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

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

Oliho bhabha umo oli nseni ong’hwi. Nalulu nang’hwe goli nimo go bhuli lushiku, ubhabha ng’wenuyo olishaga bhana bhakwe gulogusena ng’hwi.

Onoga nose bhabha ng’wenuyo ayibhuja, nibhuli shi unene nagalyaga ja gukoyela shiniki, nibhuli abhangi bhagalyaga nulu bhadajile gung’hwi. Bhing’we bhabehi nalabheja ahene unene.

Bhabha ng’wenuyo umugwibhuja gokwe agibhuja nose wiwila hambu hambu ulu gwibhulaga na ng’hana agabhuka kuja kujuyela ng`wipolu, munumo ubhona ahasoga wiwila ahanaha yafayaga ugwibhulagila.

Bhasi agandya gwitungila lugoye lokwe. Aho naho agawilwa na munhu, bhuli nkoyi ulihaya gwibhulaga aliyo utali shiku ningi giki ahawelelo na lulu utali na miaka makumiane iyagwikala umusi.

Munhu ng’wenuyo akanemeja nkoyi lekaga gete ugwibhulaga ulabheja duhu imyaka yagubhutongi. Na hangi naguwile giki ihaha senaga ng’hwi duhu uje kaya, ulu ushika ikaya imhindi ugayele hasokoni ugubhona nkima aguyelaga, nkima ng’wenuyo ng’wilage gwitola.

Ngosha ng’wenuyo ogashika ikaya agibhona imhindi yadilaga aje ugusokoni. Nose yushika imhindi okabhilaga aliwila unkima ng’wenuyo hamo nalinajo ijikolo nagusabha.

Agaja gusokoni ng’hana ugamona unkima ng’wenuyo aguyelayelaga agang’wila goguntola. Nang’hwe adalemile uzunya ng’hana unsola lulu ubhiza na bhakima bhabhili, gukula hangi lulu unigo ubhiza ongeja likoye hangi lingi wendelea duhu ichene ugujisena ing’hwi bhiza bhalya.

Imanila hangi lushiku goshika ugokwe, uiwila bhabehi unene naiwilaga giki nkima ng’wenuyu agunisabya gashi yaya. Unene mumo namalila duhu, gogwibhulaga nayubhela. Bhasi wela usola hangi lugoye guja ng’wipolu gujibhulaga, agiwila naduja uko nalinaja, ihangi nalole kungi.

Agalola ipande lingi ng’hana ugashika halinti limo isoga usola lugoye lokwe ugwasija hangi. Ushika hangi umunhu okwe ung’wila, hama hangi iki nagagulemeja bhuli hangi osola lugoye?

Nang`hwe ushosha nibhulage nkoyi, nagongeja ikoye duhu nagukoyaga noyi. Ubhulingisilo bho ng`wenekili ulu bhutali ugushikila agalemejiwa nulo kabhili uwilwa giki solaga ahenaho yiyo juba yina bhugota ulu ushika ikaya ugogwandya nuguwila giki, wibhuje ning’wa nani aliho nsatu, nkoyi unene nagubhiza nang’ho bhulikanza ulu ugashika aho linsatu uguyulola bhulingisilo bhone mumakono ulugikalile kabhuli lushiku mumo agupila ulu kikalila guntwe mumo udupila ulu gikalila gumagulu ng’wenuyo agupila.

Huna ungosha ung`habhi ng’wenuyo agasena ng’hwi hangi usola na jubha uja kaya ukawila obheja nkoyi. Bhulekana ogashika ikaya wandya lulu gwiganika. Ng’wa nani aliho nsatu, uwilwa aliho ng’wa mbati.

Agabhuka gujunola unsatu ng’wenuyo, ogashika ho ubhagisha ubhabhuja ginehe akajile ka nsatu, ginehe amadilo gakwe? Nabho bhushosha yii bhabha, gadulindilile ikanza duhu. Nalulu mayu nalina bhugota bhogunagula unsatu.

Ngikulu uhaya yii, ugudula bhabha, ngosha uhaya nagudula duhu. Ngikulu uhaya nahene lulu bhabha nagulage. Haho na haho wingila umukaya ugunola unsatu. Wandya gulola ishimanyikijo jakwe ulola uguntwe ugaiwa, ulola gumagulu ugabhona amakono, umana agumpija.

Huna nilikanza linilo agang’wisha bhugota. Ubhawila giki nakwiza nanole makanza. Ushoka kaya ugaja gujusena ng’hwi. Ugasenha ushoka mhindi, uja hangi gujunola unsatu okwe, ugansanga ihali yakwe nsoga, odulaga naguyomba.

Ubhabha ng’wenuyo ulomba minzi ung’wisha hangi ubhugota, ubhawila giki ntondo dilu nagwiza nanole, uja kaya gujulala. Bhogela uja gujunola hangi unsanga alimila ogema nagushimiza. Kaya yayegaga no. Ung’wisha hangi ubhugota, ubhawila hangi giki, naje bhabehi nagaje gung’hwi. Agalemejiwa yaya bhabha, igishaga undegeleke unsatu.

Agandya gwibhula uhaya giki yaya bhabha nalekile shibhi no ikaya, namhala agamuja shibhi ki bhabha olekile? Nalekaga nduhu nulu shiliwa ugukaya.

Bhabha ng’wenuyo agadahilwa shiliwa magunila abhili na hela ya gutumamila bhuchalilwa ikaya. Agikala ho makanza ga shiku idatu ubhiza opila gete unsatu okwe.

Agandya guibhuja hangi, kimba ulu ng’wanani hangi. Wiganika ng’hana ing’wa ntemi aliho ng’wana okwe osata. Halushiku lo kane ubhawila abhaha kaya yiniyo, abehi nayeleyele kunu hadoo.

Nabho bhunzunilija ukubha ajile mpaga ng’wa Ntemi ugashiga upiga hodi ugihaya imihayo yakwe ahanyango. Uwilwa giki yichene bhabha ugamanile amalagilo ga ntemi?

Bhagabhulagagwa ulu uduma ugumpija ung’wana ontemi. Ngosha ng’wenuyo agahaya nahene duhu, iki ulu nadumaga, una lulu bhaganzunilija aha nyango wingila na ushika guko lintemi. Ung’wila makulu gakwe.

Aho ong`wila Ntemi uchalwa gunumba agabhitiwa gumpindo ugolekejiwa mitwe ya bhafumu abhobhanduma ‘ipindilijije pye indugu ya numba. Aho obhona uchalwa gujunola unsati, ushigila gulola ulumeng’ho ulo agalolaga ubhona giki agumpija.

Haho na haho wandya gung’winha bhugota, ung`wene shiku ibhili ubhiza opilaga gete. Ntemi agayega no agang`winha manong`ho gabhuli mbika. Nagubhejiwa ibarabara mpaga ha ng`wakwe, ugazengelwa na manumba. Welelo nhale ungosha ng´wenuyo ihaha goshika gobhusabhi agigasha ikanza lya ng’weji gumo haho.

Unsati ubhiza oshokelwa nu mili gokwe. Hanaho agabhiza opandika inong’ho hangi winhwa ng`waniki gutola ashishe bhadatu lulu. Na ubhegejiwa nu Ntemi liwinga litale no. Na bhagasamva iti hado.

Ili nong’ho ilingi utinilwa bhupande ubhiza Ntemi. Ngosha ng’wenuyo igashila imyaka yakwe wiyibhile nguno agabhiza nabhuyegi wibha nugogwinija.

Lushiku na lushiku ajile gujuyela alinudeleva okwe ubhabhona bhanhu bhalisimba jigila, ung`wila udeleva giki obhabhona abhanhu abho bhalisimba jigila?

Deleva okwe unshokeja, dujage dugukeleja, huna bhupela pela ubhona hangi bhanhu bhabhukije maiti, ung`wila hangi udeleva okwe obhabhona abhanhu bhabhuchije maiti, deleva ushosha, bhebhe nang’ho kadugukeleja.

Bhupela bhupela hangi hadoo, bhumona munhu alimicha iloli yabho, ung’wila udeleva nang’hwe uhaya bhebhe kadugudila, bhupela hadoo hangi bhubhona munhu ugubhutongi alimicha iloli yabho, ung’wila hangi udeleva imaga, nose wima ng’hana.

Umunhu ng´wenuyo umuja onimana? Nang’hwe ushosha, yaya nadugumanaga, umunhu ng’wenuyo wandya gwiyeleza, nunene uyo nagagutinila lugoye munhingo, uguhaya lulu nkoyi ishiku jako jashilaga lelo, haho na haho ucha na gucha.

Kiswahili: Mwanaume Mkata Kuni

Alikuwepo baba mmoja aliyekuwa mkata kuni. Basi, naye hiyo ilikuwa kazi yake ya kila siku. Baba huyo alikuwa akilisha watoto wake kwa kazi hiyo ya kukata kuni.

Mwishowe baba huyo alianza kujiuliza, “kwa nini mimi huwa nakula cha kuhangaikia hivi, kwa nini wengine hula hata kama hajawaenda kwenye kuni? Jamani nyie! Nitafanikiwa lakini mimi!”

Baba huyo katika kujiuliza kwake hivyo, mwishowe alifikia uamuzi wa kujiua. Kweli alienda porini kwenda kutembea, humo aliona pazuri akafikiri kuwa hapo ingefaa kujiulia.

Basi alianza kujifungia kamba yake. Hapo hapo aliambiwa na mtu, “kwa nini bwana unataka kujiua wakati bado una siku nyingi hivi za kuishi duniani, basi bado una miaka arobaini ya kuishi duniani.”

Mtu huyo alimkataza kujiua, na kumwambia kuwa, atafanikiwa kwenye miaka ya mbele. “Pia nikuambie hivi, sasa kata kuni tu uende nyumbani, ukifika nyumbani jioni ukatembee sokoni utaona mwanamke akitembea, mwanamke huyo umwambie muoane.”

Mwanaume huyo alipofika nyumbani, aliiona jioni kama imechelewa ili aende sokoni. Mwishowe jioni ikafika akiwa na hamu akifikiri kuwa mwanamke huyo labda ndiye mwenye mali, hivyo, atatajirika.

Alienda sokoni kweli, akamuona mwanamke huyo akitembea tembea, akamweleza suala la kumuoa. Naye hakutaa alikubali kweli akamchukua, akawa na wake wawili. Mzigo ukawa mkubwa tena ikawa ameongeza tatizo jingine tena. Basi aliendelea tu kuifanya kazi yake ya kukata kuni na kuuza na kupata kwa ajili ya wao kuja kula.

Akashtukia tena siku moja wazo lake likafika tena, akawa anajiuliza, “jamani mimi nilifikiri kwamba mwanamke huyu atanitajirisha kumbe hapana. Mimi nabaki na uamuzi wangu tu wa kujiua ndiyo itakuwa vizuri.” Basi kesho yake, alichukua tena kamba kwenda porini kujiua, akafikiria kutoenda kule alikoenda mara ya kwanza, alienda kwingine.

Kweli alienda upande mwingine na kuukuta mti mzuri akaifunga kamba yake tena. Akafika tena mtu wake akamwambia, “kwa nini tena hivi nilikukataza umechukua kamba?”

Naye akajibu, “nijiue bwana, naongeza tatizo tu nahangaika mno.” Lengo la mwenyewe kama halijafikia, alikatazwa na mara ya pili, akaambiwa hivi, “chukua hapo hiyo chupa ina dawa, kama ukifika nyumbani, jambo la kwanza nakuambia hivi, ujiulize kwa fulani kuna mgonjwa, bwana mimi nitakuwa nawe kila wakati ukifika kwa mgonjwa.

Utakuwa unaangalia lengo langu kwenye mikono maisha ya kila siku. Lakini kama mikono ikiwa kichwani, maana yake, mgonjwa hatapona, lakini ikiwa miguuni, mgonjwa huyo atapona.

Ndipo mwanaume huyo maskini alikata kuni tena akachukua chupa akaenda nyumbani akakaambia “asante bwana.” Wakaachana, alipofika nyumbani, alianza basi kufikiria. “Kwa nani kuna mgonjwa?” Akaambiwa “yuko kwa fulani.”

Alianza safari ya kwenda kumtazama mgonjwa huyo. Alipofika pale, aliwasalimu, akauliza, “vipi maendeleo ya mgonjwa, ameshindaje?” Nao walijibu, “hii baba, tunasubiria muda tu.” “Sasa mama, nina dawa ya kumtibu mgonjwa.”

Mama wa nyumba, alisema, “hii, utaweza baba?” Mwanaume alisema, “nitaweza tu.” Mama wa nyumba akasema, “sawa basi baba mtibu.” Hapo hapo akaingia ndani kumuona mgonjwa. Alianza kutazama vijulisho vyake, akaangalia kichwani akakosa, akaangalia miguuni akaiona mikono, akafahamu kwamba, atapona.

Ndipo wakati huo akamunywesha dawa. Akawaambia kwamba, “nitakuja kumuona wakati Fulani. Akarudi nyumbani na kwenda kukata kuni. Alienda kukata hizo kuni na kurudi jioni. Alienda kumwangalia mjonjwa wake tena na kukuta kuwa hali yake imekuwa nzuri mpaka ameweza kuongea.

Baba huyo aliomba maji akamnywesha tena dawa. Akawaambia kwamba, “kesho asubuhi nitakuja nimuone,” akaenda nyumbani kwenda kulala. Kulipokucha alienda kwenda kumuona tena akamkuta anasimimama na kujaribu kutembea. Familia hiyo aliikuta imefurahi mno. Akamnywesha tena ile dawa, akawaambia tena hivi, “niende jamani nikaende kwenye kuni.” Alikatazwa, “hapana baba, kaa umsikilize mgonjwa.”

Alianza kuwaelezea akisema hivi, “hapana baba nimeacha hali mbaya mno nyumbani.” Mzee alimuuliza “hali mbaya ipi baba uliyoacha?” “Nimeacha hakuna hata chakula nyumbani.”

Baba huyo alichotewa chakula magunia mawili na hela ya kutumia walipelekewa nyumbani. Alikaa pale kwa muda wa siku tatu, akawa amepona kabisa yule mgonjwa wake.

Alianza kujiuliza tena, “sijue ni kwa nani tena?” Akafikiri kuwa kwa mfalme kuna mtoto wake aliyeugua. Siku ya nne, aliwaambia, wa kwenye nyumba hiyo, “jamani nitembee tembee huku kidogo.”

Nao walimkubalia akaanza safari ya kwenda mpaka kwa Mfalme, akafika na kubisha hodi, akayasema maneno hayo mlangoni. Akaambiwa kwamba, “hivyo baba unayafahamu lakini masharti ya Mfalme?”

“Huwa wanauliwa kama ukishindwa kumponyesha mtoto wa mfalme.” Mwanaume huyo, alisema, “sawa tu, si ni kama nimeshindwa.” Basi walimkubalia mlangoni akaingia na akafika huko kwa mfalme. Akamwambia malengo yake.

Alipomwambia mfalme, alipelekwa kwenye nyumba akapitishwa kwa nyuma akiizunguka nyumba, akaoneshwa vichwa vya waganga walioshindwa kumponyesha imezungushwa kuta zote za nyumba. Alipoona alipelekwa kumuona mgonjwa, akafikia kuangalia alama yake anayoitumia na kuona kwamba atamponyesha.

Hapo hapo alianza kumpa dawa, mgonjwa huyo siku mbili, akawa amepona kabisa. Mfalme alifurahi mno akampa zawadi za kila aina. Ikatengenezwa barabara ya kutoka pale mpaka kwake, akajengewa na nyumba. Mungu ni mkubwa, mwanaume huyo, sasa umefika wakati wa utajiri, alikaa muda wa mwezi mmoja hapo.

Mgonjwa akawa mzima na afya ya mwili wake ikamrudia. Hapo akapata zawadi tena, akapewa msichana wa kuoa, basi akawa na wanawake watatu. Alifanyia arusi kubwa mno na mfalme.  Wakazawadiwa si kidogo.

Zawadi nyingine alikatiwa sehemu akawa mfalme. Mwanaume huyo iliisha miaka yake akiwa amejisahau kwa sababu ya kuwa na furaha, akasahau na wazo lake la kujinyonga.

Siku moja akiwa katika safari ya kwenda kutembea na dereva wake, aliwaona watu wanachimba kaburi, akamwambia dreva wake hivi, “umewaona watu hao wanaochimba kaburi?”

Dereva wake alimjibu, “twende tutachelewa.” Ndipo wakakimbia kidogo akaona tena watu wamebeba maiti, akamwambia tena dereva wake, “umewaona watu hao waliobeba maiti?” Dereva alijibu, “wewe nawe, tutachelewa.”

Alikimbia kidogo tena, wakamuona mtu akisimamisha gari yao. Akamwambia dereva, naye akasema, “wewe tutachelewa.” Wakakimbia kidogo tena, wakamuona mtu mbele akisimamisha gari yao, akamwambia tena dereva “simama.” Mwishowe, akasimama kweli.

Mtu huyo alimuliza, “umenifahamu?” Naye alijibu, “hapana sikufahamu.” Mtu huyo alianza kujieleza, “ni mimi yule niliyekukatia kamba shingoni, basi ndiyo kusema bwana, siku zako zimeisha leo, hapo hapo alifariki.

ENGLISH: A MAN CUTER OF FIREWOODS

There was one father who was scratching wood. So that was his daily job. He was talking to his children about the woodworking work.

Finally the father began to ask himself, “Why do I eat this worries, why do some eat even if they have not gone to wood? My fellows! But will I succeed!”

When he asked himself, he finally reached the suicide decision. He really went to the park to walk, where he felt good and thought that it would be worth it.

So he began to tie his cord. Then he was told by someone, “why boss do you want to kill yourself while you have so many days to live on earth, so you have still forty years to live on earth.”

The man refused him to kill himself, and told him that he would succeed in the years ahead. “I tell you this too, just cut down the wood and go home, when you come home at night walk in the marketplace you will see a woman walking, the woman should say that, you want to marry her.”

When the man came home, he saw it as late as he was going to the marketplace. In the evening he came craving to think that the woman might have been wealthy, so she would be in a hurry.

He went to the marketplace, and saw the woman walking, telling her the matter of getting married. And she did not wait, she accepted the truth and took her. She had two wives. The burden became bigger again adding another problem. So he just kept doing his work of cutting firewoods, selling them and getting money enough to eat.

He was scared again one day when his idea came, he wondered, “My fellow! I thought that this woman would make me laugh or not. I just have my own suicide decision that would be all right. “So the next day, he again took a rope to suicide, thought he would not go to the place where he went, and he went by another way.

He actually went on the other side and found a good tree and closed his cord again. When the man came back again, and he said to him, “Why did I stop you again and pick up the rope?”

He replied, “I am sorry, sir, and I just added a problem to myself.” The goal of himself as it had not yet been met. He was repeatedly denied and man said, “Take that bottle with medicine, if you get home, the first thing I tell you, ask yourself for some there is a patient, sir I will be with you every time you get to the patient.”

You will be looking at my goal in the hands of everyday life. But if the hands are on the head, then the patient will not recover, but if they are in the depths, the patient will recover.

The poor man lost his fire woods again and took a bottle back home and said, “thanks master.” When they left home, he began to think about it. “Who is sick?” He was told “he is somewhere.”

He started the journey to see the patient. When he got there, he greeted them, and asked, “How is the patient’s progress, how did he spend the day?”  They replied, “Daddy, we are waiting for a while.” “Now, Mom, I have a medicine to treat the patient.”

The mother of the house, said, “this, will you be able to daddy?” The man said, “I can only.” The mother of the house said, “Well then my father.” Then he went in to see the sick. He started to look at his tracks, looked at his head and missed, looked at his feet and saw his hands, knowing that he would be healed.

At that time he watered her. He told them, “I will come to see Him sometime. He returned home and went to cut firewoods. He went to the wood. He cut and returned home at the evening. He went to look at her patient again and found her condition so good till he was able to talk.

The father asked for water and gave her some medicine again. He told them, “tomorrow morning I will come and see him,” he went home to bed. In the morning he went to see him again and found him standing, and trying to walk. The family found it very happy. Once again, he said to them again, “Let me go to the fire woods to cut them.” He was forbidden, “No father, sit down and listen to the patient.”

He began to explain it, saying, “No father I have left a bad situation at home.” The old man asked “What bad situation did Dad leave?” “I have left no food at home.” He answered.

The father was given two bags of bread and spent on use and he was taken home. He stayed there for three days, and he completely healed his sick person.

He began to ask himself again, “Who do I know that he is sick?” He thought that there was a sick child in the king. On the fourth day, he told them, from the house, “let me walk a bit.”

They embraced him and began his journey to the King, and came and knocked on the door. He said these words at the door. He was told, “but, so do you know father the terms of the King?”

“They are killed if you fail to nurse the king’s son.” The man, “he said,” is not as if I had failed. “So they accepted him at the door and came in to the king. He told her his goals.

When he told the king, he was taken home and was rushed back to the house, and the heads of the unsuccessful guards were squeezed around all the walls of the house. When he saw that he was taken to see a patient, he came to see the mark he used and saw that he was going to heal him.

Then he began to give the medicine to the sick for two days. He was completely healed. The king was very pleased and gave him all kinds of gifts. Made up of a road from there to the center, built up with a house. God is great, the man, now came in time of wealth, stayed for a month later.

The patient became healthy and his body’s health returned. There he received a gift again. He was given a girl to marry, and then had three women. He made a great marriage with the king. They were rewarded not a bit.

Another gift was replaced by becoming king. The man spent his years forgetting because of such happiness. He forgot his idea of ​​self-deception.

One day while traveling on a walk with his driver, he saw people digging a grave, saying to his driver, “Have you seen those who dig the grave?”

His driver replied, “We are going to be late.” And when they ran away and saw again other people carrying the dead, he said to his driver again, “Have you seen those who carrying the dead one?” The driver replied, “you and I will be late.”

He ran a little longer, and saw a man stopping their car. He told the driver, and he said, “We will be late.” They ran a little further, and saw a man standing in front of their car, and again told the driver “stop.” Finally, he stood up.

“You know me?” He replied. “I did not know you,” he replied. The man began to say, “I am the one who cut the rope on the neck, so that is to say, sir your days are over, so he died.”

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

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

Oliho munhu usola panga uja ng’wipolu. Aho oshika ng’wipolu ulinha mu linti wandya gutema ilinti, aliyo aho wandya gutema, utema nilitambi ilo aligasijije.

Liza ling’wana limo lyung’wila giki, bhebhe bhabha ulitema nilinti ilo uligisigije ululilatinike, nu bhebhe guko ugugwa. Ngosha ng’wenuyo adazunije wendelea kutema duhu.

Na ng’hana aho lyatinika nu wei guko. Aho ogwa henaho ubhuka kujunchola ungosha ng`wenuyo mpaga umpandika, ugashiga ung’wila bhebhe bhabha niwilage aho naguchila.

Ngosha ng`wenuyo ushosha, ali unene nagumanila he? Ngosha uyo oliogwaga, uhaya bhebhe bhabha oliomanaga ginehe igiki nagugwa? Ngosha ushosha, ganadamanile bhabha. Ungi uhaya bhebhe niniwilage, ngosha ng’wenuyo oganoga ung’wila giki, nalulu nahene, ugugwa ha nzobe ng’hangala idatu, ulokadatu nuloguchila.

Ngosha ng’wenuyo uzunya wandya guja, aho oshiminza shiminza ubhona nzobhe, ujinyama ugashiga ulinha. Aho olinha henaho inzobhe jandya gupela oganoga ugwa, ubuka ulinha hangi, nzobhe yandya hangi gupela yaganoga nayo yumponya hangi ubhuka, ukala gulinha hangi lukangala lo kadatu.

Yagamponya ubhi ocha ufelwa. Ngosha ng’wenuyo aho obhona giki ocha, umana giki umunhu ng’wenuyo agulabhuka wandya gulija mhembe alihaya giki “ilelo ibilingagi abang’wano ilelo luli lushiku lo kuhimbuka pye abo bachile.”

Ngosha ng’wenuyo ubi ofulwa mbeho upimbuka, wandya gweshemagila kunu alihaya hii! “Babehi hii! Nalikule no.”

Kiswahili: Mtu Akachukua Panga

Hapo zamani alikuwepo mtu, alichukua panga akaenda porini. Alipofika porini alipanda mtini akaanza kukata ule mti akiwa amekalia lile tawi analolikata.

Baadaye alikuja mtu mmoja akamwambia, “wewe baba, unakata tawi ambao umelikalia, likikatika na wewe utaanguka.” Aliendelea kukata tu. Na kweli lilikatika pamoja na naye, alipoanguka papo hapo, alikwenda kumtafuta mwanaume yule mpaka akampata.

Akamwuliza, “wewe baba niambie siku zangu za kufa.” Mwanaume huyo alisema, “mimi ninajuaje?” Mwanaume huyo aliyeanguka alisema, “wewe baba ulijuaje kuwa nitaanguka?” “Mimi baba siwezi nikajua.” Mwingine alisema, “ebu niambie.”

Mwanaume huyo mwishoe alimwambia hivi, “kwa hiyo wewe utaanguka kwenye punda mara tatu, safari ya tatu ndiyo ya kufa.” Mwanaume huyo alikubali akaanza kutembea tembea akamwona punda na alipomwona punda alimsogelea. Akamshika akapanda mgongoni.

Punda akaanza kukimbia mwishowe akaanguka, alipoinuka akapanda tena, punda akaanza kukimbia, alipochoka naye akamwangusha tena. Akaamka na akapitiliza kupanda tena. Mara ya tatu alipoangushwa akawa amezimia kidogo.

Mwanaume huyo alipoona kuwa amezimia, akajua kuwa mtu huyo ataumia, akaanza kupiga mbiu huku akisema, “watu wote mkusanyike leo ni siku ya kufufuka kwa watu wote walikukufa.” Mwanamume huyo akawa amepata hewa akafufuka, na kuanza kuhema na huku akisema, “aisi, jamani nilikuwa mbali mno.”

ENGLISH: A MAN WHO TOOK A SWORD

In the past there was a man, who took a sword and went to the wild. When he reached there, he climbed a tree and began to cut off the branch on which he was sitting.

Then came one man and said, “You daddy, you cut off the branch that you had sat on, and when it is gone out with, you will fall.” He just kept cutting. And really it was with him, when it was cut he also fell right away. He went to look for the man till he found him.

“Oh, dad,” he said, “tell me my days of death.” The man said, “How do I know?” The fallen man said, “How did you know that I could fall, Dad?” The man said, “I can not tell you.” “Tell me my father.” He insisted.

The man finally told him, “So you will fall three times on the donkey, and the third trip is that which you will die.” The man agreed and started walking around and saw a donkey and when he saw an ass swim in. He grabbed hold of him climbed on its back.

The donkey began to run away and finally fell, when he got up again, the donkey began to run, when he was tired and he struck him again. He got up and went on growing again. The third time he was squeeze out, he fainted a little.

When the man saw that he was exhausted, he knew that the man had been injured and began to shout, saying, “All the people gathered today is the day of resurrection for all the people who died.” The man got up and started to cry and said, ahh, my fellows, I was far away.

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

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

Bhaliho bhaniki bhadatu bhagaja gujusena ng’hwi ng’wipolu. Aho bhashika ung’wipolu bhugabhona mang’ong’oli gina magi. Ung`waniki umo oho ulilomba ligi. Lyung’wila, “Nindage aligunuma, nindage aligunuma”. Lyubhita lijile duhu, lingi nalyo ulilomba lyung’wila, “Nindage aligunuma, nindage aligunuma”. Lyubhita lijile nalyo.

Liza lingi lya kadatu ulilomba, lyung’winha iligi, ng`waniki ung’ula ashokile kaya gujulitula iligi nagulikundikija nungu. Aho olikundikija omanulilola ilugiki lyalalukaga.

Lushiku lumo ohayulilola usanga lyatandukaga, nilyo lyafunyaga ng’wana ng’waniki. Ng’waniki ng’wenuyo agaaluka nose bhiza bhakwilima. Bhakwilima bhenabho bhaginhwa minzi bhoga. Aho bhoga ng`waniki ujila maguta guli mamaye winhwa. Aho winhwa uhaya mado.

Ng`waniki unomba hangi umamaye amaguta winhwa, uhaya mado. Ng’waniki wifugula uja mashimbe. Mamaye wandya kung’witana, ng’wana onhanda ng`waka yii, wigungu, wigungu ndindage, ajile duhu.

Ung`witana hangi umamaye, ng’wana onhanda ng’waka yii, Wigungu Wigungu ndindage, nene nading’ong’oli yii, ndindage, umamha yii, ndindage. Ung`waniki uzwa bhoya. Wandya gulala ulolela mang’ong’oli ugisanja uma ng’ong’oli miye.

Kiswahili: Hadithi Ya Wasichana Walioenda kukata Kuni- Sanjo

Walikuwepo wasichana watatu walioenda kukata kuni porini. Walipofika porini waliona Ng’ong’oli wana mayai. Msichana mmoja wapo aliliomba yai.

Ndege yule alimwambia, “msubiri yuko nyuma, msubiri yuko nyuma.” Ndege yule alipita akiendelea na safari yake tu. Alimuomba ndege mwingine, akamwambia, “Msubiri yuko nyuma, msubiri yuko nyuma.” Naye akapita akiendelea na safari yake.

Akaja ndege mwingine wa tatu, alimuomba, akampa yai. Msichana huyo akaanza safari yake ya kurudi nyumbani kwenda kuliweka yai na kulifunika chungu. Alipolifunika alikuwa akiliangalia ili kuona kama limekuwa jekundu.

Siku moja alipoliangalia alikuta limepasuka, tena limetoa mtoto msichana. Msichana huyo alikua mwishowe wakaja watu wa kumuoa. Waoaji au wakwilima hao walipewa maji wakaoga. Walipooga msichana alifuata mafuta kwa mama yake akapewa. Alipopewa alisema madogo au machache.

Msichana alimuomba tena mama yake akapewa, akasema machache. Msichana alizila akaenda bila kuolewa. Mama yake akaanza kumuita, “mtoto uliyemfuata Ng’waka yii, utukutu, utukutu nisubiri.” Yeye akiendelea kwenda tu.

Akamwita tena bibi yake, “mtoto uliyemfuata Ng’waka yii, nisubiri, umamha yii, nisubiri.” Msichana yule, aliota manyoya. Akaanza kuruka akayaona kwa mbali mang’ong’oli akaenda kujichanganya na ng’ong’oli menzake.

ENGLISH: THE STORY OF GIRLS WHO WENT -SANJO FOR CUTTING FIREWOOD

There were three girls who went to cut firewood in the forests. When they got to the ground they saw the bird known as crane that has eggs. One girl among them asked it for an egg.

The bird said to her, “Wait for him back, wait for him to come back.” That bird passed and continued with its journey. She asked another bird, that also said, “Wait for a while, wait for it to come back.” And it went on its journey.

When another third bird came, she asked it, which gave her an egg. The girl started her journey home to place the egg and cover it with a pot. When she covered it she was watching to see if it had been red.

One day when she looked she found it that it has been broken, and gave birth to a baby girl.  That girl grew eventually men came to marry her. Those who wanted to marry her were given water for bathing. When they took shower, the girl followed oil to her mother and was given. When given it she said that it was small or few.

The girl again asked her mother, and she said a few. The girl refused to eat and went unmarried. Her mother began to call her, “the baby that followed Ng’waka yii, dreadful wait for me.” She just went on.

She also called her grandmother, “the baby that followed Ng’waka yii, wait for me, grandmother yii.” That girl began to have feathers. She began to fly and saw a farther side many cranes (ng’ong’oli) and went to mix with her fellow cranes (birds).

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

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

Waliho ngosha umo witanagwa Yipilinga. Ngosha ng`wenuyo mukikalile gakwe. Akiyigwa gwandya kusalila. Shitakwilile shiku uja kujumona ng’walimu wa dini. Welelejiwa pye imihayo iyo wabhujaga. Na Wandikwa ubhiza nangwa.

Lyakanoga lyushika ikanza lya bhulangwa. Yipilinga akabhiza njamu mpaga kushika kubhatishiwa ubhiza Rafael. Akabhiza nzunya njamu gete, ni ng’wakwe pye bhandya kusalila. Sha lushiku lumo, Rafael upandika nimo gwa kubokela mhiya ningi no. Akabhiza nwagi na wandwa bhujingi. Wakanoga utola bhakima bhabili ubhiza nabho bhadatu.

Nulu kupanda kwisalila oya, ulu bhamuja abhanhu, “Hama udukasalilaga bhuli?” Nang’hwe wayomba, “Gemagi ning’we, abhise twafumako.” Waja kuwalwa.

Sha lushiku ngosha ng`wenuyo kusata kana gakwe ka nkima uyo walatasalilaga nawe. Bhugema bhugota pye kushika nose gucha. Rafael aho wabhona giko, uja kubhazunya gujulomba bhang’walimu bhasome ibada jagunombela ng’wana wakwe abhikwe nyazunya. Aha wabhawila bhatongeji bha Kanisa bhung’wila giki, “Bhabha ubhebhe amalagilo ga Mulungu ukamanile gete.

Ihaha watala wabhiza mpagani. Utola hanze ya ndoa yako, oya nukusalila. Yise tudiza wabhulaga ilisangi ni kanisa nu Mulungu ng’wenikili.

Ngosha ng’wenuyo akashoka kaya wazongaga no. Ng’wana wakwe ubhikwa nyapagani.

Kiswahili: Sisi Tumetokako

Alikuwako mwanamume mmoja alikuwa anaitwa, Yipilinga. Mwanamume  huyo katika maisha yake, alijisikia kusali. Hazikupita siku, alienda kumwona mwalimu wa dini. Akaelekezwa taratibu zote  alizokuwa  anaulizia. Akaandikishwa akawa mwanafunzi.

Baadaye ulifika wakati wa mafundisho. Yipilinga akawa imara mpaka kufikia muda wa kubatizwa. Akaitwa Rafaeli. Akawa mkristu imara na familia yake wakaanza kusali. Siku moja Rafaeli akapata kazi yenye mshahara mkubwa mno. Lakini cha ajabu akawa mlevi na malaya. Baadaye alioa wanawake wawili. Akawa nao watatu.

Tangu pale akawa haendi kanisani, wanapomwuliza watu, kwa nini huendi kusali? Naye anarudisha, “Jaribuni nanyi sisi tumetokako.” Anaenda kwenye pombe.

Siku moja jamaa huyo aliuguliwa na mtoto wake wa mwanamke ambaye hasali. Walijaribu dawa zote wakashindwa. Mwishowe mtoto akafariki. Rafael alipoona hivyo akaenda kwa wakristu kuomba walimu wasome ibada ya mazishi ya kumwombea mtoto wake ili azikwe kikristu.

Alipowaambia viongozi  wa Kanisa, wakamwambia kwamba, “Wewe unazijua amri za Kanisa, sasa hivi umeasi kusali. Umekuwa mpagani. Umeoa nje ya ndoa na kuacha kusali. Sisi hatuendi maana umevunja muungano na Mungu wewe mwenyewe.

Rafael  akarudi nyumbani akiwa na huzuni sana. Mtoto huyo akazikwa kipagani.

ENGLISH: WE LEFT OUT FROM THERE

There was one man who was called, Yipilinga. The man in his life, felt that he prayed. Not long ago, he went to see a religious teacher. He was guided by all the procedures he was asking for. He was enrolled and became a student.

Later it came time of teaching. The Yipilinga became strong until he got baptized. He was called Rafael. He became a strong Christian and his family began to pray. One day Rafael earned a very rewarding job. But he became a drunkard with a womanizer. Later he married two women. He had three.

Since he did not attend church, when they asked people, why do you not pray? He replies, “Try it with we left out from there.” He goes to alcohol.

One day the relative was kidnapped by her daughter-in-law. They tried all the drugs they failed. Eventually the baby died. When Rafael saw that, he went to Christians to ask the teachers to read the funeral ceremony to pray for his child to be Christian.

When he told the church leaders, they told him, “You know the orders of the Church, now you have begun to pray. You have been a pagan. You are out of wedlock and stop praying. We do not go because you have broken the union with God yourself.

Rafael returned home feeling very sad. The baby was buried as a pagan.