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

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

Waliho Ntemi walazenganilwe na kahabhi. Huna lulu kahabhi kenako kali katolile nkima wawiza nginu. Huna lulu Ntemi wigonga kuntaja nkima uyo. Aling’wila giki, “Tukabhanage nakwinhe unke wane, nang’ho uninhe nke wako.”

Bhizunilija bhose, aho wiza kuntola nkima ng’wenuyo ugakonda no, nu nkima uyo kantolaga akahabhi ugina no. Huna lulu Ntemi umuja ng’habhi, “Kunguno ki nkima hali nene wali wabhubhi aliyo hali bhebhe wabhela?”

Ng’habi ung’wila Ntemi, “Nishage nyama ya lulimi.” Huna lulu Ntemi wandya kuyusinza mang’ombe, wanzugila nke malulimi aliyo nahene ongeja gukonda.

Nose Ntemi ung’wila ng’habhi, “Litwalage like lyako, nshoshage nke wane.” Aha wiza kunshosha shiku ikumi atajimalile wandya hangi gukonda.

Uyo wanshosha kuli ng’habhi wandya hangi kugina. Nose Ntemi usaya ukang’wila giki, “Ulu utaniwilile ishikaginyaga bhakima ndi kubhulaga.”

Kahabhi kung’wila, “Unene nakakuwilaga ulang’winhage nyama ya lulimi, kwene kuhaya giki, lekaga kunduka nke wako, unomela mihayo ya nyafulafula.” Aho oya kudukwa na wandya kuhoyelwa chiza wandya na kugina.

Kiswahili: Ulimi Hutengeneza Mji

Alikuwepo Mtemi aliyeishi jirani na Maskini. Yule masikini alikuwa ameoa mwanamke mzuri sana na mnene. Basi Mtemi alitaka kumnyang’anya mwanamke, yule maskini. Alimwambia kwamba, ‘Tubadilishane nikupe mke wangu nawe unipe mke wako.’

Walikubaliana wote, alipokuja kumuoa mwanamke huyo alikonda mno. Na mwanamke yule aliyeolewa na yule maskini alinenepa mno. Basi Mtemi akamuuliza yule maskini, ‘Kwa sababu gani mwanamke kwangu alikonda na kwako amekuwa mzuri?’

Maskini alimwambia Mtemi, “Mlishe nyama ya ulimi.” Basi Mtemi akaanza kuchinja ng’ombe, na kumpikia mke wake huyo nyama ya ulimi, lakini aliongeza kukonda.

Mwisho Mtemi alimwambia maskini, “Chukua mke wako, mrudishe mke wangu. Alipomrudisha hakumaliza siku kumi akaanza tena kukonda.

Aliyemrudisha kwa maskini akaanza kunenepa tena. Safari hii Mtemi alikasirika, akamwambia hivi, “Kama huniambii kile kinachonenepesha wanawake, nakuua.”

Kamasikini kakamwambia, “Mimi huwa nakuambia umlishe nyama ya ulimi, ndiyo kusema, acha kumtukana, au kumfokea mke wako, umwambie maneno ya kumfurahisha.” Alipoachwa kutukanwa, akaanza kuelezwa maneno mazuri,  na akaanza kuongeleshwa maneno mazuri, alianza na kunenepa.

ENGLISH: TONGUE BUILDS A FAMILY

There was a king living next to the poor. The poor had married a beautiful and a fat woman. So the king wanted to take the woman of the poor one. The poor told the king, ‘Let us exchange wives. I give you my wife to and you give me yours.

They both agreed. A few days later, the newly gotten woman started getting thin. At the same time,the woman who had been married to the poor was becoming fatter and fatter. So the king asked the poor, “Why did the woman become thin after you gave her to me? I rember she was beautiful the time you gave her to me.”

Then the poor man said, “Feed her the tongue as meat.” So the king began to slaughter calves, and to cook for his wife the meat from the tongue. The more he did that, the thinner the wife became.

Finally, the king told the poor, “Take your wife and bring back my wife.”The returned wife started thinning within ten days.The one who had been brought back to the poor began to get fatan gain. This time the king got angry, and said to the poor, “If you don’t tell me what makes women fat, I kill you.”

In response, the poor said to him, “I told you to feed the meat of the tongue.That is to say talk to them sweet words. You should  say words that will make your wife happy.Tell her something to please her.” When the king’s wife was not abused, she began to become fat. The king had at last discovered the secret.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu
With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Nchilu ogusamba bhiloleji uleka abhabhini. Oliho ngosha umo olagijaga mbina ha ng’wakwe. Ulubhandya ugubhina, osola jisambo obhinha abhanhu abhobhizaga gwilolela, oleka abho bhagubhinaga.

Ugwene guhaya giki, ulu namugi agamalilaga sabho jakwe kuwalwa nulu kubhashimbe, agusambaga bhiloleji.

Kiswahili: Mwenye Hasira Huzawadia Watazamaji Anaacha Wachezaji

Mwenye asira huzawadia watazamaji na kuwaacha wachezaji. Alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja aliyekuwa anaagiza ngoma kwake. Wakiaanza kucheza alichukua zawadi anawapa watu waliokwenda kutazama, aliacha waliokuwa wanacheza.

Ndiyo kusema kwamba, kama mwenye nyumba anamalizia pesa zake kwenye pombe au kwa wanawake, anazawadia watazamaji.

ENGLISH: A STUPID MAN REWARDS VIEWERS RATHER THAN DANCERS

There once lived a man who one day invited different groups of dancers to his house. After the dancers had started dancing, he gave gifts to the viewers who had come to watch them dance, instead of giving them to the dancers.

The moral of this tale is that a man who wastes his money on alcohol or women rewards viewers rather than dancers.

 

 

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

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

Lushiku lumo Lung’wando akawilwa na Mulungu, “Bhebhe ng’wana Kang’wa, ukafule mhembe ya kugabhanha mikila bhana ndimu. Jilalikage pye indimu ujiwile jize kugabhanha mikila.” Nguno shiku jenijo ndimu pye jali jitina mikila. Huna lulu ng’wana Kang’wa akafula mhembe umo akawililwa na Mulungu.

Aho wela ndimu jandya kwiza aho jitanilagwa. Aliyo ndimu imo Mhimbi yubhiza itujaga. Ulu bhabhita bhiye bhajile bhamuja giki, “Bhuli ubhebhe utujaga kujusola mikila?” Nang’hwe uhaya giki, “Tongagi duhu aying’we, unene nakwiza hanuma, nguno ngabhi nu mami (ja ng’wa mami najo jane) Nakwisanga duhu natulilagwa.”

Bhamanuja cheniko, bhaja bhakashoka na mikila. Kushika Mhindi muna Mhimbi ubhuka ajile. Aho washika ko unsanga ng’wana Kang’wa mamiye uhaya, “Mami, ninhage nu nene unkila nizila.” Mamiye uhaya giki, “Yashilaga imikila ng’wipwa wane, nu nene nendulebhela, nasolaga kadololo duhu.” Mhimbi wandya kulila ucha soni upela ku mapilinga. Kushika lelo Mhimbi akikalaga ku mapilinga wibhisabhisaga, ogoha kwisanja na bhiye angu akusekwa iki atina nkila.

Kiswahili: Sungura Na Pimbi

Siku moja Sungura aliambiwa na Mungu, “Wewe Ng’wana Kang’wa, kapulize filimbi ya kugawana mikia wanyama pori. Waalike wanyama pori wote waje kugawana mikia.”

Basi kwa hali hiyo Ng’wana Kang’wa alipuliza filimbi kama alivyoambiwa na Mungu. Hii ni kwa sababu siku hizo, wanyama pori hawakuwa na mikia.

Kesho yake wanyama pori walianza kwenda pale walipoalikwa. Lakini mnyama mmoja jina lake Pimbi hakuenda. Walipopita wenzake wakienda walimuuliza hivi, “Kwa nini wewe huendi kuchukua mikia?” “Ninyi Tangulieni tu mimi nitakuja baadaye, kwa sababu mgawaji ni mjomba wangu (mali ya mjomba nayo ni yangu) nitaikuta tu nimewekewa.”

Walikuwa wakienda hivyo, wanaenda na kurudi na mikia. Kufika jioni akaanza safari ya kwenda. Alipofika akamkuta mjomba wake Ng’wana Kang’wa, akasema “Mjomba, nipe na mimi mkia nimefata.”

Mjomba wake alisema hivi, “Imeisha mikia mpwa wangu, na mimi kidogo nikose, nimechukua kadogo tu.

Pimbi alianza kulia akaona aibu akakimbilia kwenye mawe. Mpaka leo Pimbi huwa anakuwa maporini kwenye mawe akijificha ficha. Alishaogopa kuchangamana na wenzake eti atachekwa kwa vile hana mkia.

ENGLISH: THE HARE AND THE HYRAX

One day, God said to the Hare, “Ng’wanaKang’wa (a nick name for the Hare) blow the whistle so that all wild animals can come here to get tails.”

Ng’wanaKang’wa did as God had told him. In those days animals did not have tails.

The next day nearly all wild animals went to the place where God wanted them to gather. But one animal called Pimbi (Hyrax) did not go. As the other animals passed by his place, some of them asked, “Why are you not going to the place where we’re going to get tails?”

“Just go. I’ll come later and get my tail,” he said. “The tail distributor is my uncle (my uncle’s property is mine, too). I’ll certainly get a tail.”

The other animals went and got the tails. In the evening, Pimbi went, too. When he arrived at the place, he said to Ng’wanaKang’wa, “Uncle, I came to get a tail. Please give me one.”

His uncle said, “My nephew, I’ve run out of tails.”

Pimbi began to cry. He was so embarrassed that he ran to the rocks. To date, Pimbi hides on the rocks. He doesn’t want to be close to other animals because he fears that they might laugh at him because he doesn’t have a tail.

 

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.