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 Jiji, wali nguhi no. Ubhuguhi wenubho bhukang’wenheleja kwitanwa Jiji (kanoni kado). Nose akabyala bhana bhingi bhali bha mimili mitale na bhalihu, huna lulu ulu bhitanwa bha ng’wa Jiji, bhabhi bhucha Soni.

Nose bhuhaya, hambu hambu tusame henaha. Namhala alitugola no, alituponda Soni. Bhusama na gusama. Aho bhasegendela bhukamanwa, bha ng’wa Jiji ng’washikile nanali ukunu?

Bhandya kwiwila, “Kunu twamanwa, tusamagi tujagi, bhongeja lugendo lwabho kuja ipande lingi. Bhahayushika nu kwene bhukamanwa, bha ng’wa Jiji ng’washikile nanali?” Nose bhiwila giki, bhagosha tushokagi kaya tulinoga dalali. Tuli bha ng’wa Jiji nulu tuje hali tuli bha ng’wa Jiji.

Kiswahili: Hata Uenda Wapi Ni Wa Jiji

Alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja jina lake aliitwa Jiji. Alikuwa mfupi mno. Ufupi huo ulimsababishia yeyé kuitwa Jiji (ka ndege kadogo).

Mwishowe alizaa watoto wengi wa miili mikubwa na warefu. Wakawa wanaitwa watoto wa jiji, nao walijisikia aibu.

Mwishowe wasema afadhali wahame hapo. “Mzee anatutunza mno, lakini anatuaibisha.” Walihama pale. Walipofika mbali walitambuliwa, na watu wakaauliza, “Wa Jiji mmefika lini huku?”

Wakaanza kuambiana, “Huku tumetambuliwa, tuhameni twendeni.” Wakaongeza mwendo wao kwenda upande mwingine. Walipofika na huko wakatambuliwa, “Wa Jiji mmefika lini?”

Mwishowe, wakaambiana hivi, “wanaume turudi nyumbani tunachoka bure. Sisi ni wa Jiji hata tuende wapi ni wa Jiji.”

WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU ARE OF JIJI

There was a man named Jiji. He was very short. His shortness made him to be called Jiji (a type of a small bird).

Eventually he gave birth to many children who were tall and had well-built bodies. These children were called sons of Jiji.They felt embarrassed because of their father’s height.

Finally, they decided to leave and move to somewhere else where no one knew them. “Our father takes care of us very well, but he shames us.” Then, they left the place. When they were far off, they were recognized, and the people asked, “When did you of Jiji arrive here?”

They began to say to one another, “We have been identified, let us move on. Let us go.” They went to the other side. When they got there, they were recognized, “Sons of Jiji when did you come here?”

Finally, they said to each other, “Men,let us go back home.We are tired. We are of Jiji.Wherever we go, we are of Jiji. ”

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

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

Bhaliho bhanhu bhabhili, uungi mboku uungi Jishegena bhalibhazengile jijiji jimo. Lushiku lumo bhumanyiwa guwinga nkilo ya mongo. Ubhuka gwandya ujishegena aho ogashika ha mongo usanga mongo ng’wingi gete uduma ugubhita alu winga bhononaga bhanhu bhalimba, bhaliyunja na jose jamalagagubhejiwa ijawiza.

Nyango guligulolelile guko ali jose jilinung’hila okalalagwa no. Ikanza ido ushiga nang’hwe umboku nu nang’ha gokwe. Jishegena umuja, “Ginehe nkoyi ujile he?” Mboku uhaya, “Namanyiwe guwinga niyo naliohagati gete unene, aliyo lulu mongo gokalaga gete nadum agukila nkilo, udiyigwaga iyombo nubhunung’hu bho shiliwa.

Mboku ushosha, “Naligwa noyi niyo.” Hanuma lulu dite ginehe dubhone gubhita duje uko jiza jili? Umboku ung’wila ujishegena giki, “Ubhebhe nkoyi ulina miso, lelo amagulu nduhu. Unene nane nalina magulu amiso nadinago.”

Nalulu nzugu nagusesele iki ubhebhe ulina miso, ugumanubhona aho hiza. Bhose bhizunilija, ujishegena useselwa nu mboku.
Ujishegena wandya ung’wila umboku bhitaga gumoso, imaga lyashiga isanzu, kajaga lizile igogo, uja nkono gonila. Bhanhu bhenabho bhukila mongo nabhuja kuwinga bhukalya malya chiza.

Kiswahili: Kiwete Na Kipofu

Kuliwepo na watu wawilli, mwingine kipofu na mwingine kiwete waliokuwa wakiishi kijiji kimoja. Siku moja waliaalikwa kwenda kwenye harusi ng’ambo ya mto.

Kiwete alikuwa wa kwanza kuianza safari, alipofika kwenye mto, alikuta mto una maji mengi kabisa akashindwa kupita. Wakati huo harusi ilikuwa imependeza sana, watu walikuwa wakiimba na kucheza vizuri, pia vyakula vizuri vilikuwa vimekwisha tengenezwa tayari.

Mlango ulikuwa umeangalia kule alikokuwa kiwete huyo, vyakula vyote vilikuwa vinamnukia na kumtamanisha mno. Kwa muda mfupi kipofu alifika naye akiwa na fimbo yake.

Kiwete alimuuliza, “Vipi rafiki unaenda wapi?” Kipofu alisema, “Nimealikwa kwenda kwenye harusi, tena mimi nilikuwa wa katikati kabisa, lakini mto umejaa kabisa nimeshindwa kuvuka ng’ambo, husikii kelele na kunukia kwa vyakula?”

Kipofu alijibu, “Nasikia tena sana.” Wakaulizana, “Sasa tufanye nini ili tupate kuvuka kwenda kule ambako vizuri vipo?” Kipofu alimwambia kiwete hivi, “Wewe rafiki una macho, lakini huna miguu. Mimi nami nina miguu lakini sina macho.”

“Basi njoo nikubebe mabegani kwa vile wewe una macho, utakuwa unaona pale ambapo ni pazuri.” Wote wakakubaliana, kiwete akabebwa mabegani na kipofu.

Kiwete alianza kumwambia kipofu “pita kushoto, simama kinakuja kichaka cha miiba, wahi linakula gogo, uende mkono wa kulia.” Watu hao walivuka mto na wakaenda kwenye harusi wakala vyakula vizuri.

ENGLISH: THE DISABLED AND THE BLIND

There were two people.One was blind and other was disabled.They lived in one village. One day, they were invited to go to the wedding ceremony on the other side of the river.

The disabled was the first to start the journey. When he got to the river, he found the river flooded. It had so much  water that he could not go. At that time, the wedding had reached a very interesting stage. People were singing and playing well.At that time, good and delicious food was already prepared.

The door of the house where the wedding was taking place was facing to the side where he was limping. A short time later,  the blind came at him with his stick.

The man with physical disability asked, “How is it my friend? The blind one said, “I was invited to go to the wedding, and I was to be a very important person, but because the river is flooded, I was not able to cross over. Poor us! Hear the noise and the smell of food!”

Then the two men asked each other, “Now what can we do to get across to the wedding?” The blind man said, “You friend have eyes, but you have no feet. I have legs but I have no eyes.Then come let me carry you on my shoulders because you have eyes, you will see where it is good.” They agreed.The crippled was carried on the shoulders of the blind.

Then the  crippled man took the lead. He could  tell the blind “Turnleft, stop the thorny bush is passing, hurry up, a logis coming, turn right.” Finally the two people crossed the river and got to the wedding party.

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

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

Aho kale waliho ngosha umo uyo o1ihang’wakwe weyi na nke na ng’wana wabho nyanda. Ngosha ng’wenuyo olina milimo ng’wanza mjini. Numba yabho yalinsumba gete mukaya, bholiho bhumeme chiza ng`hana.

Nkima alamanilile gufuma hanze makanza ga bhujiku bhuli lushiku aliyo aladabhachaga tala, ofumaga giti. Nose ngoshi agang’wila nke wane bhuli utogilwe gufuma hanze yaya gubhacha tala mkaya, udamanile giki bhupe ginhu jiza gete?
Mayu ng’wene aganshokeja ngoshi giki unene nabhiza ng’wenyeji noyi munumba yeniyi, nduhu aho najimililwe na hado. Nkima agakija gwigwa mihayo ya ngoshi. Agaduka alifuma gitumo amanililile.

Lushiku lumo ngosha aho alalile tulo nhale, nkima agafuma, gashi agana galimiso nago gika gunondeja uninago mumo giti mpaga ha nyango gudumagufuma hoi. Ninago aho ashogile mukaya aho oshiga hanyango ubhona ginhu jilisula hoi. Wibhuja ilelo yiyi, ngoshi wane waniwila ugubhacha tala aliyo nalema gwigwa lishinu ki ilyenili?

Ushogashoga ubhona ilang’ha ulisola na uja alikunga bhomakono abhili utula ahenaho na nguzu jose mpaga kabhili, ng’wana adalilile. Mayu ng’wene ubhita guja mkaya na gumisha ngoshi.
Haho adinabhacha bhumeme, ngosha aho wamishiwa, nke aling’wila, “Nene nali nkali gete nalinafumaga, aho nashogile nansanga muna shinu aho nyango nantula mpaga numulaga, bhachaga tala ugalole.”

Ngosha moyo guchenuka, ng’hana ubhacha wangu wangu, numba yela gete ufuma gushiga aho nyango unsanga ng’wana wakwe achile, ung’witana nkima nzugu ulole iyo obhejaga, unene naguwila giki ubhacha tala. Wabhona lulu, bhose bhandya kulila, ngosha umpeja nkima. Gashi ili chiza gutumila bhupe gukila giti.

Kiswahili: Mwanamume Alikuwa Na Mke Wake

Hapo zamani alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja ambaye alikuwa nyumbani kwake na mke na mtoto wao mvulana. Mwanamume huyo alikuwa na kazi Mwanza mjini. Nyumba yao ilikuwa nzuri kweli kwa ndani, ulikuwepo umeme mzuri kweli.

Mwanamke alikuwa amezoea kutoka nje wakati wa usiku kila siku lakini alikuwa hawashi taa, alikuwa na anatoka nje giza likiwepo. Mwishowe mme wake alimwambia, “mke wangu kwa nini unapenda kutoka nje bila kuwasha taa ndani, hujui kwamba weupe ni kitu kuzuri kabisa?

“Mimi nimekuwa mwenyeji mno kwenye nyumba hii, hakuna pale nilipopasahau hata kidogo.” Mwanamke aliacha kusikia maneno ya mme wake. Alibaki akiwa akitoka kama alivyozoea.

Siku moja wakati mwanamume akiwa amelala usingizi mzito, mwanamke alitoka, kumbe mtoto alikua macho, naye akashuka kumfuata mama kwa nyuma kwenye giza mpaka mlangoni akashindwa kutoka pale.

Mama yake alipofika mlangoni akiwa anarudi ndani aliona kitu kinachungulia pale. Akajiuliza, leo haya, “mme wangu aliniambia kuwasha taa lakini nilikataa kusikia lidudu gani hili?”

Alirudi nyumba akaona fimbo akachukua na kuja akinyemelea kwa mikono miwili akapiga hapo kwa nguvu zote mpaka mara mbili, mtoto hakulia. Mama huyo alipita kwenda ndani na kumuamsha mme wake.

Akiwa hajawasha umeme, mme wake alipoamshwa, mke wake alimwambia, “Mimi ni mkali kweli nilikuwa nimetoka, nilipokuwa narudi nimelikuta lidudu pale mlangoni nimelipiga mpaka nikaliua, washa taa ukaangalile.”

Mme wake moyo ukashituka, kweli akawasha taa haraka haraka, nyumba ikawa nyeupe kabisa, akatoka, alipofika pale mlangoni akamkuta mtoto wake akiwa amekufa, akamwita “mwanamke njoo uangalie ulichotengeneza, mimi nilikuambia kwamba uwe unawasha taa. Umeona sasa!!” Wote wakaanza kulia, mwanamume alimfukuza mwanamke. Kumbe ni vizuri kutumia weupe kuliko giza.

ENGLISH: THE MAN HAD HIS WIFE

In the past, there was a man who lived with his wife and a son. The man had a job in Mwanza city. Their house was really good inside, there was really good electricity.

The woman had been used to get out at night every day, but she did not put on lights, she had come out of the darkness to be there. Finally her husband said to her, “Why would my wife like to go out without  the lights on? Don’t you know that light is the most beautiful thing?”

“I am now very familiar in this house. I have never forgotten anything.” The woman could not heed the advice of her husband. She continued behaving as she was accustomed.

One day, when the man was in a deep sleep, the woman went out. As she did that, her child woke up. He came down to follow his mother in darkness. The child remained standing still near the door.

When his mother came to the door, she saw something looking at her.  She wondered what that was. Then she said, “What is that I am seeing again? My husband told me to switch on the lights but I refused to heed the advice?”

She looked around and saw the stick. She picked it and held it with both hands and bounced all the strength twice.The child did not cry. After hitting her own child unknowingly, the woman went to wake her her husband up.

 All this time, the woman had not switched on the lights. When her husband got up, his wife said to him, “I am so strong that I hit something and killed it as I met it on the way when I was coming back from outside.Switch on the lights.

After hearing that, her husband was shocked. He switched on the lights.All the house became bright. Then he went to the door and found his dead son. He called his wife“Woman come and look at what you have done. I have been repeatedly tellingyou to switch on the lights. Now see what you have done!”They both started crying.The man then warned, “It is is always important to remember that light is better than darkness.”