legacy

1284. GUSUGAMBA NYAKUJIWA.

Imbuki ya kahayile kenako ilolile bhusugambi bho nyakujiwa bho bhanhu bhalebhe. Bhalihoyi bhanhu abho bhalibhaja gujutigula nkima uyo oliotolwa. Aho wila ubhujiku bhagaja gujugisha ukubhabyaji bha nkima ng’wunuyo uyo bhalibhanjila. Aho bhashiga hoyi bhagasugamba bho likujo litale huna bhubhagisha lulu abhabyaji bha nkima ng’wunuyo. Hunagwene abhanhu bhakakitana akagisije kenako giki “gusugamba nyakujiwa.”

Akahayile kenako kagalenganijiyagwa kubhanhu abho bhali nikujo kubhanhu bhose, umukikalile kabho. Abhanhu bhenabho bhagikalaga chiza na bhanhu bhabho bho gubhambilija bhose, kunguno ya likujo lyabho linilo umuwikaji bhobho. Abhoyi bhagajilelaga bho gwikala chiza ikaya jabho kunguno ya likujo lyabho linilo ukubhichabho, umukikalile kabho kenako.

Abhanhu bhenabho bhagikolaga nabho bhagaja gujutigula nkima bhugabhagisha abhabyaji bhakwe bho likijo litale, kunguno nabhoyi bhagikalaga na bhanhu bhose bho likujo litale, umuwikaji bhobho. Hunagwene abhanhu bhakakitanaga akikalile kabho kenako giki, “gugugamba nyakujiwa.”

Akahayile kenako kalanga bhanhu higulya ya gubhiza ni kujo kubhanhu bhose abho bhagikalaga nabho, kugiki bhadule gujilela chiza ikaya jabho, umuwikaji bhobho.

Mwanzo 41:43.

Waamuzi 7:5-6.

1Wafalme 8:54.

Zaburi 95:6.

KISWAHILI: KUPIGA MAGOTI KIHESHIMIWA.

Chanzo cha msemo huo, huangalia upigaji wa magoti wenye heshima wa watu fulani. Walikuwepo watu walioenda kumchukua mwanamke aliyeolewa. Ulipoingia usiku walienda kuwasalimia wazazi wa yule mwanamke waliyeenda kumchukua. Walipofika pale walipiga magoti kwa heshima kubwa ndipo wakawasalimia wazazi hao wa yule mwanamke. Ndiyo maana watu waliita aina yao hiyo ya kusalimia kuwa ni “kupiga magoti kiheshimiwa.”

Msemo huo, hulinganishwa kwa watu wale ambao huishi kwa heshima na watu wote, katika maisha yao. Watu hao, huishi vizuri kwa kuwasaidia watu wao wote, kwa sababu ya hekima yao hiyo maishani mwao. Wao huzilea kwa kuishi vizuri familia zao kwa sababu ya hekima yao hiyo, katika maisha yao.

Watu hao, hufanana na wale waliowasalimia kwa heshiwa kubwa wazazi wa yule mwanamke waliyeenda kumchukua, kwa sababu nao huishi na watu wao kwa heshima kubwa, maishani mwao. Ndiyo maana watu huiita aina yao hiyo ya kuishi kuwa ni “kupiga magoti kiheshimiwa.”

Msemo huo, hufundisha watu juu ya kuwa na heshima kwa watu wao wote wanaoishi nao, ili waweze kuzilea vyema familia zao, maishani mwao.

Mwanzo 41:43.

Waamuzi 7:5-6.

1Wafalme 8:54.

Zaburi 95:6.

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ENGLISH: HONORABLE KNEELING.

The origin of an overhead saying looks at a respectful kneeling of some people. There were people who went to pick up a married woman. When night fell, they went to greet parents of a woman whom they went to pick her up. When they got there, they knelt with great respect and greeted the parents of that woman. That is why people called their type of greeting as “honorable kneeling.”

This saying is paralleled to people who live with respect to all people, in their lives. These people live well by helping their people, because of their wisdom in their lives. They nurture their family members by living well because of their knowledge in their lives.

These people are similar to those who greeted parents of the woman whom they went to pick her up, because they also live with their people with great respect, in their lives. That is why people call their way of living as “honorable kneeling.”

This saying teaches people about having respect for their people who live with them, so that they can soundly rear their family members, in their lives.

Genesis 41:43.

Judges 7:5-6.

1 Kings 8:54.

Psalm 95:6.

 

1283. AHA NAMHONA YUNITUMA ING’HOLO NANYOMBYE.

Imbuki ya kahayile kenako yilolile kayombeje ka ng’wa munhu uyo ng’holo yakwe ya mtumaga gwita chene. Oliyohoyi munhu uyo agatung’wana na munhu uyo agantogwa umulogendo lokwe kunguno ya kikalile kakwe kawiza. Umunhu ng’wunuyo, aho ontogwa uyo bhagatung’wana nanghwe akiyangula gunyombya kunguno ing’holo yakwe yantumaga gwita chene. Hunagwene agayomba giki, “aha namhona yunituma ing’holo nanyombye.”

Akahayile kenako kagalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo agachagulaga ng’wiye ogwitola nanghwe uyo intogilwe ing’holo yakwe, umukikalile kakwe. Umunhu ng’wunuyo agayidegelekaga chiza ing’holo yakwe bho gumchola ng’wiye uyo alina kikalile kaguyitogisha ing’holo yakwe, kunguno ya witegeleja bhokwe umuwikaji bhokwe. Uweyi agapandikaga ng’witoji onhungwa jawila uyo agayibhejaga chiza ikaya yakwe kunguno ya witegeleja bhokwe bhunubho, umukikalile kakwe.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo agikolaga nuyo aganyombya uyo agantogwa, kunguno nuweyi agachakulaga ng’witoji onhungwa jawiza ijo ijitogilwe ing’holo yakwe. Hunagwene agayombaga giki, “aha namhona yunituma ing’holo nanyombye.”

Akahayile kenako kalanga bhitoji higulya ya kuchagula bhitoji bhabho bho gutumila witegeleja bhutale, kugiki bhadule gujibheja chiza ikaya jabho, umuwikaji bhobho.

1Wafalme 11:1-4.

2Mambo ya nyakati 11:21a.

KISWAHILI: NILIPOMUONA MOYO ULINITUMA NIMUSEMESHE.

Chanzo cha msemo huo huangalia usemeshaji wa mtu yule ambaye moyo wake unamtuma kufanya hivyo. Alikuwepo mtu ambaye alikutakana na mwenzake katika safari zake akampenda kwa sababu ya mwenendo wake mwema. Mtu huyo, alipompenda aliamua kumsemesha kwa sababu moyo wake ulimtuma kufanya hivyo. Ndiyo maana alisema kwamba, “nilipomuona moyo ulinituma nimusemeshe.”

Msemo huo, hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule ambaye huchagua mwana ndoa mwenzake kwa kufuata unavyopenda moyo yake, katika maisha yake. Mtu huyo, huusikiliza vizuri moyo wake huo kwa kumtafuta mwanandoa mwenzake ambaye maisha yake huufurahisha moyo wake, kwa sababu ya umakini wake huo maishani mwake. Yeye hufanikiwa kumpata mwanandoa mwenye tabia njema ambaye huijenga kwa kuilea vyema familia yake, kwa sababu ya umakini wake huo, katika maisha yake.

Mtu huyo hufanana na yule aliyemsemesha yule aliyempenda, kwa sababu naye huchagua mwanandoa aliye na tabia njema inayoupendeza moyo wake. Ndiyo maana husema kwamba, “nilipomuona moyo ulinituma nimusemeshe.”

Msemo huo, hufundisha wana ndoa watarajiwa juu ya kuchagua wenzi wao kwa kutumia umakini mkubwa, ili waweze kuzilea vyema familia zao, maishani mwao.

1Wafalme 11:1-4.

2Mambo ya nyakati 11:21a.

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1282. NG`WILU WA NZWILI CHEYO

Imbuki ya ulusumo lunulo inhoyelile Nkima uyo wikalaga muchalo jilebhe umusi ya bhasuguma. Oli na nzwili ndiihu na nzwi. Oli nsoga, na mfula uyo oswalaga chiza bhuli makanza. Olintalaamu uyo uipyagulaga chiza inumba yakwe na ogaga chiza bhuli makanza.

Oli ng’wiza ng’holo noyi uyo uyilanhanaga chiza ikaya yakwe mpaga nu ngoshi wikalaga na bhuyegi kunguno ya kikalile kawiza ka nke okwe kenako. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagang’witana giki, “Ng’wilu wa nzwili cheyo”

Ulusumo lunulo lugalenganijiyagwa kubha mayu abho bhagajilelaga chiza ikaya jabho umuwikaji bhobho bhunubho. Abha mayu bhenabho, bhagajilelaga ikaya jabho bho gubhalanga abhanhu bhabho higulya yagwikala na bhutogwa bho gwikala na mholele na bhanhu  bhose kunguno ya nhungwa jabho ijawiza jinijo umuwikaji bhosho. Abhoyi bhagikala na bhuyegi  umukaya jabho kunguno ya gubhalela bho gwikala na witogwi abhanhu bhabho bhenabho.

Ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu no no abhakima higulya ya gwikala na bhutengeka bho gujilanhana chiza ikaya jabho kugiki bhadule gwikala na bhuyegi bhutale umuwikaji bhobho bhunubho.

Wimbo Ulio Bora 6:4-5

Wimbo Ulio Bora 4:1-2: “

Luka 1:26-38

KISWAHILI: WEUPE WA NYWELE NI UFAGIO.

Asili ya methali hii inamhusu mwanamke aliyeishi katika kijiji fulani katika ardhi ya Wasukuma. Alikuwa na nywele ndefu na mvi. Alikuwa mrembo, msafi na amevalia vizuri kila wakati. Hakutaka kuona mazingira machafu karibu yake. Alijitunza (mwili wake), familia yake, wengine, nyumba na mazingira kwa ujumla. Alikuwa mkarimu, mnyenyekevu, mkaribishaji, na mchangamfu na mwenye moyo mzuri na tabia. Ili kufupisha hadithi, aliishi vizuri na kila mtu katika kijiji chake. Mume alifurahi na kujivunia kuwa na mke wa aina hiyo. Alisifiwa kwa kuoa mke anayejali. Alijipenda na kujijali mwenyewe na wengine; daima alikuwa akiangaza.

Kila mwanakijiji alimpenda mwanamke huyu kwa sababu alikuwa na sifa za mwanamke/mama mzuri. Aliwafundisha watoto wake kujipenda na kujijali wao wenyewe na kwa wengine na zaidi kuishi kama umoja (udugu). Aliwalea watoto wake kwa kuwafundisha tabia njema na maadili kama vile kuwasikiliza na kuwaheshimu wazee. Watoto wake wakawa mifano mizuri katika jamii. Alikuwa mfano mzuri kwa wanawake wote kijijini kwao. Wasukuma wanatumia methali hii ya “Ng’wilu wa nzwili cheyo” kuwafunza watu katika jamii hasa wanawake na wasichana kwamba wanapaswa kuwa warembo nje ya mwili na ndani (moyo wao). Mwanamke anapokuwa na moyo mzuri jamii nzima itafundishwa na wema wake kwa sababu yeye hupitisha maadili haya kwa watoto. Katika Kiswahili kuna methali inayofanana na hii: “Uzuri wa mwanamke ni tabia yake”.

Methali hii hufundisha watu hasa wanawake juu ya wema na utunzaji wa nyumba na mazingira na kujua kuwafundisha watoto maadili hayo mema kama mama ili familia na jamii kwa ujumla iishi maisha yenye furaha na utimilifu pale penye maelewano, upendo. na kujaliana.

Wimbo Ulio Bora 6:4-5

Wimbo Ulio Bora 4:1-2.

Luka 1:26-38.

ENGLISH: HAVING WHITE HAIR IS A BROOM.

BACKGROUND, MEANING AND EVERYDAY USE

The origin of this proverb concerns a woman who existed in a certain village in Sukuma land. She had long and grey hair. She was beautiful, clean and always dressed properly. She did not want to see dirty environment around her. She took care of herself (her body), her family, others, house and the surrounding in general. She was kind, humble, welcoming, and cheerful with a good heart and behavior. To cut the story short, she lived well with everybody in her village. The husband was happy and proud to have such a wife. He was praised for marrying such a caring wife. She loved and cared for herself and others; she was always shining.

 Every villager admired this woman because she had qualities of a good woman/mother. She taught her children to love and care for themselves and for others and foremost to live as one (brotherhood) unity. She raised her children by teaching the good manners and values like listening and respecting elders. Her children became good examples in the society. She was a good example to all women in her village. The Sukuma use this proverb “Ng’wilu wa nzwili cheyo” to teach people in the society especially women and girls that they have to be beautiful outside the body and inside (their heart). When the woman is good hearted the whole society will be taught by her goodness because she transmits these values to children. In Swahili there is a proverb similar to this: “Uzuri wa Mwanamke tabia”, translated as the beauty of a woman is her behavior.

This proverb teaches people especially women about goodness and taking care of the house and environment and knowing to teach those good values to children as mothers in order that the family and society at large may live happy and fulfilled life where there is harmony, love and care for each other.

BIBLICAL PARALLELS

Song of Songs 6: 4-5 “You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners. Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead.”

Song of Songs 4: 1-2: “How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.”

Luke 1:26-38 “ In the sixth month of Elizabeth`s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin`s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob`s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be ,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…” I am the Lord`s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

CONTEMPORARY USE AND RELIGIOUS APPLICATION

This sukuma proverbs invites people not only to take care of themselves, their body or appearance but also to have a good behavior and good heart. That is to be clean outside the body and inside the body (heart). When they are good to themselves and their fellow human beings (neighbors, family members) they will live a happy life where love, peace and brotherhood is experienced. It is when they live in love with oneself and with others as Jesus states in the commandment of love that they are really serving God.

It encourages and teaches them that when you have good behavior and good heart God can use them as an instruments to spread the Good News in our family and our Small Christian Communities by our examples of love and care. When we live Christian values of love, respect, care for the others especially the poor and needy, obedience to our elders and parents, or strive for unite, peace and justice in our homes and the society we can draw many people to become disciples of Jesus. The Virgin Mary is a good example of God’s instrument that God used to bring salvation to the whole world.

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1281. INYUMBA YINOGA PEYINA VANU. (BENA)

KISWAHILI: NYUMBA INAPENDEZA IKIWA NA WATU.

ENGLISH: A HOUSE IS BEAUTIFUL IF IT HAS PEOPLE.

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

This proverb talks about a man who was rich and owned a luxurious house. Unfortunately, he did not know how to live and socialize with people. The Wabena Ethnic Group around 1,322,000 people use this proverb.  This ethnic group is one of the Bantu Ethnic Groups in Tanzania. They like to live in the mountains and in places with rivers with a lot of water.  The Bena people use stories, dances, idioms, songs, games and various sayings in teaching, criticizing and educating the community, especially their younger generation.  Inyumba yinoga peyina vanu means (A house is beautiful if it has people) is one of the proverbs they use.

It happened that in their village of Navalonge Swela, there was a Mr. Nyongise, a rich man who built many housing estates. He had a large area, enough entertainment grounds and a place to raise animals. People really liked the houses and went to plan them so that they could live and others could do their business. However, unfortunately, people did not manage to live in those houses; they stayed for a short time and then left. No one could stay long. The houses remained empty, the locals were surprised and wanted to know what was going on.

Fortunately, when a tenant was going out, he passed by saying that this old man is disrespectful, very annoying and wants the tenants to live by doing what he wants. He is also a drunkard and a person who loves luxury so “we have decided to leave because we are afraid that his behaviour will destroy our children.”

After a while old Nyongise spent all his assets. He was left with nothing, he gave up and looked for a way to demolish his house and move to another area because he was ashamed in front of the villagers due to his pride.

Locals and well-wishers approached him, advised and encouraged him to stop his bad behaviour and cooperate well with others. The old man agreed and apologized, he promised to change his behaviour and that he would help the poor since he had a lot of wealth. He fulfilled his promise to help the poor.

Then the locals after seeing this said Inyumba yinoga peyina vanu that means A house is beautiful if it has people. This is how this proverb started and continues to be used until now.

This proverb is compared to many rich people who forget that their wealth comes from God, so when they have wealth they look down on others.  These people are the same as old Nyongise who abused them, despised them and refused to have a relationship because of his wealth. People laughed at them because in the end he ended up being poor like the others.

This proverb teaches to love, to care for all people and to respect them, whether they are rich or poor.

Biblical Parallels

Luke 14:23: “And the lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Isaiah 32:18: “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

2 Chronicles 8:2: “Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them.”

Deuteronomy 8.12, 14: “Look, when you have eaten and are full, and build a beautiful house and live in it, then your heart should not rise, and forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

This Bena Proverb encourages all people to keep and to maintain their good traditions. We need to build cooperation so that we can live as one family. That is why the Catholic Church today emphasizes the importance of participating in Small Christian Communities (SCCs). It is a good place to meet, teach and help each other. Children are helped to grow in good Christian traditions and customs. Let us work together as brothers and sisters.

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Text by:

Sister Felisia Mbifile, SCSF

Email: felisiambifile@gmail.com

1280. MBELE ILINAOKO UTIPAMA ISHIKE.

 

 

 

KISWAHILI: UKIWA NA WA KUKUONGOZA HUWEZI KUJIKWAA.

 

 

ENGLISH: IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE LEADING YOU, YOU CANNOT LOSE THE WAY.

 
 

 


Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

The Sukuma People, one among the ethnic groups found in Tanzania, use proverbs, sayings, songs and riddles to convey some important messages to a particular person or to a group of people in the community, depending on the certain circumstances.

In Tanzania there is very common Swahili proverb known as zimwi likujualo halikuli ukakwisha (a ghost that knows you cannot devour you completely). This proverb is well used to address people to live a suitable life in the community so as to keep the gift of fraternity alive because no one knows about tomorrow. Thus you can undermine someone today and tomorrow you go to seek for his or her help. This Swahili proverb made me to go to my Sukuma language to search for a similar proverb. When I asked, immediately my grandfather told me such a proverb in Sukuma known as mbele ilinaoko utipoma/utipama ishike (if you have someone leading  you, you cannot lose the way).

This Sukuma proverb shows the complexity of the Sukuma language and the difficulty of translation. First, both utipoma and utipama are used depending on what part of Sukumaland you are living in, for example, Mwanza or Nyalikungu. Second, there are three possible English translations:

The meaning of this proverb is: ON THE NECESSITY OF LEAVING A GOOD LEGACY.  When you are living somewhere, try to be nice to people because you never know what will happen in the future. If you are a parent leave a good legacy to your children. Such a legacy will help them build their daily activities and be trusted.

Biblical Parallels

John 14: 1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled. I will go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and I will take you to myself. That where I am you may also be.”

Romans 16: 1-2: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord as benefits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well.”

1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”

Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity!”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

We are living in intercultural societies, where we can help each other through sharing the core values found in our cultures. It our task today here and now to rediscover the treasure found in our cultures. Through them we can transfer a message or speech of many words in a single sentence that communicates the same thing that could be given in a long message. Thus this proverb can be a compendium for all of us to leave a life worthy for all called to be Christians. Leaving a legacy behind us makes us to be alive even in our absence.

Think of some of our legacies such as: Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the Founding President of Tanzania. Among Catholic Bishops Bishop Christopher Mwoleka, one of the Bishop Founders of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Eastern Africa. Among African theologians Father Laurenti Magesa. More recent legacies are the SCC Model of Church and the Synodal Process.

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Prepared by:

Rev. Deacon Paschal Mahalagu

Deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga

P.O Box 47

Shinyanga, Tanzania

Email: paschalmahalagu@gmail.com

Cellphone: +255755180893

Photographs by:

Rev. Zakaria Kashinje, OSA
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Cellphones:
+255-756-887787 Vodacom
+255-717-3337787 Tigo
+255-786-337787 Airtel
Email: zkashinje@gmail.com
zkashinje@yahoo.co.uk