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

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

Kale waliho nkima umo akatolwa halikaya lina lyakwe witanagwa, ngolo. Aho wigashagasha kakanza, bhamayu bhamuchalo bhuyubhuja kinahe ung’winga ng’wenuyo atatumamaga bhuli? Angu asatile bhusatu ki? Alinilonda ha kugulu. Ngosha nang’hwe agakumya, ali bhuli nkima uyo nantolile ilonda lyakwe litapilaga?

Ulu bhanhu bhinga hakaya wayinja ngoso wazuga walya. Wamanita cheniko shiku ningi nose ngosha uhaya nanoje ilonda lyakwe nang’ogeje, ung’wila lelo nalikogeja ilonda lyako, kunu nkima alilema, yaya kunogeja nguno isatu no.

Ngosha uhaya nakugogeja duhu nulu wa nguzu, bhuli wanikwa lupembe lwa mhuli nayi? Nkima uding’wa na guzu ogejiwe ilonda. Ngosha aho wanzuja ng’wenda ukumya yee, gashinaga iti ilonda igoso duhu.

Nkima uyu natola ngokolo, gete atina milimo. Nkima wakwitungila ngoso ha kugulu, nanshoshe ku ng`wawe. Aho washika, uhaya, nang’wenhela ng´wana wing’we gashinaga ngokolo kumilimo. Yubhi kaya yucha na gucha.

Kiswahili: Mwanamke Mvivu

Hapo zamani mwanamke mmoja aliolewa kwenye familia moja, jina lake, aliitwa Ngolo. Alipokaa mda,   wa mama wa kijijini hapo wakaanza kuuliza, “vipi mkaa mwana huyo hafanyi kazi?” Eti anaumwa ugonjwa gani? Anadonda ndugu.” Mwanaume naye alishangaa, “Kwa nini mwanamke yule niliyemuoa haponi donda lake?”

Kama watu wakiondoka nyumbani alikuwa akiiondoa panya aliyoiweka nguuni, anapika na kula. Alikuwa akifanya hivyo kwa siku nyingi, mwishowe, mwanaume akasema, “nimwangalizie kidonda chake, nimuoshee, akwamwambia, “Leo nakuoshea kidonda chako.” Yule mwanamke alikataa, “Hapana, kunioshea kwa sababu linauma mno.”

Mwanamume alisema, “Nakuogesha tu hata kwa nguvu.” Mwanamke akauliza, “Kwa nini, kwani umenilipia mahari Pembo ya ndovu?” Mwanamke akashikwa kwa nguvu akasafishiwa kidonda.  Mwanaume alipomtolea nguo alishangaa, “Yee kumbe siyo kidonda ni panya tu.”

“Mwanamke huyu niliyeoa ni mvivu, hana kazi kabisa. Mwanamke wa kujifungia panya mguuni! nimrudishe nyumbani kwao.” Alipofika, alisema, “Nimemleta mwana wenu, kumbe ni mvivu kazini.” Ikawa mji umevunjika wakaachana.

ENGLISH: A LAZY WOMAN

In long time ago, a woman was married to one family, her name was Ngolo. As time went on, the village mother began to ask, “How daughter in law is, does she not work?” What illness does she suffer? She has concer. “The man was amazed,”Why does the wound of that woman whom I married not get cured?”

As the people left home she picked up the rat which she put in. She cooked and ate. She was doing so for many days, and finally, the man said, “let me check for her wound, wash it for her.” He told her, ‘Today I am squeezing your wound.'” The woman refused, “No, to squeeze me because it is so painful.”

The man said, “I am just getting tired of it.”The woman asked, “Why did you pay for me horny of an Elephant dowry?” The woman was stunned and was sore wounded. When a man took away her piece of clothes he was surprised, “Yee or not a wound is just a rat.”

“This woman whom I married is so lazy, she does not really work. A woman wrapped a rat on the leg! Let me take her back home.” When he arrived, he said,”I brought your daughter, she is lazy at work.” Then the marriage was broken down and they separated.

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

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

Jaliho jijiji jimo wikalaga namhala Manyenye, uyo alatogilwe gete kubhasayila abhiye na kubhalembagula abhangi ilikanza lya malima aho lyashika. Umanyenye usamila ng’wipolu kihamo na nke na bhana bhabho. Ubhiza munhu waguja akuguchobhaga bhuki.

Abhamuchalo bhiye aho bhandya gu kuminga ishiliwa, uManyenye ni kaya yakwe bhakabhukaga kunu bhabhuchaga jisabho ja bhuki na guja aliyeja bhuli hene. Aguja alikabhanya mandege, bhusiga, mahalage na mbika jose sha shiliwa.

Iza yigela ng’waka gumo imbula igatula gete umuchalo jenijo. Manyenye uduma uguja ng`wipolu ugujuchobha ubhuki. Pye nu bhuki ubho owapa ing’wakizo bhulibhoshila gete.

Achobhe nzila yingi iyakumpandikila shiliwa kunguno ikaya yakwe yalina nzala gete. Agajibhilinga ijisabho jakwe na gujokaja minzi ayo gasanjinje bhuki bhugehu. Ijisabho ijidatu ujileka jiti naki.

Una wandya kujiyeja ijisabho jenijo. Bhuli makanza ijisabho jenijo ja yoganyaga uli jayitulanya. Kungulu, kungulu, kungulu. Iyombo yeniyo ikamanwa wangu wangu na bhazenganwa bhiye giki nu namhala Manyenye na bhusuluja bhokwe bho bhuki.

Ulu shiku lwene akaja mpaga ha ng`wakwe nkima uyo akakabha jisabho jimo na bhubhele ahikanza obhusola ubhubhele, umanyenye winga wangu wangu, uja na milimo yakwe angu unkima ng’wenuyo akije kumana.

Kungulu, kungulu, jisabho jitulanyaga nu manyenye ukaja kukolobhela. Manyenye aho obhutwala ubhubhele, unke na bhana bhakwe bhunsung`wanha na bhuyegi.

Unkima ng’wenuyo uyo okabha ubhubhele akandya kulila ungoshi aho ofuma ku ngunda akibhakila gete. Aho omona unke alilila umuja, “Ulililila ki nke wane?” Unjinja wa bhuki wanikelelaga, aho gunijingija bhuki ubho bhuditilile minzi, gashi minzi duhu. Unene nung’winha bhubhele.”

Dumanile uManyenye alina masala noyi agatumilaga pye inzila ja gupandikila jiliwa. Lindaga intondo ulu alize akunibhona, ungoshi agayomba na bhupelanu. Gitumo kali akajile kakwe, intondo yaho idilu ijisabho jigendeleya ugwitulanya, gungulu, gungulu, aho oshika aho kaya ya nkima ng’wenuyo uyo ong’winha bhubhele iyigolo uManyenye wandya kuyomba, mayu ulimhola kwinga igolo? Ginehe ulijihaya ijisabho jingi ilelo uninhe ubhubhele?

Nadahayile gete. Nibhuli iyigolo oninhile jisabho iji jili na minzi bhuli jiti na bhuki? Ulinomolomo gete ubhebhe, ungoshi wane wanidukile no. Aliyo ilelo nenhaga jisabho ijojilina bhuki. Lindaga tamu naje nakang`witane ungoshi wane. Alihali ungoshi wako? Ali kungunda.

Manyenye akelelwa giki ungoshi ulu wiza akulibhona ilikaji. Akingila ng’wibhelele udaha ubhubhele upela ajile. Gashi unkima nu ngoshi aho bhashika aha kaya bhadansangile. Bhusanga duhu ihasi bhubhele widagukaga.

Aho bhaja ung’wibhelele, bhumana giki bhodahagwa. Ungoshi agakolwa no, wandya kunchobha uManyenye. Akandya kupela alifata amagulu gakwe umo wabhitilaga umanyenye. Aho wang’wegla wigwa yombo ya jisabho jakwe ijo jitulanyaga “Gungulu, gungulu, gungulu” akongeja gukaja. UManyenye atabhizile na mhola giki alilondejiwa.  UManyenye akicha ugutula unigo gokwe.

Kiswahili: Njaa Humshambulia Mvivu

Kulikuwepo kijiji kimoja alichokuwa akikaa mzee Manyenye, aliyekuwa anapenda kabisa kulaumu wenzake na kuwadanganya wengine wakati wa kilimo ukifika.

Manyenye alihamia porini pamoja na mke na watoto wao. Akawa mtu wa kwenda akitafuta asali.

Walipoanza kukusanya vyakula wale wenzake wa kijijini, Manyenye na familia yake wakawa wakitembea huku wakiwa wamebeba kibuyu cha asali na kwenda kila sehemu. Alienda akibadilisha mahindi, mtama, mahalage, na aina zingine za vyakula.

Mwaka fulani mvua ilinyesha sana katika kijiji hicho. Manyenye alishindwa kwenda porini kutafuta asali. Hata ile asali aliyoilina mwaka uliopita ilikuwa imeisha yote kabisa.

Ilimbidi atafute njia nyingine ya kuipatia familia yake chakula kwa sababu ilikuwa na njaa kweli. Alivikusanya vibuyu vyake na kuviwekea maji ambayo yalikuwa yamechanganywa na asali kidogo. Vibuyu vitatu aliviacha tupu.

Ndipo akaanza kuvitembeza vibuyu hivyo. Kila wakati vibuyu hivyo vilikuwa vinapiga kelele vinapoanza kugongana. “Gungulu, gungulu, gungulu.” Kelele hiyo ilijulikana haraka sana kwa majirani wenzake kwamba, “Ni mzee Manyenye na biashara ya uuzaji wa asali yake.

Siku ile alienda kwa mwanamke mmoja aliyebadilisha kibuyu kimoja na uwele. Yeye aliondoka kwa haraka haraka na kutokomea ili asitambuliwe na mama wa nyumbani huyo.

“Gungulu, gungulu,” vibuyu vikiwa vinagongona hutoa sauti hiyo. Manyenye aliharakisha kutokomea na watoto wa nyumbani kwake. Alitoweka kabisa kwa furaha.

Mwanamke huyo aliyebadilishana uwele akaanza kulia. Mume wake alipotoka shambani alishtuka kweli. Alipomuona mke wake analia alimuuliza, “Unalilia nini mke wangu?” Alijibu, “Muuzaji wa asali amenifanyia ujanja, aliponiuzia asali iliyochanganywa na maji, kumbe ni maji tu. Mimi nimempa uwele.”

 “Tunamfahamu Manyenye ana akili sana, hutumia njia zote za kujipatia chakula. Subiri kesho atakapokuja ataniona.” Alisema mume wake kwa hasira.  Kama ilivyokuwa destuli yake, kesho yake asubuhi vibuyu viliendelea kugongana, “gungulu, gungulu,” alipofika nyumbani kwa yule mwanamke aliyempa uwele jana, Manyenye alianza kuongea, “mama hujambo kutoka jana? Vipi unataka kibuyu kingine leo unipe uwele?”

“Sitaki kabisa. Kwa nini jana ulinipa kibuyu kilicho changanywa na maji ambacho hakikuwa na asali?” Ni muongo kweli wewe, mume wangu amenifokea mno.”  Alisema yule mama.

“Lakini leo nimeleta kibuyu kilicho na asali.” “Subiri kwanza niende nikamwite mume wangu.”  “Yuko wapi mume wako?”  “Yuko shambani.”

Manyenye akaelewa kwamba, mume wake akija, ataliona lililo kali.  Aliingia kwenye ghala akachota uwele akakimbia kwenda. Kumbe mwanamke na mume wake walipofika nyumbani hawakumkuta. Walikuta chini uwele umemwagika tu.

Walipoenda kwenye ghala, walifahamu kwamba, uwele umechotwa. Mume wake alikasilika mno. Akaanza kumtafuta Manyenye. Akaanza kukimbia akifuata nyayo zake alimopitia Manyenye.

Alipomkaribia, alisikia kelele ya vibuyu vyake vinavyogongana, “gungulu, gungulu, gungulu” aliongeza mwendo. Manyenye hakuwa na habali kwamba anafuatiwa.  Alishusha akauweka mzigo wake.

ENGLISH: HUNGRY ATTACKS A LAZY ONE

There was one village where an old man called Manyenye lived, who was very inclined to blame his fellows and to deceive others during the farming season.

Manyenye moved to the forest with his wife and their children. He became a traveler looking for honey.

When his fellow village mates started to collect local foodstuffs, Manyenye and his family were walking along with the honey callabh carrying and going every part. He went with it in exchange for maize, millet, beans, and other types of foods.

One year the rain rained in the village. Manyenye failed to go to the wild for seeking honey. Even the honey which he harvested last year was completely over.

He had to find another way to feed his family because it was really hungry. He collected his callabashes and put in water them that had been mixed with a little honey. He left three calabashes empty.

He then began to walk going aroung the village with them. Every time these callabashes were shouting when they started corriding. “Gungulu, gungulu, gungulu.” The voice was so quickly known to his neighbors that, “It is an old man Manyenye and his marketing business of selling honey.”

On that day he went to a woman who exchanged one calabash with sorghum. He left quickly and disappeared so that he could not be recognized by the homewife.

“Gungulu, gungulu,” the calabashes sounded while corriding. Manyenye quickly hurried off with his children at home. He completely disappeared himself with joy.

The woman who exchanged sorghum began to weep. When her husband came out of the field he was really scared. When he saw her weeping, he asked her, “What are you crying for my wife?” She replied, “The honey seller has made me a trick, when he sold me honey mixed with water, or it was just water. I have given him a sorghum.”

“We know Manyenye is very intelligent, he uses all the means to get food. Wait for tomorrow when he comes to see me.” said her husband in anger. As it was his custom, on the next day morning the callabashes continued to wrestle, “gungulu, gungulu,” when he came to the house of the woman who gave him sorghum yesterday, Manyenye began to talk, “Mother are you fine from yesterday? How do you want another callabash today that you should give me sorghum?”

“I do not really want. Why did you give me a callabash that was mixed with water that did not have honey? You are a real liar, my husband has spoken furiously against me.” Said that mother.

“But today I have brought a callabash that has honey.” “Wait for me first let me go to call my husband.” “Where is your husband?” “He is in the field.”

Manyenye understood that when her husband comes, he will see it harsh. He went into the warehouse, pulled sorghum and ran away. But when a woman and her husband came home they did not find him. They found sorghum down that have just been dropped.

When they went to the warehousing, they knew that, sorghum were taken up. Her husband was very angry. He began to search for Manyenye. He began to run following his footsteps where Manyenye passed.

When he approached him, he heard the noise of his calabashes corriding, “gungulu, gungulu, gungulu” added the motion. Manyenye had no knowledge that he was followed. He put down his consignment.

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

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

Waliho ngosha umo lina lyakwe Manyanda. Agading’wa bhusese ugagulwa hikulu, hali Ntemi Bhudoshi. Umu milimo yakwe wali nkomezu no.

Ntemi nang’hwe akantogwa no ung’winha na cheo (bhutale), nose ubhiza ntale o bhasese. Uitanwa nkujiwa wa ntale nsese manyanda (mheshimiwa wa mkuu, mtumwa manyanda).

Kushika nose bhiza bhabyaji bhakwe kunkomola (kung`winja mu bhusese). Aliyo iki cheyo jakwe ijo winhwa akalema. Ubhawila bhabyaji bhakwe giki. “Bhabyaji bhane nalina bhulumbi bhutale no iki ng`wizaga kunikomola, aliyo natajile, na manila no ukunu.” (kulemela mu shibhi)

Huna lulu bhabyaji bhakwe bhandya kulila, nu Nina ung’wila giki ulu walemaga tutibhona nu bhebhe hangi (izumo. Kumb 30:19) Kuhayimanila Ntemi Bhudoshi uzumalika. Mu shiku jene kaliho kajile, ulu ucha Ntemi akujikwa na nganji wakwe (mpaga kuja na nsago).

Lushiku lwene lwa kucha Ntemi, bhanamhala bhakang’witana Manyanda nang’hwe akayega no uhaya, “Lelo nagubhiza Ntemi.” Aho washika bhanamhala bhung’wila, “Lelo ugujikwa uli mpanga, iki kajile kise kali chene, uyo bhitogilwe nu Ntemi akujikwa nang’hwe mpanga.”

Aho Manyanda wigwa agasunduhala no, ugema na kupela aliyo uding’wa utungwa utulwa ng’wichongo.

Ntemi Bhudoshi nang’hwe utulwa higulya, bhandya gufugila, ukunu Manyanda akulilaga mugati. “Ulu ninazunije ya bhabyaji bhane,

ninatapandikile makoye.”

Kiswahili: Mtemi/Mfalme Bhudoshi Na Manyanda

Alikuwepo mwanaume mmoja jina lake Manyanda. Alikamatwa na kupelekwa utumwani akanunuliwa kwenye ikulu, kwa mfalme/mtemi Bhudoshi. Katika kazi zake alikuwa hodari yaani, alikuwa mchapa kazi mno.

Naye Mfalme alimpenda mno, akampa cheo cha ukubwa, mwishowe akawa mkubwa wa watumwa. Akawa anaitwa mheshimiwa wa mkuu mtumwa Manyanda.

Kufika mwishowe wakaja wazazi wake kumkomboa, (kumuondoa kwenye utumwa). Lakini alikataa kwa sababu ya cheo chake alichopewa. Aliwaambia wazazi wake, kwamba,  “Wazazi wangu nina shukrani kubwa mno kwa vile mmekuja kunikomboa, lakini siendi, nimezoea mno huku.” (Alikatalia kwenye dhambi).

Ndipo wazazi wake wakaanza kulia, na mama yake alimwambia kwamba, kama umekataa hatutaonana na wewe tena (laana. Kumb. 30:19).

Kushitukia, Mfalme Bhudoshi alifariki. Kulikuwepo na desturi katika siku hizo, ya kwamba, kama akifa mfalme, atazikwa na mto wa kulalia kichwani (mpaka aende na mto wake).

Siku hiyo ya kufa mfalme, wazee walimwita Manyanda naye alifurahi mno akisema, “Leo nitakuwa mfalme.” Alipofika wazee walimwambia, “Leo utazikwa ukiwa mzima, kwa vile desturi yetu iko hivyo, yule anayependana na mfalme atazikwa naye mzima.”

Manyanda aliposikia hivyo, alihudhunika mno, akajaribu na kukimbia, akashikwa akafungwa na kuwekwa shimoni.

Naye mfalme Bhudoshi akawekwa juu yake, wakaanza kufukia, huku Manyanda akilia ndani. “Kama ningekubali ya wazazi wangu, nisingepata matatizo haya.”

ENGLISH: EMPEROR/KING BHUDOSHI AND MANYANDA

There was a man named Manyanda. He was arrested and sent to slavery purchased at the palace, of the king / governor Bhudoshi. In his work he was brave ie, he was a hard worker.

And the king loved him so much, and gave him a great position. He finally became the greatest of the slaves. He was called the master of slaves honorable Manyanda.

At last his parents came to redeem him, (to get rid of slavery). But he refused because of his assigned position. He told his parents, that, “My parents I am very thankful that you came to redeem me, but I do not go, I am very familiar here.” (He remained in sin).

Then his parents began to weep, and his mother told him that, “if you have refused, we would never see you again” (curse Deutronomy 30:19).

Suddenly, King Bhudoshi died. There was a custom in those days that, as the king died, he would be buried by the pillar of the head (until he went with his pillar).

At that time the king died, the elders called Manyanda. He was very happy, saying, “Today I will be the king.” When he came to the elders, they said to him, “Today you are going to be buried alive, as our custom is, the one who was loved by the king will be buried with him.”

When Manyanda heard of it, he was so overwhelmed. He tried and to escape, without succeeding. He was arrested and they restrained him.

The King Bhugoshi was put on him, and they began to put soils covering the tomb, while Manyanda went in crying. “If I had agreed with my parents, I would have not got these problems.”

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

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

Waliho ngosha wali wogoha mihayo ya muchalo. Hamo na gupandika mihayo mitale. Ubhabhona bhanhu bhalicha. Huna lulu usamila ng’wipolu. Wigasha shiku ningi moyi. Myenda yushila, nzwili juliha no.

Lushiku lumo bhayanda, bhakaja gujuyela ung’wipolu bhugamona, bhuhaya isaji. Bhogoha na bhandya gupela. Umo wabho ugwa lyunchima linti ucha. Bhangi bhupela mpaga kaya. Bhugabhawila bhabyaji. “Dabhonaga isaji, bhiza bhunsanga ng’wipolu. Bhumona uhaya, “Lufu ludapelagwa.”

Kiswahili: Ntakumalizia Mtoto Wa Geni

Alikuwepo mwanaume aliyeogopa maneno ya kijijini kwake. “Labda nitapata shida kubwa. Akawaona watu wanakufa. Ndipo sasa alihamia porini. Alikaa humo siku nyingi.  Nguo zake zikaisha, nywere zake zilirefuka mno.

Siku moja vijana walienda kutembea porini wakamuona, wakadhani ni kichaa. Waliogopa na wakaanza kukimbia. Mmoja wao alianguka akachomwa na mti akafa.

Wengine walikimbia mpaka nyumbani. Wakaenda kuwaambia wazazi. “Tumeona kichaa, walikuja wakamkuta porini.” Wakamuona wakasema, “Kifo huwa hakikimbiwi.”

ENGLISH: I WILL FINISH YOU SON OF GENI

There was a man who was afraid of words of people in his village. He said, “May be I will get a lot of trouble.” He saw people dying. He moved to the wild. He stayed there many days. His clothes were gone, and his hairs were too long.

One day the youngsters went to the wild and saw him.  They thought he was crazy. They were afraid of him to the point of beginning to run away. One of them fell and was chopped by a tree to death.

Others ran home. They went to tell their parents. “We have seen a crazy person, they came and found him in the wild.” They saw him  and said, “One cannot run away from Death.”