Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Ahuli! Nyuli! Bhaliho bhaniki bhabhili abho bhali na makoye ya kugaiwa myenda ya guzwala. U ng’waniki uogwandya agaja kuli mami okwe gujulomba myenda.

Use aganzunilija uguja, aliyo agang’winha malagilo ga gub’itila nzila ya mashi. Aho oshika umunzila usanga jiganza ya bhanhu jilisha bho nduhu ugugubhoa umili. Aho oshika hoy ujigisha. Ijiganza junzunija. Junomba ajambilije. Ujambilija.

Aho amala wendelea na lugendo. Oganoga utung’wana na mitwe igwisugaga nzwili. Uigisha na guyambilija aho yamala gunomba wite chene. Agendelea na lugendo mpaga ugatung’wana na ndutu tulonhya ng’wana. Ujigisha na kujambilija ugonhya, huna wendelea na lugendo.

Aho oimala iyiniyo ashiga ukuli mamiye uyo wina kajile ka gubhulaga bhanhu. Aho onsanga agang’wila ilikoye lwakwe ya kupandika myenda. Aha ntondo yaho, umamiye agansinzila mbuli, uitula haliko. Unke o ng’wamiye aganhugula ung’waniki ng’winuyo giki, adizugema ugukundula inungu ya nyama.

Umamiye aho oshoka agamuja unke ulu okundulaga ung’waniki ng’wunuyo inungu ya nyama. Unke okwe agasha giki, adakundule. Umami okwe na ng’waniki ng’wunuyo aho bhaikundula inungu ya nyama kihamo, bhagabhona myenda mingi. Ung’waniki winhiwa imyenda iniyo.

Unke omamiye unhugula ung’waniki ng’unuyo giki adizulindila mpaga ntondo yaho unawinge, aliyo wingi nulushigu lunulo kugiki adizubhulagwa. Ung’waniki agashaka kaya alinamyenda yake ya kuguzwala.

Mke wa mjomba wake alipomwonya yule msichana kuwa asingoje hadi kesho ndipo aondoke, bali aondoke siku ileile ili asije akauawa. Msichana alirejea nyumbani akiwa na nguo zake za kuvaa.

Ung’wanike ukabhili akanumba use kugiki nanghwe aje kuli mami okwe. Ung’waniki uogwandya aganhugula higulwa ya kajile ka ng’wamami okwe. Nalulu, agiyangula guja.

Umunzila agasanga jiganza jigushaga, aliyo adazunije ugujambilija. Giko naho omanhya ni ndutu ijo jigonhyaga, adajambilijije. Naho oshika aha kaya ya mami okwe, adazunije ugulondeja iyo unke ong’wamami okwe onhugulaga.

Aho oshika umami okwe aganumela ilikoye lwakwe ilo lwanshishaga kunuko. Unke o ng’wamami okwe aganhugula giki adukundula inungu ya nyama iyo alazugilwe intondo yaho.

Nghana umami okwe agamulagila mbuli aha lushugu ulo lugalondela. Unke o ng’wa mami okwe, agaizuga, na ng’waniki ng’wunuyo agaja gujukundula inungu na usanga inyama idinapya.

Aho oshoka umamiye agamuja unke okwe ulu ng’wipwa okwe ng’wunuyo okundulaga inungu iniyo nulu yaya. Unke okwe agazunya giki ung’wipya okwe agakundula inungu iniyo.

Huna umami okwe ung’wila, “ogaiyagwa imyenda kulwa nguno okundula inungu iniyo.

Hanuma ya yiniyo, umami okwe umuja ulushigu lo gwenga. Ung’waniki uhaya giki, niwanga intondo yaho. Aliyo unke o ng’wa mami okwe aganshauri, winge ni likanza linilo. Aliyo ung’waniki ng’wunuyo adingile. Huna intondo yaho, ung’waniki ng’wunuyo agabhulagwa un mami okwe.

KISWAHILI: WASICHANA WAWILI

Paukwa! Pakawa! Palikuwepo na wasichana wawili waliokuwa na shida ya nguo za kuvaa. Msichana wa kwanza alikwenda kwa mjomba wake kuomba nguo.

Baba yake alimruhusu kwenda, lakini akampa masharti ya kupita njia ya mavi. Alipofika njiani akakuta viganja vikisaga bila ya kiwiliwili. Alipofika hapo akavisalimu. Viganja vikaitikia. Vikamuomba avisaidie. Akavisaidia.

Kisha akendelea na safari, halafu akavikuta vichwa vikisukana nywele, akavisalimia na akavisaidia baada ya kuombwa kufanya hivyo. Akaendelea na safari hadi alipokutana na matiti yananyonyesha mtoto. Akayasalimu na kuyasaidia kunyonyesha, kisha akaendelea na safari.

Alipofika kwa mjomba wake ambaye ana tabia ya kuua watu. Alipomkuta akamweleza shida yake ya kupata nguo. Kesho yake, mjomba wake akamchinjia mbuzi, akaiweka mekoni. Mke wa mjomba wake alimwonya yule msichana kwamba asijaribu kufunua chungu cha nyama.

Mjomba wake aliporudi alimwuliza mkewe kama yule msichana amefunua chungu cha nyama. Mke wake akamjibu kuwa hakufunua. Mjomba na yule msichana wakipofungua chungu cha nyama kwa pamoja, wakaona nguo nyingi.

Msichana akapewa nguo hizo. Mke wa mjomba wake akamuonya yule msichana kuwa asingoje hadi kesho ndipo aondoke, bali aondoke siku ileile ili asije akauawa. Msichana alirejea nyumbani akiwa na nguo zake za kuvaa.

Yule msichana wa pili alimuomba baba yake ili naye  aende kwa mjomba. Msichana wa kwanza alimuonya kuhusu tabia ya mjomba wake. Basi akaamua kwenda.

 Njiani alivikuta viganja vikisaga, lakini hakukubali kuvisaidia, vivyo hivyo alipoyakuta matiti yananyonyesha, hakukubali kuyasaidia. Na alipowasili nyumbani kwa mjomba wake, hakukubali kuzingatia yale ambayo mke wa mjomba alimuasa.

 Mjomba wake alipofika akamweleza shida iliyomfikisha huko. Mke wa mjomba wake alimuonya kutokifunua chungu cha nyama ambayo atapikiwa kesho yake. Kweli mjomba wake alimchinjia mbuzi siku ile iliyofuata. Mke wake akaipika, na yule msichana akaenda kukifunua kile chungu na akaikuta nyama haijaiva.

Mjomba aliporudi akamwuliza mke wake kama yule mpwa wake alifunua chungu au la! Mke wake alikubali kuwa mpwa wake alifunua kile chungu. Ndipo mjomba wake alipomwambia, “Umezikosa nguo kwa kuwa umefunua chungu hicho.”

Halafu  mjomba wake akamwuliza siku ya kuondoka. Msichana alisema kuwa angeondoka kesho yake. Lakini mke wa mjomba akamshauri aondoke mara moja. Lakini yule msichana hakuondoka. Ndipo kesho yake  yule msichana aliuliwa na mjomba wake.

 

THE STORY OF TWO GIRLS

Once upon a time, there were two girls who had no clothes to wear. The first girl wanted to go to her uncle to ask for clothes.

His father allowed her to go, but gave her conditions. One of the conditions was to pass through the path of faeces. When she got to the path, she found arms grinding without a body. When she got there, she greeted them. They responded to her. Then, they asked her to help them. She helped them.

Then, she went on with her journey. On the way, she found the heads plaiting each other’s hair. She greeted and helped them after she was asked to do so. Then, she went on with the journey until she met -breastsself-breast feeding a baby. She greeted and helped them to breastfeed, and then she went on.

When she came to her uncle who had the habit of killing people, she told him her problem of getting clothes. The next day, her uncle slaughtered a goat for her and put it in a pot. Her uncle’s wife warned the girl that she should not try to uncover the pot containing meat.

When her uncle came back, he asked his wife if the girl had opened a pot of meat. His wife replied that she had not opened it. When the uncle and the girl opened the meat pot together, they saw a lot of clothes.

The girl was given the clothes. His uncle’s wife warned the girl not to wait until the following day to leave, but to leave the same day so that she would not be killed by her uncle. The girl returned home with her clothes.

The second girl asked her father to go to the uncle. Before she went, the first girl warned her about her uncle’s behaviour..

 On the way, she found the arms grinding without the body, but she refused to help them. Then she found the breasts self-breast feeding the baby. She did not help them with the task. When she arrived at her uncle’s house, she did not accept what her uncle’s wife told her.

 When her uncle came home, the girl told her uncle the trouble that had brought her there. His uncle’s wife warned her not to open the pot of meat that would be given to her the following day. Her uncle really slaughtered a goat the next day. His wife cooked it, and the girl went to uncover the pot and found the meat uncooked.

When the uncle came back he asked his wife if his nephew had uncovered the pot or not! His wife reported that her nephew had uncovered the pot. Then her uncle said to the  girl, “You have missed the clothes because you have opened the pot.”

Then her uncle asked her to leave. The girl said she would leave the following day. But the uncle’s wife advised her to leave immediately. But the girl did not leave. Then the following day the girl was killed by her uncle.

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Bhaliho bhayanda bhadatu bha hakaya imo bhajaga gujutega noni bhuli dilu. Nyanda wabhenabho obhizaga ulu opuja inoni yang’wila giki “nilekege nkoyi nalagugunana gubhujakale,” wilekela.

Pye indimu ujitang’ang’hya. Nose ab’iye bhuyunjija ugulya ijo bhapujaga bhaling’wila giki, “ubhebhe ugajilekelaga ulu opuja. Nose wifugula uguyutega na uja ng’wipolu ugab’ona ng’waniki umo bhitogwa.

Nabhuja kung’wawe ya ng’waniki ng’wenuyo. Aho bhashiga ho, namhala uhaya, “napandika nkwilima.” Uwilwa gujufega ipolu itale gete kulushigu lumo. Nang’hwe uja ugandya ugufega. Uliduma linti limo gwike, wandya gulila ohaimanila jiza mhuli jung’wambilija ugulifega lyose.

Uwilwa guja gujub’ib’a ngunda gutale go heka 10. Aho oshoga unkwiye ung’wila “noloha ugulima, jaga ugajikong’onhe imbiyu jane jib’ize gitumo jalijili. Nang’hwe agaja ugita gitumo owililagwa. Aho oshika uduma umo witile. Gwimanila jiza noni jung’wambilija ujisolela imbiyu jose uchala kaya, unkwiye utogwa gete.

Lukangala ulu unkwiye ung’wila ng’wanone nab’onaga giki izile utole ahenaha nguno yose iyo naliguwila ulishigilija, ihaha lulu jaga lo kwimala uganisumile bhujiku pa ganana unenhele henaha. Nyanda uja aliyo alib’uja ‘nagudula ginehe ugub’udima ubhujiku nagubhutula mu ganana?’

Aho oshiga kwenuko owilagwa, kiza ga sayayi kung’wila, “ilekage iganana ugang’wile ‘nakajaga aliyo ninhage ngata ya lyochi nagabhukije ninhage ni haha.’

Namhala aho owilwa chene uduma umo agudulila ugulib’ilinga ilyochi, na ung’wila unyanda giki, “jaga ugab’ufuge ubhujiku, wenhe kaya iganana na usole unke oko.’

KISWAHILI: Hadithi Ya Vijana Watatu

Walikuwepo wavulana watatu kwenye familia moja. Walioenda kutega ndege kila asubuhi. Mdogo wao kila aliponasa ndege, ndege alimwambia, “niachia rafiki yangu nitakusaidia kwenye siku za mbele.” Alimwachia.

  Wanyama wote aliwaeneza. Mwishowe wenzake walimkataza kula wale waliowanasa wao wakimwambia hivi, “wewe huwa unawaachia unapowanasa.

Mwishowe alizila kutega, akaenda porini. Huko alionana na msichana mmoja wakapendana. Akaenda kwa wazazi wake msichana huyo. Walipofika pale, mzee alisema, “nimepata mkwilima.”

Aliambiwa kwenda kufyeka pori kubwa kabisa kwa siku moja. Naye alienda na kuanza kufyeka. Alishindwa kuukata mti mmoja tu akaanza kulia, kushitukia, wakaja tembo wakamsaidia kulifyeka lote.

Baada ya kuimaliza kazi hiyo, aliambiwa kwenda kumwaga mbegu kwenye shamba kubwa la heka 10. Aliporudi, baba mkwe wake alimwambia, “nimeahilisha kulima, nenda ukaziokote zile mbegu zangu ziwe kama zilivyokuwa.” Naye kama alivyoelezwa alienda. Alipofika alishindwa wakaja ndege wakamsaidia kuziokota mbegu zile zote, akapeleka nyumbani, baba mkwe alifurahi kabisa.

Safari hii baba mkwe wake, alimwambia, “mtoto wangu nimeona kwamba utaoa hapa kwa sababu yote yale ninayokuambia unayatimiza. Sasa basi, nenda kwa mara ya mwisho, ukanikusanyie usiku ujae kwenye kikapu, uniletee hapa.”

Mvulana alienda lakini akijiuliza “nitawezaje kuushika usiku na kuuweka kwenye kikapu?”

Alipofika huko alikoambiwa, akaja Sungura, akamwambia, “kiache kikapu ukamwambie, nimejaza, lakini nipatie kata ya moshi nikabebee, nipatia sasa hivi.”

Mzee alipoambiwa hivyo, alishindwa namna ya kuukusanya huo moshi na akamwambia mvulana hivi, “nenda ukaumwage usiku, ulete nyumbani kile kikapu na umchukue mke wako.”

THE STORY OF THREE YOUTHS

There were three boys in one family. They used to go the trap birds every morning. When the youngest trapped a bird, such a bird could tell him, “Leave me, my friend I will help you in the future.” He could leave it.

He did the same it to all animals. Finally, his brothers forbade him to eat what they had caught saying, “You cannot eat what we catch because you leave the animals that you catch.”

He finally abandoned the whole enterprise and went the wilderness. There, he met a girl with whom he fell in love. He went to the parents of that girl. When they got there, the old man said, “I’ve got a son-in-law.”

As a condition before he could be allowed to marry a daughter, the young man was told to go to cut a big forest for one day. He went and started slashing. He failed to cut down one tree and started to crying, not knowing what to do. It happened that the elephants came and helped him to cut all the troubling trees.

After completing the work, the young man was told to go and sow the seeds in a huge piece of land of ten acres. After that, his father in law told him, “I have changed my mind on the idea of cultivating. Therefore, I order you to go and gather up all the seeds you sowed and return them to me as they were.”  When he tried to do that, he failed. Suddenly, birds came and helped him to gather up all the seeds, which he sent home. His father-in-law was very happy for what the young man did.

After the young man had passed all the tests, his father-in-law told him, “My son I have seen that you will marry here because you do all that I tell you. Now, go for the last test. Gather the night in this basket. Bring it to me here. ”

The boy went but wondered, “How can I catch the night and put it in the basket?”

When he got there, he came across the hare shared his assignment with him, the hare told the young man,“Leave the basket with me and then go back and tell him, I have filled it, but give me smoke so as to go and  carry it, right now.”

When the father-in-law was told that, he failed to collect the smoke and in response told the boy, “Go and pour out the night and bring home the basket and then take your wife.”

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Aho Mulungu omala ugusumba pye ijisumbwa na bhanhu, agalingisila gutuma nhulu ja solobho noi uku bhanhu abho bhali Musi. Huna lulu, ung’witana namhala B’ambu na gung’wila, “Jaga wangu wangu umo ilidulikanila, uMusi, ugab’awile abhanhu bhose giki, bhuliho bhupanga aha numa ya lufu. Abhanhu bhagwikala nu nene bhulunga kele.”

Aliyo aho Mulungu agung’wilaga unamhala uB’ambu inhulu jenijo, ngikulu Nole, oliwib’isa ukunu agudegelekaga ku mbisila, inhulu jenijo. Aliyo adajeleliwe chiza inhulu jenijo. Unole agelelwa giki, umunhu ulu ucha, mumho na ng’wisho.

Unole agapela wangu wangu noi, mpaga Musi na gubhawila abhanhu, “degelekagi, degelekagi bhabehi! Nalinamhulu ja solobho noi gufuma kuli Mulungu: baada ya (hanuma ya lufu) gucha, nduhu ubhupanga. Ulufu ni ngelelo (ng’wisho).”

Ubhambu uyoaginhiwa inhulu ja nhana gufumila kuli Mulungu osimizaga hado hado noi. Nose, agashika ubhawila abhanhu, “degelekagi! Degelekagi bhabehi! Nalina nhulu ja solobho noi gufuma kuli Mulungu. Giki, ahanuma (baada) ya lufu bhulihoi bhupanga bho gwikala nu Mulungu, bhulunga kele. Ulufu luti ngelelo (ng’wisho).

Abhanhu kulwa giki walibhamanila inhulu ja bhulomolomo, ijo bhaginhiwa nu Nole, bhaganseka na gundalaha bhalihaya, “ubhebhe nanhala b’ambu uli nhala o kajile ki! Ulidulemba duhu, nduhu ubhupanga aha numa ya lufu. Ulu munhu omalaga gucha, huna lulu, pye iyose yashilaga, ulufu hingelelo.

Kiswahili: Mzee Kinyonga

Mungu alipomaliza kuumba viumbe vyote pamoja na binadamu, alikusudia kutuma ujumbe wa maana sana kwa binadamu waliokuwapo duniani. Basi akamwita mzee Kinyonga na kumwambia, “Nenda upesi iwezekanavyo duniani ukawaambie binadamu wote kwamba, baada ya kifo kuna uzima. Binadamu wataishi nami milele.

Lakini Mungu alipokuwa akimweleza Kinyonga habari hizo, bibi Mjusi alikuwa amejificha huku akisikiliza kwa siri ujumbe huo. Lakini hakuuelewa sawasawa ujumbe huo. Mjusi alielewa kwamba binadamu akifa, basi ni mwisho.

Mjusi akakimbia haraka sana, hadi duniani na kuwaeleza binadamu, “Sikilizeni, sikilizeni jamani! Nina ujumbe wa maana sana kutoka kwa Mungu: Baada ya kifo hakuna uzima. Kifo ni mwisho.”

Kinyonga aliyepewa ujumbe wa kweli kutoka kwa Mungu alikuwa anatembea pole pole sana. Hatimaye, akafika akawaambia binadamu, “Sikilizeni! Sikilizeni  jamani! Ninao ujumbe wa maana sana kutoka kwa Mungu. Kwamba, baada ya kufa kuna uzima wa kuishi na Mungu milele. Kifo sio mwisho.

Binadamu kwa kuwa walizoea ujumbe wa uongo, waliopewa na Mjusi walimcheka na kumdharau wakisema, “Wewe mzee Kinyonga ni mjinga wa namna gani! Unatudanganya tu, hakuna uzima baada ya kifo. Kama mtu amekwisha kufa, basi mambo yamekwisha, kifo ni mwisho.

 

 

CHAMELEON, THE OLD MAN

When God created all creatures with human beings, He intended to send a very important message to human beings on the earth. So he called Mr Chameleon and said to him, “Go quickly to the earth and tell all the people that after death there is life. Man will live with me forever.”

But when God was telling him the news,   lizard was hiding while listening to the message. But she did not understand the message well. It understood that when man dies, then it is the end of everything.

The lizard ran very quickly, to the earth and told the people, “Listen, listen! I have a very important message from God: After death there is no life. Death is the end of everything.”

Mr Chameleon who received a true message from God was walking very slowly. Finally, he arrived and told the people, “Listen! Listen my fellows! I have a very important message from God. The message is that after death there is life. You will live forever with God. Death is not the end.”

The people laughed at Mr Chameleon because they were accustomed to the false message received from the lizard, laughed at him and scorned him, saying, “You old man are a fool! You only deceive us, no life after death. When a man dies, then things are finished. Death is the end of everything.”

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Olaliho ngikulu bhulima, lina lyakwe Nyang’wangu. Wikalaga na ng’wana okwe umo, ngosha wikalaga na kalambo ku nsago ha bhulili b’okwe. Kuhayumanila, Nyang’wangu wapandika liganiko lya kuntoja ng’witunja okwe.

Aho ng’winga wagabhuka (kwinga ha kaya na kwiza kwigasha ha ng’wa nina bhuko) na nina bhuko ubhi ali nikub’i ung’winha bhuli dilu ndilo ndoto ilipalagana. Ng’winga agayukumya ulu winhiwa indilo ndoto bhuli dilu ku nguno yalitiho nyanza nulu mongo.

Wibhuja bhuja giki, “uyo wafunya hali ndilo indoto na hangi Nyanza ili kule giko! Lushiku lumo, ngikulu ung’winha ndiko ibhili, ung’winga wandya kukobha hose uko jikafumilaga indilo.

Ulinha ku kano ugayiwa, wingila ng’wifuma ugayiwa, ukundula hiwe lya gushela, ugayiwa, nose ushika ha bhulili. Wahaya ukundula ku nsago, usanga kaliho kalambo. Ndilo jilidamka ningi duhu. Jilib’inab’inila, huna ujishoshaho ijo wali winhagwa, ujisola mhya mo nhale ibhili, ulu alita giko akagikulu kalimana  uku walwa isho alita ukunu kaya.

Ngikulu winga lulu uku walwa. Wiza ushikila kumuja ung’winga okwe, “iki b’uli mayu wanitilaga giko? Nakub’onaga walinhaga kukano yane, nakub’onaga wingila ng’wifuma lyane, nakub’onaga wakundulaga na hiwe lyane na mhayo ndimu gete gete, wadimaga ku nsago gwane? Umu yeniyo nali natali kukwinha shikilo shane, kwinama hiwe lyane lya kushela sha kupinda uku mbele yane bhuli bhuhubhi wingi, iki bhuli wanitilaga giko?” Ng’winga ali sele duhu. uNgikulu gashi okolagwa noi. Atalile shiliwa  isho wazugaga ung’winga.

Nose ubhujiku wila, bhose bhulala. Bhujiku hagati, ngikulu uja hose ha bhulili, ubhucha shikolo shakwe shose, usama guja kulugulu. Ukingila muli shiganga na lishiganga lyenilo lyupilingita kwinga mu lugulu. Liza lyub’itila aha numba ya ng’witunja na ng’winga okwe. Lyubhatobhagula. Bhucha pye. Iwe lyukimila ku mbuga. Na iwe liliho mpaga lelo. Lili hagati ya minzi ku nguno nyanza ikatulwa hagati. Lilitanwa “Nyang’wangu”

Bhubhi bhukafumaga ku bhise bhenekili giko!

KISWAHILI: NYANG’WANGU

Alikuwepo bibi kizee Bulima, jina lake aliitwa Nyang’wangu. Alikuwa na mtoto wake mmoja, mwanamume. Alikuwa na kadimbwi kwenye mto wa kulalia kichwani kwenye kitanda chake. Kushitukia, Nyang’wangu, akapata wazo la kumuoza kijana wake.

Alipoamka mkaa mwana wake (kutoka kwenye familia na kuja kukaa kwa mama mkwe wake) na mama mkwe akawa na huruma ya ukarimu kwa mkaa mwana wake, akawa akimpa kila asubuhi samaki mbichi alirukaruka. Mkaa mwana alishangaa alipopewa samaki wabichi kila asubuhi kwa sababu haikuwepo baharí wala mto karibu nao.

Akajiuliza uliza hivi, “huyu ametoa wapi samaki wabichi na baharí ilikuwa mbali hivyo?” Siku moja, bibi kizee alimpa samaki wawili, mkaa mwana alianza kutafuta pote pale wanapotolewa hao samaki.

Alipanda kwenye dari, akakosa, akaingia sehemu nyingine aliyoidhania kuwepo hao hapo, akakosa, akafungua kwenye jiwe la kusagia, akakosa, mwishowe akafika kwenye kitanda. Alipofungua kwenye mto, akakuta kapo kadimbwi. Samaki wanaruka wengi tu. Wanacheza cheza, ndipo aliwarudisha humo wale samaki wawili, aliokuwa nao, akachukua wale wakubwa wawili. Alipokuwa akifanya hivyo, kabibi kizee kalifahamu kakiwa kule kwenye pombe, alichokuwa anakifanya kule nyumbani.

Basi, bibi kizee aliondoka kutoka kwenye pombe. Akaja kufikia kumuuliza mkaa mwana wake, “kwa nini, mama umenifanyia hivyo? Nimekuona ulipanda kwenye dari yangu, ukaingia kwenye sehemu yangu maalumu, ukafunua kwenye jiwe langu, na neno gumu kabisa kabisa, ukashika kwenye mto wangu?

Kwa hiyo, bado sijakupa maagizo yangu, kuinama kwenye jiwe langu la kusagia, na kupita kwenye sehemu yangu maalumu, ni kukosa kwingi, kwa nini umenifanyia hivyo?” Mkaa mwana alikuwa kimya tu. Kumbe kale ka bibi kizee kalikuwa kamekasilika mno. Hakakula chakula alichopika mkaa mwana wake.

Mwishoni, usiku ulipoingia, wote wakalala. Kwenye usiku wa manane, bibi kizee alienda kwenye kitanda, akabeba vitu vyake vyote, akahama akaenda kwenye milima.

Akaenda kuingia kwenye mwamba na ule mwamba ukavilingika kutoka kwenye miamba mlimani. Ukaja kuipitia ile nyumba ya kijana wake na mkaa mwana wake.

Ukawabonda bonda wakafa wote. Mwamba ukaenda kusimama mbugani. Mwamba huo, bado upo hadi leo. Uko kati kati ya maji kwa sababu, baharí iliwekwe katikati. Unaitwa, “Nyang’wangu.” Hivyo, ubaya huwa unatoka kwetu sisi wenyewe namna hiyo!

 

NYANG’WANGU, THE OLD WOMAN

There was an oldwoman in Bulima. Her name was Nyang’wangu. She had one son, a boy. That old had a small pondunder her pillow placed on her bed. There came a time, Nyang’wangu, got the idea   marrying her son.

There came a time when her daughter-in-law joined her mother-in-law’s family. Her mother-in-law was very kind to her daughter in law. Every morning, she gave her daughter-in-law fresh fish. The daughter-in-law was surprised when she was given fresh fish every morning because there was no water or river around.

She asked herself, “Where did she get the raw fish and the lake is far from here?” One day, the old woman gave her two fish. The daughter-in-law began to search everywhere as she wanted to know where the fish came from.

She climbed to the ceiling but she missed. Then she went to another place she thought she could find the fish source.  She also missed. After that, she opened up the grinding stone. There too, she missed. Finally, she got to the mother-in-law’s bed. When she lifted the pillow, she found a pond. There were many fish moving around. She brought the two fish she had been given back to the newly discovered pond. She then took two big ones from the pond. While she was doing so, the old woman knew everything happening. She could see all that was happening at her home from where she wastaking alcohol.

So the old woman left the alcohol. She came to inquire her daughter in law, “Daughter, why? I saw you climbing on my roof, and then you went to my private room. You lifted my rock and you finally got to my pillow.

I think I have not given you my taboos. Stooping over my grinding stone, and entering my private room are a big mistake. Why have you done all this to me?” The daughter-in-law kept quiet. The old woman became angry. She did not eat the food which her daughter in law had cooked that day.

At the night, they all slept. At midnight, the old woman carried all her things, and moved to the mountains.

She entered one the rocks. The rock rolled all the way from the mountain. It came through the house of his young man and her daughter–in-law.

All those the rock crushed died. The rock, finally, went to settle in the lake where it stands until today. It is in the middle of the water. It is called, “Nyang’wangu.” So, evil comes from us like that!

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Ikale iSub’i yalitamanile ukudima indimu kunhingo, yadimaga sagala, nulu kuligugulu yudima ho. Sha lushigu lumo yudima mbuli. Bha mayu bhalija kujudaha minzi. Huna bhandya kwiwila giki, “mbuli ya ng’wa mbati yadimagwa na Sub’i iligigila.”

Umo o bhamayu uhaya giki, “ambu kako katamanile kudima, ulu nikakadimaga kunhingo niyachaga..” kalidegeleka akasub’i kuhaya, “gashinaga nakahubhaga nashoke kudima munhingo.”

Giko lulu lushiku lungi kuyidima mbuli yingi mnhingo yucha. Bhandya kwiwila abhamayu, “gashi mihayo iyo twahayaga kigwaga.”

Sub’i yalitamanile kudima, ikalangwa na  bha mayu abhalija kujudaha minzi.

KISWAHILI: HADITHI YA CHUI

Zamani chui alikuwa hajui kushika wanyama shingoni, alikuwa akishika hovyo, hata mguuni alishika. Siku moja alishika mbuzi. Akina mama waliokuwa safarini kwenda kuteka maji. Ndipo walianza kuambiana kwamba, “mbuzi wa fulani ameshikwa na chui ndiyo maana anachechemea.”

Mmoja wa wale akina mama alisema hivi, “hako hakajui kushika wanyama, kama kangekuwa kanashika shingoni angekufa…” kachui kalikuwa kamesikiliza kakasema, “kumbe nakosea nirudi nikashike shingoni.

Hivyo basi, siku nyingine kakaishika mbuzi nyingine shingoni ikafa. Wakaanza kuambiana akina mama, “kumbe maneno yale tuliyokuwa tukiyasema, kalikuwa kakisikia.”

Chui alikuwa hajui kushika, akafundishwa na akina mama waliokuwa wakienda kuteka maji.

THE STORY OF THE LEOPARD

In the past, the leopard had no idea how to catch animals of prey in the neck. It was catching any part of the body. It could catch even the foot. One day it caught a goat. Women who were on their way to fetch water began to say that, “Somebody’s goat was caught by the leopard. e It is now limping.”

One of those women said, “The leopard does not know how to catch animals. If it caught it on the neck that goat would die…” The leopard was listening and it heard those words. It then thought, “I am wrong. Let me go back catch by the neck.”

So, one day the leopard caught another goat in the neck and it died. Those women talked to one another, “Oh, the leopard heard what we were saying.”

The leopard had no knowledge of how to properly catch animals of prey. It was taught by women who were going to fetch water.