Collected by: Don Sybertz,
With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)
Oliho namhala umo uyo olina bhana bhadatu: bhamabhasa Kulwa na Dotto, na jipanda mabhasa, lina lwakwe Shija. Abhana bhanabho bhali na wikaji bho wiza nubhabha obho. Ubhabha obho oli nsabhi noi. Lushigu lumo, ubhabha agabhawila abhana bhakwe, “Ihaha aying’we ng’wakulaga ng’wabhizaga bhanhu bhatale. Nalimulomba muchole bhakima bha gutola. Ukulwa wandye.”
Ukulwa agaligwa ililagilo lwa ng’wa bhabha okwe, uja kiya ya kule. Ukunuko agampandika nkima nsoga. Utunga bhulunja nanghwe, na ushoka kaya. Agang’winha ubhabha okwe amafumilo ga lugendo lokwe. Ubhabha agayega na gunumbilija noi u Kulwa.
Nalupuna ludima lo ng’wa Dotto. Agaja kiya aguncholaga nkima oguntola. Agaduja ugumpandika unkima unsoga, bhizunilija nanghwe, na bhutunga bhulunja.
UDotto aho oshoga kaya na gulomela giki okindaga ugunpandika unkima, ubhabha agamuja, “Ehe, Dotto onpandikilaga hei unkima ng’wunuyo?” Dotto agashosha, “Kiya ya kule,” “ng’wa nani?” agabhuja ubhabha, “kuli namhala fulani!” agashosha u dotto. “Ala! iki nu nduguyo uKulwa olunga bhulunja kuli nkima nu ng’wunuyo?” agabhuja ubhabha.
U guku obho agang’wila ubhabha obho, “Bhalekage du.” Inhalikilo lubhiza ludima lo ng’wa jilondela mabhasa uShija. Nanghwe agaja nu lwande lunulo ulo bhagaja gujulungija abhakuluye.
Shija aganunja nu nkima ng’wunuyo uyo oliolunjiwa na bha Kulwa nu Dotto. Shija agashoka kaya na gung’wila ubhabha okwe higulwa ya bhupandiki bho lugendo lwokwe. Ubhabha obho uyomba, “Bhanabhane ng’witaga ginehe? Bhuli pye ubhudatu wing’we ng’wantogagwa ng’wunuyo umo?”
Abhana bhakwe bhaganshokeja, “Uduzunilije duje kuchuo kugiki tupandike bhulangwa. Uyo alamale chiza gukila pye hu ng’wenuyo uyo alantole umkima uyo.”
Huna ubhabha obho agabhazunilija abhana bhakwe guja si ja kule gujusoma. Umo obho agasomela hilwa ya darubhini, uungi agabhiza daktari, na ogadatu agabhiza Rubani o ndege.
Aho bhamala amasomo gabho ukunuko si ja hanze, umo agayomba, “Ilibhelela dupime na dubhone ihali umo ili ukunuko kaya.” Bhagapima na gubhona ihali ili ya mhola gete ukunuko kaya.
Halafu bhagayomba, “Dupime nuko dalungija.” Aho bhampima unkima uyo bhanunja, bhubhona giki alinsadu noi, hangi ali ohandili gete. Bhagibhuja, “Dite ki ihaha?
Umo obho agashauri, “Udakitali asole bhugota na jipimo jakwe, nurubani asole Ndege, na wangu wangu duje bho nduhu gukeleja. Pye bhagizunilija, bhandya lugendo lo guja gujunhagula unsadu ng’wunuyo.
Aho bhashika koi bhagansanga unkima ng’wenuyo olemelagwa alihandili gete. Udakitali agandya nimo gogumpima na gunhagula. Baada ya likanza ido agapila gete. Aho opila gete, dakitali agayomba, “Iki opila, unkima uyu alione.”
Untalamu o darubhini nawe agayomba, “Unkima uyu alione, kulwa nguno unene hung’wene uyo nampima bho darubhini kufuma kule na gumana igiki alinsatu o handili.”
Urubani nawe agahaya, “unkima uyu alione kulwa nguno unene huyo nagabhanguhya wangu wangu, kuyiniyo, unkima uyo alione.”
Umu wiharaliki wenubho umo obho agayomba, “Agubhiza nkima ong’wa guku wise kulwa nguno kunamna imo nulu yingi, bhuli umo wise ong’wambilijaga unkima ng’wenuyo. Ulu utolwa na guku, agubhiza aguduzugilaga ijiliwa, naise dugulwa kudi bhizukulu bhakwe.”
Bhagizunilija, giko unkima ng’wunuyo ubhiza nke ong’wa guku obho, abhoi bhubhiza bhizukulu bha ng’wa mama obho ng’wenuyo.
Nhana umama obho agabhazugila ijiliwa. Na gulinganila nu wikaji bho wimeji, umama obho ng’wenuyo ali nkima obho. Bhagikala bho bhuyegi. Mpaga leo abhizukulu bhagabhamelaga abha guku na bha mama bhabho.
Kiswahili: Kulwa, Dotto Na Shija
Kulikuwa na mzee mmoja aliyekuwa na watoto watatu: mapacha Kulwa na Dotto na kipanda mapacha jina lake Shija. Watoto hao walikuwa na maisha mazuri na baba yao.
Baba yao alikuwa tajiri sana. Siku moja, baba yao aliwaambia watoto wake, “Sasa ninyi mmekua na kuwa watu wazima. Nawaomba mtafute wanawake wa kuoa. Kwanza aanze kulwa.”
Kulwa alitii agizo la baba yake, akaondoka na kwenda mashariki ya mbali. Huko alimpata mwanamke mzuri. Akafunga naye uchumba. Baadae Kulwa alirejea nyumbani. Akampa baba yake matokeo ya safari yake. Baba alifurahi na kumshukuru sana Kulwa.
Baadae ilifuata zamu ya Dotto. Naye alikwenda mashariki kumtafuta mwanamke wa kumwoa. Alifaulu kumpata mwanamke mzuri, akakubaliana naye wakafunga uchumba. Dotto aliporejea nyumbani na kueleza kuwa amefaulu kumpata mchumba. Baba, alimuuliza Dotto, “Je, umempata wapi mchumba huyo?” Dotto alimjibu “Mashariki ya mbali.” “Kwa nani?” “Kwa mzee Fulani!” “Ala! Si hata ndugu yako Kulwa amefunga uchumba kwa mwanamke huyo huyo?”
Babu yao akamwambia baba yao, “Waache tu.” Mwisho, ikawa zamu ya kipanda mapacha, Shija. Naye alielekea upande uleule walikokwenda kuchumbia kaka zake.
Shija alimchumbia mwanamke yuleyule aliyekwisha chumbiwa na Kulwa na Dotto. Shija aliporejea nyumbani na kumweleza baba yake kuhusu mafanikio ya safari yake. Baba yao akasema, “Wanangu mmefanyaje? Mbona wote watatu mmempenda mwanamke mmoja yuleyule?”
Watoto wake wakajibu, “Uturuhusu tuende kwenye chuo ili kupata mafunzo. Yule atakayefuzu zaidi kuliko wote ndiye atakayemwoa mwanamke huyo.”
Ndipo baba yao akawaruhusu wanawe kwenda nchi za mbali kwenda kusoma. Mmoja alisomea mambo ya darubini, mwingine akawa daktari, na watatu alifuzu urubani wa ndege.
Walipohitimu masomo yao huko nchi za nje, mmoja alisema, “Itafaa tupime na tuone hali halisi ya huko nyumbani.” Walipima na kuona hali iko salama kabisa kule nyumbani. Halafu wakasema “Tupime pia kule tulikochumbia.” Walipompima yule mwanamke waliyemchumbia, waligundua kuwa mchumba wao ni mgojwa sana, tena mahututi kabisa. Wakaulizana, “Tufanye nini sasa?” Mmoja alishauri, “Daktari achukue dawa na vipimo vyake, na rubani achukue ndege, na hima twende bila kuchelewa.
Wote walikubaliana, wakaanza safari yao kwa ndege kwenda kumtibu yule mgonjwa. Walipowasili huko walimkuta yule mwanamke yuko taabani kabisa. Daktari alianza kazi ya kumpima na kumtibu. Baada ya muda alipona kabisa. Baada ya kupona kabisa, daktari alisema, “Kwa kuwa amepona, huyu mwanamke ni wangu.”
“Huyu ni mwanamke wangu, kwa sababu mimi ndiye niliyempima kwa darubini kutoka mbali na kufahamu kuwa mgonjwa mahututi,” mtaalamu wa darubini alidai.
Rubani naye akadakiza, “huyu ni mwanamke wangu kwa sababu mimi ndiye niliyewafanya muwahi haraka, kwa hiyo huyu ni mwanamke wangu.
Katika mabishano hayo mmoja alisema, “Atakuwa mke wa babu yetu kwa sababu kwa namna moja au nyingine, kila mmoja wetu amemsaidia mwanamke huyo. Akiolewa na babu, atakuwa anatupikia chakula, nasi tutakula kama wajukuu zake.”
Walikubaliana, hivyo yule mwanamke akawa mke wa babu, wao wakawa ni wajukuu wa huyo bibi. Kweli bibi yao aliwapikia chakula. Na kwa kadiri ya maisha ya utani bibi huyo alikuwa ni mke wao. Waliishi kwa furaha. Hata leo wajukuu huwatania babu na bibi zao.
English: Kulwa, Dotto And Shija
ENGLISH: KULWA, DOTTO AND SHIJA
There was an old man who had three children: twins Kulwa and Dotto and the one who followed the twins named Shija. The children had a good life with their father.
Their father was very rich. One day, the father told his children, “Now you have grown up and become adults. I ask you to look for women to marry. Kulwa should start first.”
Kulwa obeyed his father’s command and left to go far eastward. There he found a beautiful woman.He engaged her afterwards, Kulwa returned home. He gave his father the results of his journey. His father was very happy and thanked Kulwa.
Later followed Dotto’s turn. And he went east to look for a woman to marry. He successfully found a beautiful woman, and agreed with her and decided to get married. Dotto went home and explained that he had succeeded in getting a woman. The father asked Dotto, “Where did you get that woman from?” Dotto replied “In the fareast.” “From whom?” “From an old man!” “Ala! Hasn’t your brother Kulwa engaged that same woman? ”
Their grandfather said to their father, “Leave them alone.” Finally, it became the turn of Shija who was born after the twins. And he also went to the same place where his brothers went to look for women to marry.
Shija took the same woman who had been taken by Kulwa and Dotto. Shija returned home and told his father about his success. Their father said, “My sons, what have you done? Why do you all love the same woman?”
His children replied, “Let us go to college to get training. The one who will get the highest qualifications will marry the woman.”
Then their father allowed his sons to go abroad to study. The first one studied telescope studies, the second studied medical studies, and the third one studied eaircraft studies wit the intention to become a pilot.
When they graduated from abroad, one of them said, “Let us try to get the view of home and see the real situation there.” They looked using a telescope and saw the situation completely safe at home. Then they said, “Let us also see where we got our fiancées from.” When they looked at the woman they had engageded, they found out that was seriously sick. They then asked each other, “What should we do now?” One of them advised, “The doctor should take his medication and testing equipment, and the pilot should look for an aeroplane so that we can go there without a delay.
They all agreed, began their journey by plane to go to attend the patient. When they arrived there, they found the woman in a desperate situation. The doctor began testing and giving her the required medication. After a while, she was completely healed. After she was completely healed, the doctor said, “Because she is healed, this woman is mine.”
“This is my wife, because I was the one who tested her from a telescope and knew that she was seriously ill,” a telescope expert demanded.
The pilot also responded, “This is my wife because I was the one who made you get here fast, so this is my wife.”
In that argument one of them said, “She will be our grandfather’s wife because in one way or another, each one of us has helped the woman. If she is married to our grandfather, she will feed us, and we will eat as her grandchildren.”
They agreed, so the woman became their grandfather’s wife, and they became her grandchildren. Truly, their grandmother cooked them food. And according to the life of jokes, the lady was their wife. They lived happily and unto this day, grandchildren make jokes with their grandfathers as well as with their grandmothers.
Sukuma Legacy Project 