Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi munhu umo uyoagasumba lugendo lo gujugula bhasikeli ng’widuka lya Nyanga. Aho oshiga ukunuko agagula Bhasikeli. Hanuma ya henaho agagula na ginhu jinghi; Isandiko, miguto ya gwikumba idatu, supana ibhili ja ligogoteni lyakwe, supana ya gwegeleja, na supana nhale ya jijerumani.

Aho omala ugugula iginhi jose ijo, agagaiwa ubhusafiri ubhogushoka ikaya. Kulwa nguno ibhasi yaliyabhachala bhatuji bha mpila ku nkoa gungi.

Agiyangula gushoka kaya bho gutumila bhasikeli yakwe imhya. Makanza ga sa kenda ya limi agandya lugendo. Aho yashika saa ikumi na ibhili ya mhindi, agabhona giki niadadujije ugushika ikaya.

Agiyangula guja gujulala kulindugu okwe uyo uli bhukule bho kilomita makumi adatu. Gashinaga aho adinashiga ukulindugu okwe, agavamilwa na masambo adatu ayo galinajilanga ja aina nyingi. Amasambo gagantula noi na guntaja ibhasikeli ni lisandiko.

 Bahati ya wiza agafyaduka aho alina chupi na sokisi umumagulu, upela nhambo mpaga kuchalo jilebhe ijo agashiga koyi mu saa sita ya bhujiku, ugota moto uyo gulihanze ni numba.

Agiyangula gwingila mu jibhanda ijo jali ng’waje, aliyo adadulile ugulala kulwa nguno ya gwiigwa umili gulisata kulwa gutulwa na malonda ayogagenhelejiwa na majambazi.

Agakeyula wigashije na gwisendamija handugu. Oganoga wigwa jilaka ja bhanhu abhobhahayaga nabho gwiza ahenaho njini. Ahoobhasula, agabhabhona bhalina bhasikeli ni isandiko ijo jali sabho jakwe ijo gansojaga amasambo gene.

  Bhagapiga hodi mu imo ya numba jinijo. Lidakulile ikanza saabho omasambo gene ugalugulila unyango na gufuma hanze. Usaabho agabhabhuja, “Ee, ng’wapandika kiyi na kiyi?”

 Abhana bhagashosha, “Dapandika bhasikeli iyi mhya na ni sandiko ili.” “Ee, umugati ya lisandiko jilihoi kiyi?” Agabhuja usaabho. “Dudina likundula dutali,” abhana bhunshokeja usaabho.  Ibhasikeli na lisandiko linilo bhagajituula mu numba iyo yaliyagubhisila isabho jabho na gugulugala unyango bholigufuri.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo agadegeleka pye imihayo. Gung’wizila miganiko ga kuja gujulomba wambilijiwa kukaya ya ng’wa bhalozi. Aho oshiga akaya imo, bhagampinihalila, bhung’winha ng’wenda, surubhale na ngwanda na bhung’olekeja ukulibhalozi.

Aho oshika ahakaya ya ng’wa bhalozi, aganomela yose iyo yaliyampandika. Ubhalozi agayomba, “dujagi kujituo ja polisi, dugafunye mbhola.” Abhapolisi bhagawilwa nu ojikolo giki agatajiwa bhasikeli mhya ni sandiko. Hangi bhulomela iginhu jose ijobhajituula umugati ya lisandiko linilo. Agolekeja ulufungulo ni lisiti ya gugulila isabho jinijo.

Abhapolisi bhagasola loli na guja gujivamila ikaya iniyo. Aho bhashika ukunuko bhagagadima amasambo gene, saabho ni sabho jinijo ijawibhi. Bhagasombwa na guchalwa kujituo ja polisi gujandikisha na gulugulilwa bhushidakiwa. Aho bhashishiwa ahaibhanza, bhagalamulwa jifungo ja miaka itano mujela na milimo midimu.

KISWAHILI: MTU ALIYENUNUA BAISKELI

Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aliyefunga safari kwenda kununua baiskeli katika duka la Nyanga. Alipofika huko, alinunua baiskeli. Halafu akanunua vitu vingine; Sanduku, shuka tatu, spana mbili za mkokoteni wake, spana ya sogeza, spana kubwa kutoka Ujerumani.

Baada ya kumaliza kununua vitu hivyo vyote, alikosa usafiri wa kurudi nao nyumbani. Maana basi liliwapeleka wachezaji wa mpira katika mkoa mwingine. Akaamua kurudi nyumbani kwa kutumia baiskeli yake mpya.

Mnamo saa tisa alasiri, alianza safari. Ilipofika saa kumi na mbili ya jioni, aliona kuwa asingefaulu kufika nyumbani. Akaamua kwenda kulala kwa ndugu yake umbali wa kilometa thelathini.

Kumbe kabla hajafika nyumbani kwa ndugu yake, alivamiwa na majambazi watatu wakiwa na siraha mbalimbali. Majambazi walimpiga sana na kumnyang’anya baiskeli na sanduku.

Bahati nzuri alifyatuka akiwa na chupi na soksi miguuni, akakimbia mbio hadi kijiji fulani ambako alifika huko yapata saa sita usiku, akaota moto uliokuwa ukiwaka nje ya nyumba.

Aliamua kuingia kwenye kibanda kilichokuwa wazi, lakini hakuweza kulala kwa sababu ya maumivu ya kipigo na majeraha yaliyo yapata toka kwa majambazi.

Akakesha huku ameketi na kuegemea ukuta. Baadaye alisikia sauti za watu waliotarajia pia kuja hapo kijijini. Alipowachungulia, akawaona wana baiskeli na sanduku ambavyo ni mali ile ile waliyomnyang’anya majambazi.

Walibisha hodi kwenye moja ya nyumba zile. Mara baba yao hao majambazi alifungua mlango na kutoka nje. Baba akawauliza, “Je, mmepata nini na nini?” Watoto wakajibu, “Tumepata baiskeli hii mpya na sanduku hili.” “Je, ndani ya sanduku  kuna nini?” baba alidadisi. “Hatujalifungua bado,” watoto walimjibu baba yao. Baiskeli na lile sanduku wakahifadhi katika  nyumba maalumu ya kuficha mali zao na kuufunga mlango kwa kufuri.

Yule mtu alisikiliza mazungumzo yote. Yakamjia mawazo ya kwenda kuomba msaada nyumbani  kwa balozi. Alipofika kwenye nyumba moja, walimhurumia, wakampa nguo, suruali na shati na wakamwonesha nyumbani  kwa balozi. Alipofika nyumbani kwa balozi, alimweleza yote yaliyompata. Balozi akasema, “Twende kituo cha polisi, tukatoe taarifa.” Polisi walielezwa na mwenye mali kuwa alinyang’anywa baiskeli mpya na sanduku. Pia alifafanua vitu vyote alivyoviweka ndani ya sanduku hilo. Akaonesha funguo na risiti ya kununulia mali zile.

Polisi walichukua gari na kwenda kuuvamia mji ule. Walipofika huko wakawakamata wale majambazi, baba na zile mali za wizi. Walichukuliwa na kupelekwa kituo cha polisi kuandikisha na kufunguliwa mashitaka. Baadaye walipofikishwa mahakamani, walihukumiwa kifungo cha miaka mitano jela na kazi ngumu.

ENGLISH: THE MAN WHO BOUGHT A BICYCLE

There was a man who went on a trip to buy a bicycle in Nyanga. When he got there, he bought a bicycle. Then he bought some other things including a box, three bed sheets, two spanners for his cart, adjustable spanner and a vice from Germany.

After finishing buying all these items, he missed the transport back home. The car that was depended on had sent football players to another region. He decided to go home using his new bike.

At three o’clock, he began his journey. When it was six o’clock in the evening, he realized that he could not get home. He decided to go to sleep to his relatives about thirty kilometers away.

Before he came to his relatives’ house, he was attacked by three robbers who had various weapons. The robbers beat him up and took from him the bike and the box.

Fortunately, he escaped them in his the underwear and socks on his feet. He ran to a village where he arrived at about twelve o’clock midnight. He started warming himself at the fire that had been left burning outside the house.

He decided to go into an open hut. But he could not sleep because of the pain sustained from the blows and injuries caused by those robbers.

He spent the night sitting and leaning against the wall of that hut he had encroached. Later, he heard the voices the people who were also   coming to that village. When he looked at them, he saw the people with the bicycle and the box. They were the same properties they had robbed him.

They knocked at one of those houses. Their father opened the door and they entered. Their father asked, “What have you got today?” They replied, “We have found this new bike and this box.” “What is in the box?”, their father asked.They said, “We haven’t opened it yet. The bicycle and the box were kept in a special house. To hide their properties they shut the door with a lock.

The man listened to all the conversations very carefully. He got the idea of ​​ asking for help from the ten-cell leader. When the man came to one house, they felt sorry for him and  gave him clothes, pants and a shirt and showed him the home of the the ten-cell leader. When he came to the the home of the ten-cell leader, he told him all that had happened to him. The ten-cell leader said, “Let us go to the police station and report the matter.” The police were told.The property owner said that he was robbed a new bike and a box. He also mentioned all the things he had put in the box. He showed the keys and the receipt for the purchase.

The police took the car and went to arrest the robbers. When they arrived, they arrested the robbers, the father and the property of theft. They were taken to the police station to register and later they were prosecuted. Finally, when they were brought to court, they were sentenced five years in prison and hard work.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi ng’walimu o dini ya kanisa katoliki, katekista, o Sanungu, ilina lyakwe Sebastiani. Aho adinabhatijiwa oliadazunije igiki bhulihoi bhupanga bho bhulunga kele. Oliazunije giki duhui bhulihoi bhupanga bho mili duhui. Ulufu lulingelelo ya wikaji. Jilinduhui ginhu jinghi aha baada lufu.

Ighinhu ija dini jili ja bhuhala duhui, gitumo Maduhu, agayombela, “Ighinhu ijasolobho jili ng’ombe, bhutale, walwa, gupona bhusiga, gubyala bhana.”

 Bhanoga abha badri bhuzenga jigango umu chalo ijo wikalaga uSebastiani na bhuntuma ng’walimu o dini, katekista moi. Nalulu aho ukatekista agulangaga higulya ya dini, USebastiani adamanile nulu hadoo, aliyo ubhulingisilo bhokwe yali gwilanga gusoma duhui.

 Mieji mingi igabhita, umhayo go ng’wa Mulungu gugandya gwingila mumoyo gokwe. Uwiza bho ng’wa Mulungu, isungu lwakwe, nu bhutengeke bhokwe, agandya gubhudebha.

Huna USebastiani agandya gumana iki bhulihoi bhupanga bhunghi ubho bhudashilaga, ubho bhudina nhalikilo. Ubhupanga bhunubho alidinha Mulungu ku nzila ya ng’wa Sebha wise Yesu Kristo.

Ubhulangwa bhunubhu bhuganyeja noi. Bhugingila mugati ya moyo gokwe gete. Ubhulondeja kubhulingisilo bhumo ubhushikanile, mpaga ubhiza ng’walimu o dini, nulu Katekista.

 KISWAHILI: KATEKISTA SEBASTIANI

Alikuwepo katekista mmoja wa Sanungu, jina lake Sebastiani. Kabla ya kubatizwa hakuwa na uhakika hata kidogo kwamba kuna uzima wa milele. Aliamini kuwa kuna uzima wa mwili tu, na kifo ni mwisho wa maisha. Hakuna kitu kingine baada ya kifo.

Mambo ya dini ni upuuzi tu, kama alivyosema Maduhu, “mambo ya maana ni ng’ombe, cheo madaraka, pombe, kupona busiga kubyala bana.”

Baadaye, mapadri walijenga kigango katika kijiji alichoishi Sebastiani na wakamtuma katekista. Basi katekista alipokuwa  akifundisha mambo ya dini, Sebastiani hakuelewa hata kidogo, ila akawa na nia ya kujifunza kusoma tu.

Miezi mingi ilipopita, Neno la Mungu lilianza kuingia moyoni  mwake, akauelewa wema wa Mungu, huruma yake, na haki yake.

Ndipo Sebastiani akaanza kufahamu kwamba kuna uzima mwingine ambao hauishi (haumaliziki, hauna mwisho, hauna kikomo.) Anatupa Mungu kwa njia ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.

Mafundisho haya yalimfurahisha mno, yakaingia ndani ya moyo wake kabisa. Akayafuata kwa nia moja thabiti, hata akawa katekista.

 

ENGLISH: SEBASTIAN, THE CATECHIST

There was one of the Sanungu catechists, named Sebastian. Before he was baptized, he did not believe that there was eternal life. He believed that there was only a physical life, and that death was the end of life. There was nothing else after death.

Religious things for him were just nonsense, as Maduhu once said, ” Things that are important are  power, position, alcohol, and bearing children.”

Later, the priests built an outstation of the church in the village where Sebastian lived. The church sent a catechist there. So, when the catechist taught religious matters, Sebastian did not understand at all, but he was only interested in learning how to read and write.

As months passed, the word of God began to enter the heart of Sebastian. He understood the goodness of God, His mercy, and His grace.

Then, Sebastian slowly began to realize that there is life that does not get finished (the endless life, eternal life). Moreover, he realized that God gives it to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

These teachings made him so happy. They entered his heart and mind. He followed them whole heartedly. He even became a catechist.

 

 

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi munhu umo ilina lyakwe Matayo uyowikalaga Bhulaya. Olina miaka ikumi ni bhili. Agandya gutumama nimo ng’widuka go gujinja walwa. Ahenaho agilanga gung’wa walwa haho adinashisha imiaka ikumi ni tandatu.

Agabhiza ng’wi nkomezu o walwa. Makanza gose agaigela alinanota ya gung’wa walwa. Giko bhuli makanza agabhiza agucholaga gubhiza na hela. Agajijinja ijilatu jakwe kugiki apandike hela ja gung’wela walwa. Uwikaji bhokwe bhugabhiza walwa duhu.

Ginhu jimo jigilonga aho olinamiaka makumi abhili na nhinane. Agabhiza adina sentí nulu ndoo. Agayulindila hanze ya jilabhu agwilombelejaga hela kubhanwani bhakwe bhangulile walwa.

Aliyohei, bhagalema na gunsega. Agajinjimala. Ginhu jinijo jigaminya noi bhiganika umung’holo, “gashi unene nadinabhanwani. Unwani one ali Mulungu duhu, atiho ungi.”

Gwandija lushugu lunulo agiyangula kumshokela Mulungu na gulumbwa ishibhi yakwe aliyomba, “Mulungu one, Mulungu unene nina shibhi, uludanambilijije nadudula uguleka ugung’wa uwalwa, ehe b’ab’a unambilije umubhulebhu bhone unikulilwe.”

Kunguzu ja ng’wa Mulungu umatayo agadula ugubhuleka uwalwa gete. Aliyo umhayo gunuyo goligudigunogu ukuliwei. Bholi bhulugu bhokwe uwei nuuguileka inhumbu ya gung’wa walwa. Agatumila makanza agusalilaga habhutongi ya nsalabha bho nduhu ugulala.

UMatayo adishokelile ihali yakwe ya kale, nulu adabhukumije hangi uwalwa. Ahoozumalika umusi, olina miaka makumi atandatu na kenda. Bhanhu bhingi bhagajiyelela ijigila jakwe kunguno bhagamana igiki ali Ntagatifu.

KISWAHILI: HADITHI YA MATAYO MUUZA POMBE

Alikuwapo mtu mmoja jina lake Matayo ambaye aliishi Ulaya. Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na mbili alianza kufanya kazi katika duka la kuuza pombe.

Hapo alijifunza kunywa pombe hata kabla  hajafikisha umri wa miaka kumi na sita. Alikuwa hodari sana wa kunywa pombe. Daima alionekana kuwa na kiu ya kunywa pombe, hivyo kila wakati alihitaji kuwa na pesa. Aliuza viatu vyake ili apate pesa ya kununulia pombe. Kwa ujumla maisha yake yakawa ni pombe tu.

Jambo moja lilitokea alipokuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na nane. Alikuwa hana senti hata kidogo. Alingoja nje ya kilabu akiwaomba marafiki  zake wamnunulie pombe.

Lakini wapi walikataa na kumcheka. Akapigwa  na butwaa. Jambo hilo lilimchoma sana akawaza moyoni, “kumbe mimi sina marafiki. Rafiki yangu ni Mungu tu hakuna mwingine.”

Tangu siku ile aliamua kumrudia Mungu kwa kukiri makosa yake akisema, “Mungu wangu, “Mungu mimi ni mwenye dhambi, bila msaada kutoka kwako siwezi kuacha kunywa pombe, Ee Baba unisaidie katika udhaifu wangu unihurumie.”

Kwa nguvu ya Mungu Matayo alifaulu kuacha kunywa pombe kabisa. Lakini jambo hilo halikuwa rahisi kwake. Ilikuwa ni vita kati yake na hamu ya kwenda kunywa pombe.  Alitumia muda  mwingi bila ya kulala akisali mbele ya msalaba.

Matayo kamwe hakurudia hali yake ya hapo awali, wala hakugusa pombe tena. Alipofariki dunia, akiwa na umri wa miaka sitini na tisa, watu wengi walilitembelea kaburi lake kwani walimtambua kuwa ni mtakatifu.

ENGLISH: THE STORY OF MATHEW, THE BEEN SELLER

There was a man named Matthew who lived in Europe. When he was twelve years old, he started working at a beer shop.

There, he learned to drink beer even before he was sixteen years old. He was a very addicted drinker. He always seemed to be thirsty and eager to drink. So every time, he was supposed to have money with which to drink. He sold his belongings to earn money for buying beer. All his life became the life of nothing else but beer.

One thing happened when he was twenty-eight years old. One day, he had no cents at all. He waited outside the club; asking his friends to buy him beer.

To his surprise, all of the friends refused to give him money. Instead, they laughed at him. Seeing that, he was shocked. He became very angry and in his mind, he thought, “I don’t have friends. My only friend is God and no one else.”

Since that day, he made a resolution to return to God by confessing his sins and saying, “My God, my God, I am a sinner, without your help I cannot stop drinking beer, my heavenly father, help me in my weakness.”

By God’s power and grace, Matthew was able to stop drinking alcohol altogether. But that was not easy for him. It was a war between him and his desire to drink. He spent a lot of time without sleeping praying to  God in front of the cross.

Matthew never returned to his previous state, nor did he touch the alcohol again. When he died, at the age of sixty-nine, many people could visit his tomb because they recognized him as a saint.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Ahuli! Nyuli! Olihoi Badri Wenge o parokia ya Sumve. U Badri Wenge olinkali noi. Ijina gumela, ulu hamo unkristo utola mhali, U Badri Wenge agushiga okalihaga bho higulya. Agusola pigipigi yakwe na guja gukaya ya nkima ng’wunuyo na gujunpeja ahalingosha ng’wunuyo.

Hangi, unke o nkristo ulu adajile ukukanisa ulushigu ulonfungo, onsangaga na guntula ngumhi.

Ahanuma yaho, agiza Badri Jola, umuparokia yiniyo. U Badri Jola agabhalomela abhazunya bhakwe, giki, “imihayo ya dini iliyabhuyanguji bho ng’wa munhu. Nulu ubhuzunya bhudadulile gukula bho gwihadikija.

Imihayo iyadini iliyabhutogwa bho ng’holo. Iyagwita mito gawiza, nulu mabhi, bhulibhuyanguji bho munhu wei, giki, bhulibhutogwa bho ng’holo yakwe.” Gutumo bhanhu bha kale umobhayombela, “Ya ng’holo ya ng’wa Jola.”  Ing’holo uluyutogwa umunhu ulya nyama mbisi.

UJola agalanga, “Ulu munhu alichagula lufu ubhuleka ubhupanga, wimana weyi. Ulu munhu alihaya gusaga na shibhi jakwe nduhu ugujileka dudinagogwita, wimana weyi na bhuyanguji bhokwe.”

KISWAHILI: PADRI WENGE

Paukwa! Pakawa! Alikuwapo Padri Wenge wa parokia ya Sumve. Padri Wenge alikuwa katili sana. Kwa mfano,  kama mkristo akioa mitara, Padri Wenge hufika juu kwa hasira. Atachukua pikipiki yake na kwenda nyumbani kwa mwanamke yule na kumfukuza kwa bwana wake.

Mke mkristo kama hakwenda kanisani siku ya jumapili  alimwendea na kumpiga ngumi.

Baadaye alifika Padri Jola katika parokia ile. Padri Jola aliwaeleza waumini wake, “mambo ya dini ni utashi wa mtu mwenyewe, wala ukristo hauwezi kustawi kwa kulazimishana. Mambo ya dini ni upedo wa Roho. Masuala ya kutenda mema au mabaya ni uamuzi wa kila mtu binafsi yaani upendo wa Roho.”  Kama wahenga walivyosema,  “Ya ng’holo ya ng’wa jola.”  Roho ikipenda mtu hula nyama mbichi.

Jola alifundisha, “Ikiwa mtu anachagua mauti badala ya uzima ni shauri lake. Ikiwa mtu anataka kubaki na dhambi zake bila ya kuziacha hatuna la kufanya, ni shauri lake ni uamzi  wake.”

 

 

ENGLISH: WENGE, THE PRIEST

Once upon a time, there was a priest by the name Wenge of Sumve parish. Father Wenge was very harsh. For example, if a Christian happened to have a polygamous marriage, Father Wenge could with anger and punish him. He would take his motorcycle and go to the woman’s home and dismiss her from her master.

If a Christian did not go to church on Sunday, he would go and punish him.

Later on came Father Jola to the parish. Father Jola explained to his believers, “Religious matters are the will of a person.” He added, “Christianity cannot flourish by forcing each other. Religious matters are a matter of love of the Spirit. Doing good or evil is the decision of each individual, that is, the love of the Spirit.”

Father Jola taught, “If a person chooses death instead of life, it is his/her own counsel. If  he/she wants to remain with his/her sins instead of leaving them, it is his/her own counsel as well as his decision.”