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.

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

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

Kale walaliho munhu wali bhunwani na kanoni. Bhigunanaga bhuli ng’wene ulu wapandika makoye. Sha lushiku lumo akanoni kayelaga hihi na nyanza, umu nyanza ng’wenumo yikalaga mo Nzoka nhale gete. Umu nomo gwayo yiliniwe isoga no lya mpango ntale (lilunasi).

Lushiku lumo Nzoka yeniyo yufumila hanze kudima, aliyo ulu ilihaya kudima, mpaga iliswe tame iliwe lyenilo. Ulu shiku lwenulo aho yalifa, gashi akanoni kali hihi haho, kulisola, kulala nalyo mpaga kuli nwani wago umunhu.

Hambunu aho kashika ho kung’wila giki, “Nwani wane nakutogilwe no, jiji ginhu nagwenhela jagukulang`hana mu bhupanga bhoko., Nulu mubhulamu bhoko. Aliyo nalikuwila giki bhiya ukujileka, ulu shiku lwene wajilekaga jigujimila, utalajibhona hangi mpaga gucha gwako.” Sha lushiku lumo, wayelaga ubhunwa kwibala, uhaya giki, “Kinu jane jeniji jisoga no natuganyaga najo.” Ujisweng’ha hakasaga. Aha alijisweng’ha kang`wilolelaga akanwani kiye akanoni.

Huna lulu aho wakitunda kunya kiza akanoni kulisola iliwe lyenilo. Aha wakiza ho, usanga lilinduhu. Kung’wila akanoni giki, “Ambu inakuwila yaya ukulekana nalyo. Ni bhuli iwalekana nalyo lulu. Lili nalisolaga, aliyo utulipandika.” Kulala na kulala akanoni kuja. Wandya gukapelela atakapandikile. Munhu ng’Wenuyo akabiza na makoye no mpaga gucha gwakwe.

Kiswahili: Mtu Urafiki Na Ndege

Zamani alikuwepo mtu aliyekuwa na urafiki na ndege. Walikuwa wakisaidiana kila mmoja anapopata matatizo. Siku moja ndege alikuwa akitembea karibu na bahari. Kwenye bahari hiyo aliwemo nyoka mkubwa kabisa. Mdomoni mwa yule nyoka lilikuwepo jiwe la thamani kubwa (almasi).

Siku moja joka hilo lilikaa nje ya maji kutafuta chakula, lakini kila lilipotaka kula lilikuwa linaitema kwanza ile almasi. Siku hiyo alipoitema hiyo almasi, kumbe kandege kalikuwa karibu yake, kakaichukua kakaruka nayo mpaka kwa rafiki yake mtu.

Ndipo kalipofika pale, kalimwambia, “rafiki yangu nakupenda mno, hiki kitu nimekuletea chakukukulinda kwenye uhai wako, au maishani mwako.

Lakini nakuambia kwamba, “hapana kukiacha, siku ile utakapo kiacha kitapotea, hutakiona tena mpaka kufa kwako.”

Siku moja alikuwa akitembea alibanwa haja, akasema hivi: “kitu changu hiki kizuri sinyi nacho.” Akaipachika kwenye kichaka. Alikuwa akikipachika, karafiki kake kale ka ndege, kalikuwa kakimwangalia.

Ndipo basi alipochuchumaa kunya kakaja kale kandege kakalichukua lile jiwe. Alipofika pale hakulikuta. Kakamwambia hivi: “Si nilikuambia hapana kuachana nayo. Kwa nini uliachana nayo basi?

Hili nimelichukua, lakini hutalipata.” Basi, kakaruka na kuruka kale kandege. Akaanza kukakimbilia lakini hakukapata. Mtu huyo akawa na matatizo mno mpaka kufa kwake.

ENGLISH: A PERSON IN FRIENDSHIP WITH A BIRD

In the past there was a man who had friendship with bird. They were helping each other when they got into trouble. One day a bird was walking by the sea. There was a huge snake on the sea. In the mouth of the serpent there was a great stone (diamond).

One day the dragon slept out of the water for a meal, but every time it wanted to eat was putting aside first the diamond. That day when it did so to that diamond, though a bird was around it, the gird took the diamond up to its friend.

When it cames there, it says, “My friend I love you so much, I has brought you this thing something to keep you in your life.

But I tell you, “you will not leave it, that day when you leave, it will get lost, and you will not see it again until your death.”

One day he was walking in need, saying: “This nice thing I do not have.” He hung it on the bush. He was impaled, his oldest bird, was watching him.

And then just overcasting the coach before the bird took that stone. When he got there he did not find it. “I did not tell you,” It told him. “Why did you just leave it?”

This I have taken, but you will not get it. “So jump and jump the old lane. He started to run but did not get it. The man became so troubled that he died.

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

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

Jimala bhupambo – Dede

Pambo na Wilu – Dede

Shingilima, shingilima ndala migunda Dede

Ndala migunda shenene jabhita ibhili Dede

Jabhita ibhili jijile mangaliginja – Dede

Mangaliginja ngoko yalema kubhicha – Dede

Yalema kubhicha, ibhikije ng’wa nyamhanu – Dede

Ng’wa nyamhanu, mhanu mhanukile kunu – Dede

Mhanukile kunu wize umanga – Dede

Akudukile jaso na noko – Dede

Nyanyi gangi yanya dufulo fulo – Dede

Dufulo fulo dongoma nkima Wa bashi – Dede

Nkima wa bashi waja wigonda Dede

Wigonda Sala yita mabhele Dede

Waliho nkima umo walinda, uja kujukanza myenda yakwe hllambo. Wakahayimanila lyamila ililambo lyenilo.aliyo akabhiza alimpanga duhu umugati yilambo.

Gubhiza nzengo gwakwee mo. Iki wali nda akabyala bhana bhabhili bha mabasa, bha Kulwa na Doto. Bhukulila nabho nu ng’wilambo lyenilo bhubhiza bhaniki bha jaluko.

Lushiku lumo bhakafumila nuninabho gukanza myenda yabho. Bhahayimanila gashika mang’ong’oli abhili. Gandya kwimba lyimbo; “Ng’ong’o1i wane udoto jiwangala tukila manyanza, doto jiwangala hiiii!!

Abhaniki aho bhigwa chene bhulibhila ng’wilambo. Wakanoga umayu ng`wenuyo ubhonwa na bhaduguye. Bhunjila kung`wenha kaya. Gaganoga giza hangi amang’ong’oli giza gimba ilyimbo lyago. Ng’ong’o1i wane udoto. Bhupela mukaya bhuyunseka abhiye alihaya kutolwa na ling’ong’oli.

Bhaki manila lushiku lumo giza mang’ong’oIi mingi kwiza kununja ung’waniki udoto. Ubhi watolwa udoto na ling’ong’oli. Ibhujiku Wigaluchaga wabhiza munhu ili mi ng’ong’oli.

Kulushiku lumo, akadoto gukapemba amabhoya gakwe bhujiku. Aha gabhaka jufuma mo ng’ombe, mbuli, ngholo na bhanhu bhingi gete. Gashinaga ing’ong’oli yeniyo yali iti noni. Wali munhu, niyo wali nsabhi na walina bhana bhingi. Bhakigasha nunke na bhanhu bhabho na mitugo jabho. Bhakigala mubhuyegi bhutale.

Kiswahili: Kimaliza Mapambo- Dede

Kimaliza mapambo- Dede

Pambo na wivu – Dede

Shujaa, shujaa, ndala mashamba- Dede

Ndala mashamba senene zimepita mbili- Dede

Zimepita mbili zikienda Mangaliginja – Dede

Mangaliginja kuku aliyekataa kuatamia- Dede

Aliyekataa kuatamia, akiwa amewekeza kwa Nyamhanu- Dede

Kwa nyamhanu, mhanu aliyejiandaa huku- Dede

Aliyejiandaa huku aje mganga – Dede

Aliyekutukana za babako na mamako – Dede

Iliyokunya tena imekunya tupovu povu – Dede

Tupovu povu tumemgonga mwanamke wa bashi – Dede

Mwanamke wa bashi ameenda akiwa amejikunja – Dede

Amejikunja suala akamwaga maziwa – Dede

Alikuwepo mwanamke mmoja wa walinda, akaenda kufua nguo zake kwenye dimbwi. Alishitukia likammeza lile dimbwi. Lakini alibakia kuwa mzima tu ndani ya dimbwi hilo.

Ikawa ndiyo sehemu yake ya kuishi ndani ya dimbwi hilo. Kwa vile alikuwa mjamzito, alijifungua watoto wawili mapacha, Kulwa na Doto. Walikulia nao ndani ya dimbwi hilo wakawa wasichana waliofikia umri wa kuolewa.

Siku moja walitokea nje kufua nguo pamoja na mama yao. Walishitukia wakafika ng’ong’oli wawili. Wakaanza kuimba wimbo: “Ng’ong’oli wangu doto kibeba tukavuka mabahari, doto kibeba hiiiiii!!”

Wasichana waliposikia hivyo, walididimia kwenye dimbwi. Mwishoe mama yule akaonwa na ndugu zake. Wakamwendea wakamleta nyumbani.

Baadaye wakaja tena wale ng’ong’oli wakaja kuimba tena wimbo wao. “Ng’ong’oli wangu doto…” Wakakimbia ndani, wakawa wanamcheka wenzake, kuwa, anataka kuolewa na ling’ong’oli.

Walishitukia yakaja mang’ong’oli mengi kuja kumchumbia doto. Akawa doto ameolewa na ling’ong’oli (ni aina ya ndege). Usiku alikuwa anajigeuza kuwa binadamu, mchana, aligeuka kuwa ng’ong’oli.

Siku moja kadoto kakayachoma manyoa yake usiku. Yalipowaka yale manyoa walitoka humo ng’ombe, mbuzi, kondoo, na watu wengi kabisa.

Kumbe ng’ong’oli huyo hakuwa ndege. Alikuwa mtu, tena alikuwa tajiri na alikuwa na watoto wengi. Walikaa na mke wake na watu wao na mifugo yao. Waliishi maisha yenye furaha kubwa.

ENGLISH: FINISHER DECORATIONS- DEDE

Finisher decorations – Dede

Beautification and jealousy – Dede

Hero, hero, finisher of farms- Dede

Finisher of farms two grasshoppers have passed- Dede

Two of them have passed to Mangaliginja – Dede

Mangaliginja where hen refused to take care of her eggs-  Dede

The one who refused to care of her aggs, while invested to Nyamhanu – Dede

To nyamhanu, who has prepared himself- Dede

The one has prepared himself to come with a doctor- Dede

The one who met with your father and mother – Dede

One which ficored has ficored again soft ficore foam foam – Dede

Foam has hit a woman of Bashi- Dede

The woman of Bashi has gone away and while been bending – Dede

She has bent susala has poured milk – Dede

There was a woman in the guard, and she went to wash her clothes in the pool. She happened to be swallowed up the pool. But she remained alive just in the pool.

It became her place of living in that pool. Because she was pregnant, she gave birth to twins, Kulwa and Doto. They grew up as girls to an age of marriage in the pool.

One day they came out to wash dresses with their mother. Suddenly two birds of red heads came to them. They began to sing: “My ng’ong’oli (crane) Doto, the carrier, we shall crose up on the ocean, Doto the carrier hiiiii!!”

When the girls heard about it, they slipped into the pool. Lastly the mother was seen by her relatives. They went to her and brought her home.

Later those cranes came back and sang their song again. “My Ng’ong’oli Doto…” They run away, and they laugh at her fellows, that, she wants to get married with a ng’ong’oli.

They suddenly came many ng’ong’oli to engage Doto. She became married to Ng’ong’oli (crane bird). The night he was transformed into being a man, at noon, turned into a ng’ong’oli (bird).

One day Dodo burned his feathers at night. As soon as the furnace came out, cattle, goats, sheep, and many people came out of it.

Nonetheless the ng’ong’oli was not a bird. He was a man, and he was rich and had many children. They stayed with his wife and their people and their livestock. They lived a happy life.