Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu

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

Waliho nsaji umo aha mhunze aladina myenda. Agaja kubhamaduka gujulomba myenda, ugimiwa ugapejiwa uwilwa dingilage aha isaji ebhe. Munhu ng’wenuyo akinga uja kulinwani ng’wiye katibu kata, John Nkinga ugalomba kwenuko myenda.

Katibu kata ung’winha unsaji ng’wenuyo myenda. Ng’waka gwenuyo bhugigela bhusatu bhojipindupindu. Aha makanza gene bhaliho na bhajinja bha Shi.

Katibu kata ubhajija kujinja Shi kunguno ya bhusatu wenubho bhojipindupindu. Bhajinja bha Shi bhiwila giki dumulagagi ung’wenuyu ni bhuli alidujija guguja Shi? Dulile he?

Bhizunilija shene ng’hana bhamulage. Ahi kanza bhakwilomelaga oliho unsaji uyo aginhiwa myenda nu John Nkinga aladegelekile, abhoyi abhajinja bha Shi bhahayaga giki ung’wenuyo amasala magehu nekagi duhu adita nulu ki.

Unsaji uyu nwani ng’wiye ong’wa katibu kata uja ukang’wila giki abhajinja bha Shi bhahaya giki, “Bhaliza gugubhulaga kunguno obhajija gujinja Shi.

Katibu kata ahawigwa chene uja kuli mkuu /ntale o wilaya ugalomba bhuhamisho usamiwa uja gujutumamila Masanga.

Yubhiza sawa nulu sumo ulo lulihaya giki, “Nipijage lohasilili nang’ho nalagupija lohigulya.

Kiswahili: Niokoe Ya Chini Chini Nami Nitakuokoa Ya Juu Juu

Kulikuwa na kichaa mmoja pale Mhunze hakuwa na nguo. Alienda kwa wenye maduka kuomba nguo, akanyimwa na kufukuzwa akaambiwa ‘tuondokee hapa kichaa wewe.’

Mtu huyo aliondoka akaenda kwa rafiki yake katibu kata, John Nkinga kuomba huko nguo. Katibu kata alimpa kichaa huyo nguo. Mwaka huo uliingia ugonjwa wa kipindupindu. Wakati huo pia walikuwepo wauza samaki.

Katibu kata aliwakataza kuuza samaki kwa sababu ya ugonjwa huo wa kipindupindu. Wauza samaki waliambizana kwamba wamuue huyo katibu, kwa nini aliwakataza kuuza samaki? Wangekula wapi? Walidai hivyo.

Walikubaliana hivyo kwamba wamuue. Wakati wakizungumza alikuwepo yule kichaa aliyepewa nguo na John Nkinga akisikiliza, wao wauzaji wa samaki walifikiri kwamba huyo ana akili ndogo tu hangefanya kitu chochote.

Kichaa huyu rafiki ya katibu kata alienda kumwambia hivi, wauza samaki wamesema kwamba, “Wanakuja kukuua kwa sababu umewakataza kuuza samaki.

Katibu kata aliposikia hivyo, alienda kwa mkuu wa wilaya kuomba uhamisho akahamishwa kwenda kufanya kazi Masanga.

Ikawa sawa na methali imesamayo hivi, “Niokoe ya chini chini nawe nitakuokoa ya juu juu.”

ENGLISH: SAVE ME NOW AND I’LL SAVE YOU IN FUTURE

Once upon a time, there was a madman at Mhunze. He used to go about naked. He went to shop owners to beg for clothes. He was refused and told to get away from them.

The madman went to his friend, a ward secretary called John Nkinga, to beg for clothes. The ward secretary gave him clothes. The same year cholera broke out in their village. There were fish sellers in the village.

The ward secretary forbade them to sell fish because of cholera. The traders asked the madman to kill the secretary because he had forbidden them to sell fish. “How else can we earn a living?” they asked.

They agreed to kill him. While speaking, the madman, who had been given clothes by John Nkinga, was listening to them. The fish sellers thought that he had just a little mind and that he could do nothing.

The madman went to the ward secretary and said to him, “The fish sellers are coming to kill you because you’ve forbidden them to sell fish.”

When the ward secretary heard it, he went to the district commissioner to request that he be transferred to Masanga.

What happened was similar to the saying “Save me now and I’ll save you in future.”

Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu

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

Waliho mayu umo na ngoshi wakwe. Mayu uyu witanagwa ng’wana Masanja. Bhose bhubhili wabho bhikalaga ng’wa nsabhi umo wa ng’ombe. Na bhuli ng’wene bhali na nimo gokwe heke. Ng’wana Masanja unimo gwakwe kubhazugila shiliwa bhadimi. Na ngoshi walina nimo gwa kusoloja ng’ombe ahikanza bhalija kwidima, na hikanza lya kushoka.
Lushiku lumo nsabhi akabheja jigukulu bhulya na kuhaya, “Talya twiguta giki? Uadamu nu Eva ulu ninalinene, ninatahubhile giko.” Nu ng’wana Masanja nawe uhaya, “Unene ulu ninali Eva ninatahubhile.

Aha shiku iti ningi, nsabhi agita hangi jikukulu. Shiliwa pye shigenhwa, shutulwa ha meza. Naha Meza henaho, nsabhi akatula kashiseme kado kasoga. Kna nkundikijo. Umushiseme ijo yaliliho noni imo. Iyo yaliyakundikijiwa.

Aha yabhita yeniyo bhakalya bhiguta gete. Aho bhatinakundula umu kajiseme ako, ikanza lidakulile winga unsabhi, ubhaleka bhabhili aha meza, ng’wana Masanja nu ngoshi wakwe.

Nsabhi akaja kujubhambilija bhadimi. Aho winga unsabhi, ung’wana Masanja uhaya, “Nene nali ng’wana Masanja kamo.” Akasula hanze, uyomba “Mpaga nasule umujiseme iji.” Ng’wana Masanja ukundula ilikundikijo kubhuluka kanoni kulala. Ng’wana Masanja nu ngoshi bhuzonga noi. Bhuli ng’wene alibhuja.

Nsabhi aho washoka wingila mukaya. Ubhasanga ung’wana Masanja nu ngoshi wakwe bhasunduhalaga no. Nsabhi umana giki bhakundulaga akajiseme.

Nsabhi ukundula umukajiseme umo kali akanoni ubhuja giki, “Ing’wakundula ijiseme iji?” Ng’wana Masanja akapinihala gete. Ngoshi wakwe akahaya nu ng’wana Masanja wakundulaga akanoni kulala ng’wigulya

Kiswahili: Mimi Ni Bint Wa Masanja Hasa (Mara Moja) (Tajiri Na Mwana Masanja).

Alikuwepo mama mmoja na Bwana wake. Mama huyo alikuwa anaitwa Mwana Masanja. Wote wawili walikuwa  wakiishi kwa tajiri mmoja wa ng’ombe. Mwana Masanja kazi yake ilikuwa kupika chakula cha wachungaji. Na wanapokwenda machungani na wakati wa kurudi huwahesabu.

Siku moja tajiri alifanya sikukuu wakala na  kusema, “Tumekula tumeshiba hivi? Huyu Adamu na  Eva kama ningelikuwa mimi nisingelikosa namna hiyo.”  Mwana Masanja naye akasema,  “Mimi ningelikuwa Eva nisingelikosa.

Baada ya siku si nyingi, tajiri alifanya tena sikukuu. Chakula chote kililetwa kikawekwa mezani. Pale pale mezani tajiri akaweka chombo kidogo kizuri  kina mfuniko. Katika chombo hicho  kilichofunikwa alikuwemo ndege.

Baada ya hayo walikula na kushiba sana. Kabla ya kufunua kwenye chombo kile, muda haukupita tajiri aliondoka akawaacha wawili pale mezani, Mwana Masanja na Mmewe.

Tajiri alikwenda kuwasaidia wachungaji. Alipoondoka tajiri, mwana Masanja akasema, “Mimi ni Mwana Masanja hasa.”  Akachungulia nje, akasema, “Lazima niangalie kwenye chombo hiki.”

Mwana Masanja akafunua mfuniko, akatoka ndege ndani ya chombo na kuruka angani.  Mwana Masanja na mmewe wakahuzunika mno, kila mmoja akiwaza.

Tajiri aliporudi akaingia ndani, akawakuta mwana Masanja na Bwana wake wamehuzunika sana. Tajiri akafahamu kwamba wamefungua kwenye chombo hicho. Tajiri akafunua kwenye chombo alimokuwamo ndege.

Akawauliza kwamba, “Mlifungua kwenye chombo hiki?”

Mwana Masanja alihuzunika sana. Mme wake akasema,  “Huyu Mwana Masanja alifungua na ndege akaruka juu.

 

ENGLISH: I’M MASANJA’S SPECIAL DAUGHTER

There once lived a woman and her husband in a certain village. The woman was called Ng’wanaMasanja (Masanja’s daughter). Both were living with a man who had a big herd of cows. Ng’wanaMasanja cooked food for the shepherds. The shepherds counted the cows when they went to the bush to graze them and when they returned home.

One day, the rich man organised a feast. After they had eaten, the people said, “We’ve eaten and are very full.” Again, they said, “If we’re Adam and Eve, wouldn’t we have committed such a mistake. Ng’wanaMasanja also said, “If it were me, wouldn’t I have done so, too?”

A few days later, the rich man organised another feast. All the food was brought to the table. He put on the table a beautiful container covered with a lid. There was a bird in the container.

After they had eaten the people were very happy. Before opening the container, the rich man went where the shepherds were to help them with some work, leaving Ng’wanaMasanja and her husband at the table.

When he’d left, Ng’wanaMasanja said, “I’m Masanja’s special daughter.” She looked outside and said, “I want to see what is in this container.”

Ng’wanaMasanja opened the lid. The bird came out of the container and flew into the sky. She covered the container with the lid again. Everyone thought that Ng’wanaMasanja and her husband were very sad about the bird’s disappearance.

When the rich man came back, he found Ng’wanaMasanja and her husband very sad. He opened the container and then asked, “Did you open the container?”

Ng’wanaMasanja was very sad. Her husband said, “This Ng’wanaMasanja opened it and the bird flew away.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu

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

Waliho ngosha umo walatolile, ubyala bhana bhagosha bhike ikumi na bhabhili. Huna lulu nkima kubhazugila bhana bhingi cheniki wapandikaga makoye.

Makoye kizilaga hikubhi, lyanguhaga kushila. Bhandya lulu bhana kuiimba (kutaya) nduhu ukwiguta. Likubhi lya shilaga mayu. Twamalaga ikubhi. Ngikulu ubhashogeja, “Twite ki lulu?”

Huna lushiku lumo kizaho kageni. Ngeni umuja, “Bhanhu bhako bhakumanaga bhulomba (bhutaya) ikubhi bhuli?” Uhaya, Nite kinehe?” Mhuli itabhunagwa nkondo gwayo nakwiyumilija duhu.

Natigelile kuleka kubhazugila.” Ngeni ung’wila giki, ulu ulitogwa bhana bhako bhoye kumana bhulomba makubhi, nakulange isala. Ulu wazuga ikubhi, watula fugo, walileka ikubhi lingi hishiga likale lilipogoma, kushiga kubisha bhugali moto kwikale gulibhaka ho. Gemaga nzila yeniyo hamo ikukwambilija.”

Aho wabhatwalila bhugali, ikubhi lyali isebu. Aho bhandya kulya lulu, ulu wagema kulija ikubhi lingi wapya waduma kulija ikubhi lingi. Bhose bhita chene, nabhuduma kwinja ikubhi lingi. Bhuyinenela (kwinja kakubhi kado kado. Nose bhugali bhushila ikubhi litali lilimo mu nungu.

Ngeni ung’wila, wabhona isala lyenilo tumamilaga giko shiku jose. Iki mhuli itabhunagwa nkondo gwayo. Utudula kubhapeja bhana iki kugayiwa ikubhi iyumilijage duhu.

Kiswahili: Tembo Hazidiwi Na Mkonga Wake

Hapo kale aliishi mwanamume mmoja ambaye alikuwa ameoa. Walibahatika kuwa na watoto wa kiume kumi na wawili. Kwa hiyo, mama alipata shida sana kuwapikia chakula watoto wengi hivi. Shida kubwa ilikuwa kuhusu upatikanaji wa mboga. Daima mboga katika familia hiyo ilimalizika haraka  haraka.

Watoto wale wakianza kulalamika, ulikuwa ni wimbo wao wa kila siku, “Mboga imekwisha mama! Tumemaliza mboga mama!”

“Sasa nifanye nini wanangu?”

Siku moja alifika mgeni. Mgeni yule akamuuliza yule mama.

“Kwa nini watoto wako kila siku wanalalamika kuwa hawana mboga?”

“Sasa nifanyeje?  Tembo huwa hazidiwi na mkonga wake. (Tembo hashindwi na mkonga wake). Nitajitahidi  tu kuwapikia, kamwe sitaacha.”

Mgeni akamwambia,  “Iwapo unapenda watoto wako waache tabia ya kuomba mboga, nitakufundisha mbinu.”

“Mbinu gani?” Mama aliuza.

Mgeni akajibu, “Unapopika mboga na kuiweka kando ili kupika ugali, uwe unaiacha mboga nyingi figani.  Ikae pale ikichemka hadi unapokuwa umesonga ugali. Moto uwe pale ukiendelea kuwaka.

Alipowapelekea ugali mboga ilikuwa bado ina moto. Na yeyote atakayeanza kuchota mboga nyingi, itamchoma na kumwunguza kooni. Mazoea yana taabu.

Siku hiyo, mama yao akawaandalia mboga kama alivyoelekezwa na yule mgeni. Wote wakanawa. Basi, wakawa wanachota mboga kidogo kidogo na hawakuathirika.

Mwishowe ugali ukaisha na huku mboga ikawa bado chunguni. Mgeni akamwambia yule mama, “Umeiona akili hiyo? Fanya hivyo kila siku.”

“Sawa kabisa! Kwa vile Tembo hazidiwi na mkonga wake. Huwezi kuwafukuza watoto kwa kuwa umekosa mboga. Vumilia tu.”

 

ENGLISH: AN ELEPHANT IS NOT OVERWHELMED BY ITS TRUNK

Once in Tanzania there was a Sukuma mother who had 12 sons who were a constant concern for her. Try as she may, she never was able to cook enough food to satisfy them. She would prepare a bowl of “ugali” (stiff, cooked corn meal) together with more than enough “mboga” (meat, fish, or vegetables
in gravy).

In no time the 12 boys would finish the mboga and say: “Mother, the mboga is finished. Give us some more to eat with our ugali.” The same thing happened day after day until the mother was at a loss as to what to do. Then one day an elderly woman came to visit.

When the food was prepared, the guest was amazed how quickly the ten young men devoured the mboga and then said: “Mother, the mboga is finished. Give us some more.” After the meal the elderly woman said to the mother of the ten boys: “My dear friend, I am amazed how quickly your sons eat the mboga.

The mother replied, “What can I do? An elephant is not overly burdened by its trunk.” The guest replied, “What you say is true. But let me tell you something. The next time you cook mboga don’t give it to them all at once. Leave some of it in the pot on the stove until it becomes very hot.”

The next day when the boys asked for more mboga, the mother gave it to  them sizzling hot right from the fire. In fact, the mboga was so hot that they could eat the ugali with only a little bit of mboga for fear of burning their tongues. In this way the elderly guest was able to help the mother of the ten boys in her predicament. Truly an elephant is not overly burdened by its trunk.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu

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

Kale ya makale, muna Shimba akabhabhulaga pye abhanmhala bha ng’wigunguli. Namhala umo duhu atabhulagilwe. Nang’hwe witanagwa namhala Sayayi. Nguno wali wibhisa kihamo na bhana bhakwe. Muna Shimba akabhona giki, abhanamhala bhatina solobho kuliwei. Na bhakasaga bhayanda duhu.

Lushiku lumo muna Shimba wali alalile. Aliyo ukunu waliasamile, liza liyoka lingila munomo gwakwe. Likanza lyenilo yutabhanya muna Shimba akakoya no. Akagayiwa ugogwita. Wakanoga ubhabhilinga pye abhayanda ubhawila, “Bhabehi ningililagwa Nzoka, mdulile kunambilija?”

Bhayanda bhunshokeja, “Ayise tutuduja umhayo gweneyu. Alinguno twakulile haha no, tukukumana kinahe umhayo gwenuyo?” Ng’wana kang’wa Lung’wando, ung’wila muna Shimba, “Aliho ubhabha, hamo akuhebya ukukupija. Aliyo ngilo umulage, nguno ubhebhe ukabhabhulagaga abhanamhala.” Muna Shimba akayomba, “Nduhu unene natumulaga.”

Ng’wana wa Lung’wando akaja kuli yise ukang’wila. Namhala Lung’wando akaja aliyo ukunu alina Ngoso. Aha wegela wimila kule nguno ya kung’ogoha muna Shimba. Namhala ubhuja, “Ulu nalakupije andi nunene ukunibhulaga alinguno ubhadalahile abhanamhala.”

Hambunu muna Shimba uhaya, “Nduhu gete natukwita kinhu.” Haho Lung’wando ung’wegela umuna Shimba, kunu alina Ngoso. Uyugakanda akagoso, nose kuyulila, Twi! Twi! Twi! Kagoso aho kalila muna Nzoka wigwa, ufuma uyomba, “Lelo nyama.”

Haho na haho muna Nzoka wandya kumpeja umuna Ngoso. Akashika mpaga kule no. Muna Shimba aha wapila, akafunya bhulumbi kuli namhala Lung’wando.

Kwinga lushiku lwenulo, muna Shimba oya kubhadalaha nu kubhabhulaga abhanamhala. Uyomba, “Gashina abhanamhala bhalina masala. Bhayanda bhatubhashigila abhanamhala.

Kiswahili: Simba Na Mzee Sungura

Zamani ya kale, Simba aliwaua wazee wote wa kijijini. Ni mzee mmoja tu hakuuawa, naye alikuwa ni Sungura maana alijificha na mtoto wake. Simba aliona kuwa wazee hawakuwa na maana kwake.

Walibaki vijana tu. Siku moja Simba alikuwa amelala huku akiwa ameachama. Likaja Joka likaingia mdomoni mwake. Ikawa hali ngumu na ikamfanya Simba ahangaike mno. Akakosa la kufanya.

Mwishowe, aliwaalika vijana, akawaambia, “Jamani, nimeingiliwa na Nyoka, mnaweza kunisaidia?” Vijana wakamjibu, Sisi hatuliwezi jambo hilo. Tumekua leo tu, tutalifahamuje jambo hilo?”

Mtoto wa Sungura akamwambia Simba,  “Yupo baba, labda anaweza kukuponya, lakini usimuuwe. Maana wewe huwaua wazee!” Simba alikataa, “Mimi sitamwua.”

Mtoto wa Sungura akamwendea baba yake na umweleza. Sungura alikwenda akiwa pamoja na Panya, na kusimama mbali kwa maana alimwogopa Simba.

Sungura akamwuliza Simba, “Nikikuponyesha si nami utanimaliza kwa vile unawadharau wazee?” “Hakuna kabisa. Sitakufanya kitu,” Simba alijibu.

Ndipo Sungura  akamsogelea Simba akiwa na Panya. Akawa anambonyeza yule Panya. Mwisho Panya akalia Twi! Twi! Twi! Panya alipolia, Nyoka akasikia akatoka na kusema, “Leo nyama kumbe (Leo nimepata nyama). Alipotoka Nyoka, akaanza kumkimbiza Panya. Alimkimbiza hadi mbali, Simba akawa amepona.

Akamshukuru Panya. Toka hapo Simba akaacha kuwadharau na kuwaua wazee. Akasema, “Kumbe wazee wana busara, vijana hawana busara kama wazee.”

ENGLISH: THE LION AND THE ELDERLY HARE

Once upon a time, the Lion killed all the elders in a certain village, except one. The lucky old man was the Hare. He was not killed because at the time of the event he had been hiding somewhere, along with his son. The Lion believed that the elders were useless.

Mainly, only young people remained in the village. One day, the Lion was sleeping; his mouth was open. A dragon entered his mouth. This made the Lion suffer a great deal. He didn’t know what to do.

Finally, he called some young men and said to them, “Fellow men, I’ve been attacked by the Serpent.Can you help me?” The young men replied, “We can’t. We’ve just grown. How do you expect us to help you??”

The Hare’s child said to the Lion, “Maybe my father can heal you; but don’t kill him. For you kill the elders!” The Lion said, “I won’t kill him.”

The Hare’s child went to his father and told him what had happened to the Lion. The Hare and the Rat went to where the Lion was. They stood some distance from the Lion because they feared him.

The Hare asked the Lion, “Won’t you kill me if I heal you? I know you despise the elders?” “Not at all. I won’t do that,” the Lion said.

Then the Hare and the Rat moved closer to the Lion. He was pressing the Rat. The Rat cried, “Twi! Twi! Twi!” When the Rat cried, the dragon heard and came out of the Lion’s body and said, “I’ve got the meat.”After the dragon had come out of the Lion, it began to chase the Rat. He chased him for some distance and became well again.

The Lion thanked both the Rat and the Hare. He stopped despising and killing the elderly. He said, “The elders are wise, but the young are not as wise as them.”

Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu

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

Waliho nkima uyo walina ng’wana umo. Lushiku lumo ng’wana ng’wenuyo akamisha nsati. Nina akanaja ng’wana mu kaya, uja kujukobha bhugota halinzenganwa.

Guko atali kwinhwa bhugota, wahayimanila ubhona numba yakwe ilibhaka moto. Nkima ng’wenuyo upela wangu wangu kuja ko. Aho washika wingila mu kaya na kunsomba ng’wana wakwe. Umandila ha shikubha atizupya moto. Aliyo unina upya pye umili, wita malonda kufumila ku magulu kushika kuntwe.

Aho wapila usaga na malanda mili pye. Ihanga lyakwe lyubhipa no. Ng’wana ng’wenuyo witanagwa Bahati. Aho wakula uyuja kujigusha na bhana bhiye, bhalinseka na bhaling’wila giki, “Limayu lyako libhi no, lilini hanga litilyawiza. Utubhonaga bhamayu bhise umo bhali bhusheku.

Bahati aho wawilwa chene, wandya kundalaha unina. Lushigu lumo akamuja unina, “Iki bhuli mayu uti ni hanga lya wiza? Bhuli mili gwako guli na malanda pye? Kufumila kuntwe kushika kumagulu?” Nina akansombolela umo yali, “Ng’wana wane aho utali ndo, numba ikapya moto. Nu bhebhe walulalile mumo, nakingila mukaya kukusola nukubhandila ha shikubha utizupya moto. Hi chene ulinibhona nalina malanda pye umili. Iki bhebhe nakutogilwe.”

Bahati aho wigwa giko akayegano, akamana giki, mayu wane wa ng’hana. Uyubhawila na bhiye, “Lolagi mayu umo anitogelilwe, abhakilile na bhamayu bhing’we.” Kufumila lushiku lwene, walatalekaga kunumbilija nina. Na akanela chiza no umu bhugikulu wakwe.

 Kiswahili: Hadithi Ya Mtoto Bahati

Alikuwepo mama mmoja, aliyekuwa na mtoto mmoja. Siku moja mtoto huyo aliamka mgonjwa. Mama alimlaza mtoto ndani ya nyumba. Alikwenda kutafuta dawa kwa jirani, kabla hajapewa dawa alishitukia akaona nyumba yake inawaka moto.

Mwanamke huyo akakimbia haraka haraka kwenda huko. Alipofika akaingia ndani na kumchukua mtoto wake. Alimkumbatia kifuani ili asiungue na moto.

Lakini mama yake aliungua mwili wote, alipata madonda kutoka miguuni hadi kichwani. Alipopona akabaki na makovu mwili wote. Sura yake ikaharibika mno.

Mtoto huyo alikuwa anaitwa Bahati. Alipokua alikuwa anakwenda kucheza na watoto wenzake. Huku wakimcheka na kumwambia kwamba, “Mama yako ni mbaya mno, ana sura isiyo nzuri, huwaoni mama zetu walivyo laini.”  Bahati alivyoambiwa hivyo, akaanza kumdharau mama yake.

Siku moja akamwuliza mama yake, “Kwa nini  mama huna sura nzuri? Kwa nini mwili wako una makovu wote? Kutoka kichwani hadi miguuni?”  Mama yake alimweleza jinsi ilivyokuwa. “Mtoto wangu ulipokuwa bado mdogo, nyumba iliungua moto, na wewe ulikuwa umelala humo. Niliingia ndani nikakuchukua nikakukumbatia kifuani. Ndivyo unavyoniona kuwa nina makovu mwili wote. Kwa kuwa wewe ninakupenda mno.”

Bahati aliposikia hivyo alifurahi mno akajua hivi, Mama yangu ni wa kweli akawa anawaambia na wenzake, “Angalieni  Mama anavyonipenda, anawazidi hata mama zenu.”  Tokea siku hiyo  alikuwa haachi kumshukuru mama yake.  Na alimlea vizuri mno katika uzee wake.

ENGLISH: BAHATI’S STORY

There was one woman who had one child. One day, the child woke up sick. The mother laid her on the bed inside the house. Then she went to her neighbour’s house to ask for a medicine. Before the woman was given the medicine, she saw her house burning.

She hurriedly returned home. When she arrived there, she went inside and took out her baby. She put her in her bosom so that she couldn’t get burnt.

But various parts of the woman’s body got burnt. After the wounds had healed, she had scars all over her body. Her face had been badly damaged.

The child was given the name Bahati. As Bahati was growing up, she used to play with her fellow children. Her friends laughed at her and often said to her, “Your mother is so ugly, she has bad skin, but each of our mothers has smooth skin.” As a result, she began looking down upon her mother.

One day, she asked, “Mother, why don’t you have beautiful skin? Why are there many scars on your body?” Her mother said to her, “When you were still young, the house went up in flames and you were inside, sleeping,” she said. “I went into it and carried you in my chest. Various parts of my body got burnt. That is the source of all the scars you see on my body. I did it because I love you very much.”

After hearing the story, Bahati became very happy. One day, as she was playing with her friends, she said to them, “My mother loves me very much. She loves me more than your mothers do you.” And she took good care of her mother in her old age.