Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo ilolile lupambala lo ng’wa munhu uyo opandaga ululeka. Ulupambala lunulo ludulile gwikola na lupambala lo ng’wa munhu ungi. Kuyiniyo lulu, ulu munhu wib’a jikolo adabhonilwe, bhadadulile ugundima kulwa lupambala lokwe duhu, mpaga bhamone bho miso gab’o. Iyiniyo igahayiyagwa ng’hanila yakwe. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘munhu adadimilagwa lupambala.’

Ulusumo lunulo lugalenganijiyagwa kubhanhu abho bhagabhadimaga na bhuhub’i abhichabho bho nduhu gwita b’ukengeji bho ng’hana, haho bhatali ugubhadima na bhuhub’i wenubho.

Abhanhu bhenabho bhagab’ibhonelaga abhichabho kunguno abhangi bhagatulagwa bhaminyiwa, na bhangi bhagatungagwa, aliyo bhadahubhile. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagab’awilaga abhanhu bhenabho giki, ‘munhu adadimilagwa Lupambala.’

Ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu  gwita bhukengeji bho nhana haho bhadina ndima munhu na b’uhubhi bhosebhose. Ubhukengeji bhunubho b’ugubhambilija bhanhu b’ingi kupila guminyiwa nulu gutungwa aliyo bhadahub’ile.

KISWAHILI: MTU HAKAMATWI KWA SABABU YA WAYO.

Chanzo cha methali hiyo chaangalia unyayo wa mtu aliouacha pale alipokuwa amekanyaga. Unyayo huo huweza kufanana na unyayo wa mtu mwingine. Kwa hiyo, mtu akiiba bila kuonwa na watu, hawawezi kumshika kwa kutumia unyayo tu, mpaka wamuone kwa macho yao. Huo huitwa ushukuda wa kweli. Ndiyo maana watu husema, ‘mtu hashikiwi kwa unyayo.’

Methali hiyo hulinganishwa kwa watu wale wawakamatao watu na makosa kabla ya kufanya utafiti wa kweli. Watu hao huwaonea watu kwa sababu wengine huumizwa kwa kupigwa na wengine hufungwa genezani wakati wahakutenda makosa hayo.  Ndiyo maana watu huwaambia watu kama hao kwamba, ‘mtu hashikiwi kwa unyayo.’

Methali hiyo hufundisha watu  kufanya utafiti wa kina kabla ya kumkamata mtu na kosa. Utafiti wa aina hiyo utawaepusha watu wengi kukamatwa bila kosa. Pia utawasaidia wakamataji katika kuwagundua wakosaji mapema na kuifurahia kazi yao hiyo ya kulinda usalama wa raia.

(Yohane 8:3-4).

ENGLISH: A PERSON IS NOT ARRESTED FOR A FOOTPRINT.

The origin of this saying is a footprint of a person who left it where he/she trampled. That footprint may be similar to someone else’s. Therefore, if someone steals something without being seen by eye witnesses, he/she cannot be held responsible because of the footprint. Eye witnessing would be the only true evidence to hold such a person responsible. That is why people say, ‘A person is not arrested for a footprint.’

The proverb is used comparatively to those people who accuse other people of wrongdoing before conducting investigation. The accused people are sometimes bullied; hurt by beatings and others are imprisoned while they had not committed the crimes they are accused to have committed. That is why people tell the bullies, ‘A person is not arrested for a footprint.’

The saying teaches people to do a thorough investigation before arresting a person as a criminal. Such an investigation may save many people from being arrested without having committed any crimes. It will also help arresters to discover the offenders early and to enjoy their responsibility of ensuring the safety of the citizens.

(John 8: 3-4)

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo ilolile ndili iyo igatumilagwa ahikanza lya gunjika munhu. Umimba go ng’wa munhu ng’wunuyo gugab’ungagwa mundili iyo agajikigwa nayo unjimiji ng’wunuyo. Gashinaga lulu indili yiniyo idiyagulalila bhanhu bhangi hangi. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘Ndili yamunga ng’wiyo nang’ho ushoke uilalile!’

Ulusumo lunulo lugayombagwa kuli munhu ngosha uyo ong’wingila nkima o nduguye. Abhamuludugu lo njimiji bhagikalaga bhamanile igiki umkima ng’wunuyo asadile isada iyo yamulaga ungoshi okwe. Gashinaga lulu ungosha ng’wunuyo ulu ung’wingila unke o njimiji, agucha nang’hwe, kunguno agulekejiwa ubhusadu bhunubho. Hunagwene, abhanhu bhagang’wilaga ungosha ng’wunuyo uyo ung’wingila unkima o njimiji giki, ‘‘Ndili ya munga ng’wiyo nhang’ho ushoke uilalile!’

Ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu  kuleka kajile kagubhingila abhanhu abho bhachilwa na bhagoshi bhabho. Ubhuleki bho kajile kenako bhugubhambilija abhanhu bhenabho ijinagwikala mhola na bhichab’o umuwikaji bhobho.

KISWAHILI: NGOZI ILIYOMFUNIKA MWENZAKO NAWE WARUDIJE KUILALIA!

Chanzo cha methali hii chaangalia ngozi ambayo hutumika katika kumfunika marehemu wakati wa kumzika. Mwili wa marehemu huwa unafunikwa kwa ngozi hiyo ambayo marehemu huzikwa nayo. Kumbe basi, ngozi hiyo siyo ya kutumika kwa mtu mwingine tena. Ndiyo maana watu husema kwamba, ‘Ngozi iliyoomfunika mwenzako na wewe urudi kuilalia!’

Methali hiyo huzungumzwa kwa mtu mwanaume aliyemrithi mjane ambaye ni mke wa marehemu ndugu yake. Wanandugu wa marehemu huyo, huwa wanafahamu kwamba mjane huyo anaugonjwa ambao ndio uliomuua marehemu mume wake mwanamke huyo.  Marehemu aliambukizwa ugonjwa huo na mke wake huyo. Ndiyo maana watu wakiwemo wanandugu wa mwanaume huyo humuonya mtu yule, kwa kumwambia kwamba, ‘Ngozi iliyoomfunika mwenzako na wewe urudi kuilalia!’

Methali hiyo hufundisha watu  kuacha mila za kurithi wajane ili waweze kutunza afya na maisha yao. Uachaji wa mila kama hizo potovu, kutawasaidia watu hao katika kubaki salama maishani mwao.

(Yeremia. 5:45)

ENGLISH: HOW DARE YOU SLEEP ON A HIDE THAT ONCE ENGULFED YOUR FELLOW HUMAN!

The origin of this saying is skin used to cover the deceased during burial. The body of the deceased is usually covered with a skin that is buried with the body. Therefore, the skin cannot be used by anyone else for whatever purposes. That is why people say, ‘How dare you sleep on a hide that once engulfed your fellow human!’

This saying is usually addressed as a warning to men who inherit widows who were wives to their late brothers. The deceased’s relatives who use the saying would be aware that the widow is suffering from an illness that killed their sister-in-law’s late husband and that the deceased contracted the disease from his wife. This would mean that anyone else who sleeps with the widow may contract the disease and may probably die. That is why the relatives of any man who thinks of inheriting a widow warn the man by saying, ‘How dare you sleep on a hide that once engulfed your fellow human!’

The proverb teaches people about giving up widowhood traditions so that they can take care of their health and life. Abandoning such degraded traditions will help people to stay safe in life.

(Jer. 5:45).

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo ilolile mongo. Umongo ugoguchala munhu gugab’izaga ntale. Igelelilwe gugogoha b’o guleka ugugukila. Bhanhu b’ayomba, ‘ubhugota bho mongo gushoka.’ Gunguno ugunuyo gugabhulagaga bhanhu. Aliyo lulu umongo ulu guligugehu gudadulile kuchala munhu. Ugunuyo hu mongo ugomujing’ongwa. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘Mongo go mushing’ongwa gudupula munhu.’

Ulusumo lunulo lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo agogohaga mhayo gudololo uyo gudadulile nulu gutungisha munhu. Umunhu ng’unuyo agabhigazaga adina wiyab’i umukikalile kakwe. Alina bhob’a bhutale ubho guyomba nulu gwita mhayo gosegose uyo gudulile gung’wambilija uguyib’eja chiza ikaya yakwe. Hunagwene abhanhu b’agang’wilaga giki, ‘‘Mongo go mushing’ongwa gudupula munhu.’

Ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu  ghub’iza na bhumani b’o gulenganija mihayo na guideb’a iyagutumamila haho b’atali ugukeleja. Ubhumani bhunubho bhugubhambilija abhanhu bhenabho ijinaguitumama wangu imilimo iyo idulile gujambilija chiza ikaya jabho.

KISWAHILI: MTO UNAOISHIA KWENYE VIFUNDO VYA MIGUU HAUSOMBI MTU.

Chanzo cha methali hii chaangalia mto. Mto wa kumsomba mtu huwa mkubwa. Yafaa kuuogopa mto kama huo kwa kuacha kuuvuka, kwa vile watu husema, ‘dawa ya mto ni kurudi.’ Hii ni kwa sababu mto huo huua watu wauvukao. Hata hivyo, mto ukiwa mdogo hauwezi kumsomba mtu. Huo ndio mto wa kufikia miguuni tu. Ndiyo maana watu husema, ‘mto wa miguuni haupeleki mtu.’

Methali hiyo hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule aogopaye jambo au neno dogo ambalo haliwezi kumsababishia kufungwa gerezani. Mtu huyo huwa hana uhuru wa kufanya kazi ziletazo maendeleo maishani mwake. Ana uoga mkubwa wa kuongea au kutekeleza jambo lolote lile litakiwalo kutekelezwa naye. Ndiyo maana watu humwambia kuwa, ‘mto wa kwenye vifundo vya miguu hausombi mtu.’

Methali hiyo hufundisha watu  kuwa na uelewa wa kupima mambo na kuyaelewa mapema yale yatakiwayo kuyatekelezwa kwa haraka kabla hawajachelewa. Uelewa huo utawasaidia katika kuyatekeleza mapema malengo ya kazi zile ziwezazo kuwasaidia wao na familia zao kwa muda mwafaka.

(Luka 13:2-5).

ENGLISH: AN ANKLE-DEEP RIVER DOES NOT DROWN A PERSON.

The origin of this proverb is a river. For the river to drown someone, it has to be relatively deep. It is better to be cautious of such a river; if not necessary, one should avoid crossing it. As people say, ‘the best solution to a flooded river is to avoid crossing it.’ This is because flooded rivers usually drown crossing people. However, when a river is shallow, it can probable not drown anyone. That shallow river is similar to the anke-deep river. That is why people say, ‘An ankle-deep river does not drown a person.’

The proverb is used for encouraging people who are always scared ofsmall things or issues that cannot lead to their imprisonment. Such people are not free to work for their personal achievement in life. They are very timid to say or do anything that they have to do. That is why people encourage them by saying, ‘ An ankle-deep river does not drown a person.’

The proverb teaches people to have a sense of measuring things and to understand in advance what needs to be done quickly before it is too late. This understanding would help them in early pursuit of their career goals that will help them and their families in a timely manner.

(Luke 13: 2-5).