimi nipande juu.”  Sungura akaanza kumdondoshea.

Mwisho, Fisi akajisahau, akaanza kumfunga kamba. Alipomaliza kufanya hayo, Sungura alijitumbukiza ndani ya kisima chao, akaanza kuoga. Kisha kuoga, akanya mavi, na akaenda zake. Kesho yake asubuhi, walijiuliza, “Mwenzetu amekwenda wapi?”

Fisi akajibu, “Niko huku jamani, nimefungwa kamba na Sungura!”  Siku iliyofuata, wakamweka Kobe ili alinde kisima chao. Walimkabidhi blanketi na tochi.

 Usiku Sungura akaja na kibuyu chenye asali na huku akiimba wimbo wake uleule. Baada ya kupiga hodi, Kobe akakaa kimya. Sungura akaingia na kukaa juu ya gamba la Kobe. Hapo Kobe akastuka, akauliza,  “Nani wewe?”

“Ni mimi Sungura!”

“Ahaa! Kumbe ni wewe Sungura!”

Hapo Kobe akapiga filimbi. Wanyama wote wakaja na mapanga. Sungura akawaambia, “Mimi siwezi kuuawa kwa mapanga.” Basi wanyama wakamfunga kamba Sungura na kumtupa kwenye moto. Mara kamba  walizomfunga zikakatika, na Sungura alichupa na kuanza kukimbia huku akiimba;

        “Sungura kanyama kadogo, lakini kanyama kajanja,

        “Sungura kanyama kadogo, lakini kanyama kajanja.

ENGLISH: THE WELLS  OF ANIMALS

In the past, there were many animals. One of these animals was Hare. Then all the animals agreed to dig a water well. When they started digging a well, Hare said, “Colleagues, we would have to ask for rain instead of digging a well. Otherwise it will be useless.” At night,Hare maliciously came to the well singing:

“Oo ndemle wakina mama ndemle,” (ooh ndemle mothers ndemle),

“Oo ndemle Sungura Sungura anakuja.”(Ooh ndemle Hare is coming).

He asked for permission of entrance to  the well, saying, “Hodi!” (a word used when asking people for permission to enter).

When the Hare got into the well, he began to wash his body.When he finished drinking and washing, he defecated  in it. Then, he went away. The following day,the  animals found the stool in the well. They decided to make Hyena  the guard of their well. At night,Hare came again and sang his same song. When he approached the well, Hyena switched on his torch and asked, “Who are you?”

“Here I am!”

“You are a Hare,are’nt you?”

“Yes, what is the matter?”

“You Hare is the one who spoils our water, right?”

The Harere plied, “Oh! I don’t spoil your water. I have my water which is very clean. Let us go so that I can give you the water!”

Hyena agreed, “Let’s go.” So, Hare and Hyena went. After a short while, the hare said to Hyena, “Well, you sit down and I will give you the water.” The Hare started to drop water at Hyena.

Finally, Hyena relaxed and Hare began to tie him with a string. When he finished doing that, the Hare plunged himself into the well and began to wash himself in it. After finishing this, he defecated in it, and went away. The following morning, they asked, “Where did our fellow go?”

Hyena answered, “I am here, I am tied with a rope by Hare!”

The next day, they made tortoise the new guard of their well. They handed him a blanket and a torch.

At night,Hare came with a honey calabash singing his own song. As he got closer to the well, Tortoise remained silent. Then Tortoise asked, “Who are you?”

“I am the Hare!”

“Ah! That is you Hare! ”

Then Tortoise immediately blew the whistle. All the animals came with swords. The Hare said to them, “I can’t be killed with the swords.” So the animals tied the rope to the Hare and threw him into the fire. In the blink of the eye, the string got loose and Hare escaped and started running while singing;

        “Harea small animal, but crafty,

        “Harea small, but very crafty.

 

Collected by: Don Sybertz,  

With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Waliho ngosha, akatojiwa na Ise. Aliyo walatantongilwe  unke. Akahadikijiwa Nuse, wiyumilija kwikala nang’hwe unkima ng’weji ngima.  Aho gwashila ung’weji uja kujudima ng’ombe  ha  ng’wabho bhuko wiza watungaga maswa.

Aho wiza lulu unke uhaya kung’wanukula  kanigo kenako. Ung’wila,  “Lekaga  kunanukula,  shilimo shikolo shitale.”   “Shikolo ki?”  “Ilimo mbuki  yane.”  Maswa aya gukatulwa  ha lugutu.

Aho wandya kushema,  unkima  nang’hwe uhaya,  “Nilole mbuki iyo yaluhayiwagwa.” Aho wadima maswa, alole ishilimo umugati,  ungosha walushemaga  wiponya  inhunda  ya mabhele ulila ng’hungu, “Wadima ha mbuki yane.”  Wandya lulu kuntula unke.  Ngosha uneka  unke, ushoka ku ng’wawe. Yubhiza lulu mbuki yabhulaga kaya.

Kiswahili: Kisa Kilichovunja Nyumba

Alikuwepo kijana mmoja aliozeshwa na baba yake. Lakini hakumpenda mke wake kwa vile alilazimishwa. Alivumilia kuishi na mke wake kwa muda wa mwezi mmoja. Lakini ulipomalizika muda huo, alikwenda kuchunga ng’ombe wa mkwewe.

Aliporudi kutoka huko, alifunga mzigo wa nyasi. Alipowasili nao pale nyumbani, mkewe alitaka kumpokea mzigo ule. Lakini alikataliwa, “Acha kunipokea kwani kuna kitu ndani.”  “Kuna kitu gani ndani?” mkewe aliuliza.

“Kuna mana.” Nyasi zile zikawekwa kando ya kizizi. Alipoanza kukamua, mwanamke naye akasema, “Ngoja niangalie mana ambayo imo ndani ya nyasi hizi.”

Alipoushika mzigo ili aangalie kilichomo ndani, mume aliyekuwa anakamua, chombo cha maziwa alikitupa, akalia kwa sauti kubwa na kusema, “Umeshika mana yangu.”  Hapo akaanza kumpiga mke wake na kumrudisha nyumbani kwa wazazi wake. Hicho ndicho kisa kilichovunja mji.

ENGLISH: AN INCIDENT THAT BROKE THE MARRIAGE

There was a young man whose father married him a wife. But he did not love his wife because he was married by force. He endured living with his wife for a month. But thereafter, he went to take care of his father-in-law’s cattle.

When he came back from there, he came with a load of grasses. When he arrived at his house, his wife wanted to  receive the load. But the husband rejected, “Do notcarryit  because there is something valuable inside.” “What is it that is inside?” His wife asked.

“There is manna.” Then that tuft of grasses was put near the cowshed. The husband was busy milking a cow.The woman wanted to use that opportunity and she said, “Let me look at the manna that is in this grass.”

When she was trying to do that, the man who was holding a milking container threw it and loudly shouted, “You are touching my manna.” He immediately began to beat his wife and that became the justification for sending his wifeback to her parents. That is the incident that broke the marriage.

Collected by: Don Sybertz,
With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Ng´waka 1974 Itanzania igabhiza ni yanga lwa nzala. Bhanasi bhagayisaila iSelekari kulwa nguno ya kugaiwa ginhiwa jiliwa. Iki jiliwa ja nzala jalijahujumiwa na bhanhu abho bhagimana bhoi duhu.

Ku iniyo, abhanasi bhagapandika iyange itale. Jililo ja abho abhatina nguvu, jiganshigila úntale o si, ung´walimu Julius Nyerere.

Aho owigwa ubhulalamiki bhobho, wamua gugayelela ama mabhelele gose ayo gatumikaka umugujitula ijiliwa ja gubhagabhila bhule ung´wishirika lya si lwa bhushisha (NMC).

Lushiku lumo aho ali kunjini go Shinyanga, Ung´walimu agita jito ja gubhashesha abhanhu, ja guzwala majitambalala makulukulu na ngofila ubhi giti munhu ung´wilombeleja.

Aho oshika aha nyango go NMC, nduhu munhu nulu umo uyo agamhana. Wishebeleja lumo na lumo mpaga mu ofisi ya ng´wa meneja, bho nduhu guzunulijiwa tamu.

Agapiga hodi aha nyango na guhamuka aliyomba, “Aying´we bhanhu umugati umo!” “Nambilijagi, natina jiliwa ukukaya yane!” Meneja unshokeja, “Lekaga gudukoya namhala ebhe! Ingaga ahenaha! Jaga jako uko isoko ugigulile ijiliwa. Kihamo ni iniyo, Nyerere agendelea gubhikumbilija, “Bhabehi, nambilijaji! Nagucha na nzala.”

Aliyo bhadandegelekile, umeneja na bhambilija bhakwe, bhagendelea kujinja mubei ya higulwa na bhasuluja abha bhagashika ho gugula ijiliwa jenijo ja nzala, ijo jalijidakililwa kugabhanyiwa bhule ku bhanasi abho bhalibhadinajo.

Gashinaga ili nghana igiki,
Uo lwiguto adanmanile uo nzala.

Inghalikilo yaho, Unyerere agagufungula unyango na gwingila muofisi. Wangu wangu agakungula amajitambalala na ngofila yenuyo, na heneho, wimanyicha kubhoi igiki ali nani, bho nduhu guyomba mhayo gosegose. Pye bhuding´wa na bhujinjimazu, bho gukumya!

Aho Ntale osi Nyerere oshoka Dar es salama, igatangajiwa giki, umeneja ng´wenuyo na bhambilija bhakwe, bhapejiwagwa imilimo ya gubhatumamila abhanhu kulwa nguno ya juhuma iyo bhagiyita.

Tukio La Rais Nyerere Na Njaa
Mwaka 1974 Tanzania iliandamwa na janga la njaa. Wananchi waliilalamikia serikali kwa vile walikosa kupewa chakula. Kwani kile chakula cha njaa kilihujumiwa kwa maslahi ya watu binafsi.

Hivyo, wananchi walipata usumbufu mkubwa. Kilio cha wanyonge kilimfikia Rais Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Baada ya kuyasikia malalamiko yao, akaamua kuyatembelea maghala yote yaliyotumika kuhifadhia chakula cha kugawa bure kwenye shirika la Taifa la Usagishaji (NMC).

Siku moja akiwa mjini Shinyanga, Mwalimu Nyerere alifanya vioja kwa kuvaa matambara na kofia kuukuu kama omba omba. Alipowasili kwenye lango la NMC, hakuna mtu hata mmoja aliyeweza kumtambua. Akajipenyeza moja kwa moja hadi kwenye ofisi ya meneja, bila ya kupata kibali kwanza.

Alipiga hodi mlangoni na kupaza sauti akisema, “Enyi watu ndani humo!” Nisaidieni, sina chembe ya chakula nyumbani kwangu!” meneja akamjibu, “Acha kutubughudhi mzee wewe! Ondoka hapa! Nenda zako huko sokoni ukajinunulie chakula. Hata hivyo, Nyerere aliendelea kuwasihi, “Jamani, nisaidieni! Nitakufa kwa njaa.

Lakini kwamwe hawakumsikiliza, badala yake, meneja na wasaidizi wake wakaendelea kulangua na wafanyabiashara waliofika kununua kile chakula cha njaa ambacho kingepaswa kugawiwa bure kwa wananchi wahitaji.

Kumbe ni kweli kwamba:
Mwenye shibe hamjui mwenye njaa!

Mwishoni, Nyerere aliufungua mlango na kuingia ofisini. Ghafla akavua yale matambara na ile kofia, na hapo hapo akajidhihirisha kwao kuwa ni nani, bila ya kusema neno lolote. Wote walishikwa na butwaa!

Baada ya Rais Nyenye kurejea Dar es Salaam, ilitangazwa kwamba yule meneja na wasaidizi wake waliwajibishwa kwa kufukuzwa kazi kwa hujuma.

Kiswahili: Tukio La Rais Nyerere Na Njaa

Mwaka 1974 Tanzania ilikumbwa na janga la njaa. Wananchi waliilalamikia Serikali kwa vile walikosa kupewa chakula. Kwani  kile chakula cha njaa kilihujumiwa kwa maslahi ya watu binafsi.

Hivyo, wananchi walipata usumbufu mkubwa. Kilio cha wanyonge kilimfikia Rais Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Baada ya kuyasikia malalamiko yao, akaamua kuyatembelea maghala yote yaliyotumika kuhifadhia chakula cha kugawa bure kwenye shirika la Taifa la Usagishaji (NMC).

Siku moja akiwa mjini Shinyanga, Mwalimu Nyerere alifanya vioja kwa kuvaa matambara na kofia kuukuu (iliyochakaa) kama omba omba. Alipowasili kwenye lango la NMC, hakuna mtu hata mmoja aliyeweza kumtambua. Akajipenyeza moja kwa moja hadi kwenye ofisi ya meneja, bila ya kupata kibali kwanza.

Alipiga hodi mlangoni na kupaza sauti akisema, “Enyi watu ndani humo!” Nisaidieni, sina chembe ya chakula nyumbani kwangu!” meneja akamjibu, “Acha kutubughudhi mzee wewe! Ondoka hapa! Nenda zako huko sokoni ukajinunulie chakula. Hata hivyo, Nyerere aliendelea kuwasihi, “Jamani, nisaidieni! Nitakufa kwa njaa.

Lakini kamwe hawakumsikiliza, badala yake, meneja na wasaidizi wake wakaendelea kulangua na wafanya biashara waliofika kununua kile chakula cha janga la njaa, ambacho kilipaswa kugawiwa bure kwa wananchi wahitaji.

Kumbe ni kweli kwamba:

Mwenye shibe hamjui mwenye njaa!

Mwishoni, Nyerere aliufungua mlango na kuingia ofisini. Ghafla akavua yale matambara na ile kofia, na hapo hapo akajidhihirisha kwao kuwa ni nani, bila ya kusema neno lolote. Wote walishikwa na butwaa!

Baada ya Rais Nyerere kurejea Dar es Salaam, ilitangaza kwamba yule meneja na wasaidizi wake waliwajibishwa kwa kufukuzwa kazi kwa hujuma.

English: President Nyerere Disguises Himself as a Beggar

In 1974 Tanzania had a serious famine. The government provided famine relief, but the food was not getting to the people who complained to the authorities. The President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, heard about the complaints and decided to visit all the storehouses of the National Milling Company (NMC) where the food was being kept.
One day Nyerere visited the NMC in Shinyanga. He disguised himself as a beggar wearing worn out clothes and an old hat. When he arrived at the gate of the NMC no one recognized him. He passed through the gate without permission and went straight to the office of the manager. He knocked on the door and yelled out, “Hey, you people in there. Help me. I don’t have any food.” The manager answered, “Stop bothering us, old man. We don’t have any food here. Go to the market and buy some for yourself.” As the African proverb says: A satisfied person does not know the hungry person.
Nyerere continued to cry out, but no one paid any attention. The manager and his assistants were busy with some local business men who were buying the famine relief food that was supposed to go to the Tanzanian people. Finally Nyerere opened the door and walked into the office. He immediately took off his hat and made himself known. Needless to say, the manager was speechless.
After President Nyerere returned to Dar es Salaam, it was announced that the manager of the NMC in Shinyanga had been fired together with some of his assistants.

 

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Lushiku lumo ng´wana oyelaga na bhabha okwe. Huna ung´wana ng´wenuyo ubhona ginhu ijo jililala ng´wigulwa. Umuja ubhabha okwe, “Bhabha, iginhu ijo jililala ung´wigulwa ni ki?”

Ubhabha okwe, unshokeja, “Ng´wanone, iginhu ijo jilitanwa, ndege (Aeroplen). Bhaliho bhanhu umugati yayo, bhingi du.” Ung´wana ubhuja, “Abhanhu bhenabho umugati yayo bhagadula ginehe ugushiga ukunuko kwigulwa?”

Ubhabha ogo ushosha, “Ng´wanone, abhanhu bhenabho bhadashikile ukunuko kwigulwa, ili giki, indege, igika hasi gubhasola na gubhachala kwigulwa.

Mtoto Na Aeropleni
Siku moja mtoto alikuwa anatembea na Baba yake, mara yule mtoto akaona chombo kinachoruka juu angani. Akamwuliza Baba yake, “Baba, kile chombo kinachoruka juu angani ni nini?”

Baba yake akamjibu, “Mwanangu, kile chombo kinaitwa ndege (Aeroplen) kuna watu ndani yake, ni wengi tu.” Mtoto akauliza, “Je, hawa watu ndani yake waliwezaje kufika huko juu?”

Baba yake akajibu, “Mwanangu watu hawa hawakufika kule juu, bali ndege (Aeroplen) ilishuka chini kuwachukua na kuwapeleka juu.”

Kiswahili: Mtoto Na Ndege (Aeropleni)

Siku moja mtoto alikuwa anatembea na Baba yake, mara yule mtoto akaona chombo kinachoruka juu angani. Akamwuliza Baba yake, “Baba, kile chombo kinachoruka juu angani ni nini?”

Baba yake akamjibu, “Mwanangu, kile chombo kinaitwa ndege (Aeroplen) kuna watu ndani yake, ni wengi tu.” Mtoto akauliza, “Je, hawa watu ndani yake waliwezaje kufika huko juu?”

Baba yake akajibu, “Mwanangu watu hawa hawakufika kule juu, bali ndege (Aeropleni) hushuka chini kuwachukua na kuwapeleka juu.”

ENGLISH: A CHILD AND THE AIRCRAFT

One day, the child was walking with his father.As they did that, the child saw an object flying in the sky. Then, he asked his father, “Father, what is that object lying in the sky?”

His father replied, “My son, that objectis called airplane (Aeroplane).There are many people in it.” The child asked, “How did these people in it get that high in the sky?”

His father replied, “My son these people did not go up there, but the plane comes down to take them and then it takes them up.”

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Walaliho nkima akatolwa ha kaya imo, nina bhuko walatantogagwa, ulu jupya shiliwa bhumega kamo duhu. Huna ngikulu wahaya giki “Jitalulaga bhu nhumbati.” (Kiti itumbati) tukulya na ntondo, huna lulu unina bhuko ufunda shiliwa.

Ng’winga nang’hwe wingaho uja ku maji yakwe kujulala. Kakanza kadabhitile Ngikulu nang’hwe utenga shiliwa kihamo na bhana bhakwe bhandya gulya.

Nose ngoshi akamuja unke, “Bhebhe ng’wana mbati, wakondile shenishi bhuli, uli mhola ahene, nangi woyile ukulya, nulu ugusataga?” Nali mhola duhu.

Lushiku lumo bhuhaya tubhulage mbuli tulye wa nyama, ngoshi agakobha nzila ya kumana unke alikonda bhuli. Aho bhabisha ishiliwa wibhanda mu kaya umu ng’holo (how does this nelate to the buleng of the goat) alihaya giki, nanole unke wane ulu agalyaga chiza, bhumega kamo duhu, ujijiwa shiliwa, uhaya ngikulu “Jitalulaga bhu nhumbati, tukulya na ntondo.

Aho winga unke, bhutenga, huna lulu bhandya gulya gashinaga unyanda wibhandile mu ng’holo. Aho bhamala ugulya ukang’wila unke, ambu gashi udalyaga, nang’hwe unke unshokeja, nani waguwila, nabhonaga nene ng’wenekili iki nali nibhandile umu ng’holo aho winga ubhebhe bhiyo bhutenga bhandya gulya na bhana bhakwe. Unyanda ung’winjaho bhizugila ugina na gugina.

Kiswahili: Hakiwi Kichungu Kama Tumbaku

Kulikuwa na mwanamke aliolewa kwenye mji  mmoja. Mama mkwe alikuwa hampendi. Chakula kikiiva wanamega mara moja tu, huyo Mama mkwe wake anasema hivi, “Hakiwi kichungu kama tumbaku.” (kama tumbaku) tutakula na kesho. Kwa hiyo sasa Mama mkwe anatoa chakula. Mwinga wake anaogopa na kwenda kwenye nyumba yake kulala.

Muda haukupita Mama mkwe akatenga chakula pamoja na watoto wake wakaanza kula. Mwishowe mme akamuuliza mke wake, “Wewe binti fulani, kwa nini umekonda hivi? Je uko mzima kweli? Labda huli au unaumwa.” Mke wake akajibu, “Niko mzima tu.”

Siku moja wakasema, “Tuchinje mbuzi tule nyama.”  Mwanaume akatafuta njia ya kujua mke wake kwa nini anakonda. Walipoivisha chakula, alijificha ndani kwenye kondoo, akasema kwamba leo nione mke wangu kama anakula vizuri.

Walimega mara moja tu, akakatazwa chakula akisema mama mkwe, “Hakiwi kichungu kama tumbaku, tutakula na kesho.”  Alipoondoka mkwe  wakatenga ndipo wakaanza kula.

Kumbe kijana amejificha kwenye kondoo, walipomaliza kula akaenda kumwambia mke wake, “Kumbe huli? Naye mke wake akamjibu, “Nani kakwambia?”  “Nimeona mimi mwenyewe, kwa sababu nilijificha kwenye kondoo, ulipoondoka wenzako walitenga tena wakaanza kula na watoto wake.” Kijana akamuondoa, wakajipikia (wakaishi peke yao), akanenepa na kunenepa.

ENGLISH: IT DOES NOT BECOME BITTER AS TOBACCO.

There was a married woman in one family. Hermother-in-law did not like her. Whenever the food was served, her mother-in-law said, “It does not become bitter like tobacco.” (Like tobacco) we will eat tomorrow. So her mother-in-law could gives her a small quantity of food. Her daughter-in- law was full of fear. She just went to her house to sleep.

When the daughter in law went to sleep, the mother-in-law took food and she and her children began to eat. Finally, the husband asked his wife, “You daughter of somebody why have you become thin like this? Are you really fine? Maybe you don’t eat well enough or you are sick.”His wife replied,“ I’m just fine. ”

One day,the family said, “We are going to slaughter a goat.” The man was eager to to know why his wife was thinning. When they cooked food, the man was hiding among  the sheep, saying,“Today,I will see if my wife is eating well.”

As usual, the mother-in-law, took a large portion of food and  said, “It does not become bitter like tobacco, we will eat it tomorrow.” When she left the mother-in-law, began to eat.

The young man who was hiding among the sheep appeared,when they hadfinished eating.Then he said to his wife, “Oh, my wife you do not eat well enough!”His wife answered, “Who has told you?” “I saw it myself, because I decided to hide myself among the sheep.After you had left, mother and the children started eating the larger portion that they had put aside.” Because of that, the young man took his wife away.There, they could cook their own food in abundance (as they lived alone in their family).She became fat again.