Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Bhaliho bhasumba bhadatu  abho bhagigwa habhali ja ng’wa shetani bhudachiwa noi. Bhagiyangula kuja gujunchobha bhamulage. Aho bhashiga bhunsanga bhung’wila, “Lelo duligubhulaga.”

Ushetani agashosha, “Sawa, aliyo tamu diyeje na soda.” Umo wing’we agadenhele Soda.” Aho atali uguja ugujugula isoda, ushetani ng’wunuyo agabholekaja abhasumba bhenabho lunasi na dhahabhu, ubhawila, “Ulu ng’wunileka ugunibhulaga nagung’winha isabho jiniji.”

Halafu unsumba uumo agaja gujugula soda. Umunzila unsumba ng’wunuyo agandya guiganika umo alajipandikile isabho jinijo. Abhona igubhelela ugutuula simu umu soda jinijo, kugiki pye abho bhalamale gujing’wa na gucha, agudula gusola isabho jinijo, lunasi ni dhahabhu.

Bhasi, agita chiniko. Gashi ukunuma abhiye bhenabho bhizunilijaga giki, ung’wunuyo uyo ojaga gujugula soda, ulu oshoga abhulagwe kugiki abhoi abhabhili bhadule gugabhana isabho jinijo. Aho obhinha du isoda unsumba ng’wunuyo agabhulagwa. Aho bhamulaga bhagang’wa isoda jinijo.

 

Kiswahili: Vijana Na Shetani

Walikuwepo vijana watatu waliosikia habari za Shetani wakachukizwa. Wakaamua kwenda kumtafuta wamuue. Walipofika wakamkuta na kumwambia, “Leo tunakuua.”

“Sawa, lakini kwanza tuburudike na soda.” Mmoja wenu atuletee soda.” Kabla ya kwenda kununua soda, yule shetani aliwaonesha vijana wale almasi na dhahabu, akawaambia,  “Mkiacha kuniua nitawapa mali hii.”

Halafu kijana mmoja akaondoka kwenda kununua soda. Njiani yule kijana alifikiria jinsi ya kupata mali ile. Akaona itafaa kuweka sumu katika zile soda, ili wote baada ya kuzinywa na kufa, ataweza kumiliki  ile almasi na dhahabu. Basi akafanya hivyo.

Kumbe kule nyuma wale wenzake wakakubaliana kuwa yule aliyekwenda kununua soda, atakaporudi auwawe ili wao wawili waweze kugawana ile mali. Mara tu yule kijana alipowapatia soda, aliuawa. Baada ya kumwua, wakanywa zile soda.

ENGLISH: YOUTH AND THE DEVIL

There were three young people who heard about Satan, and they hated it. They decided to go look for him and kill him. When they arrived, they found him and said, “Today we will kill you.”

“Well, but first let us have some soda.” Let one of you bring us soda.”Before going to buy soda, the devil showed the young people diamond and gold and said, “If you  don’t kill me I will give you this wealth.”

Then a young man went out to buy soda. On the way the young man thought about getting the wealth. He found it necessary to put poison in the soda, so that after they all drink and die, he would be able to possess the diamond and gold. So he did.

In the meanwhile, his colleagues agreed that they should kill the one who went to buy the soda when he returned so that they could share the property. As soon as the boy gave them soda, he was killed. After they killed him, they drank the soda and died too.

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Namhala umo lina lwakwe Maduhu agita bhunwani na Padri nnebhe. Padri ng’wunuyo omalaga unyelela. Lushigu lumo, umaduhu agang’wila upadri, “Nzugu nagolekeje umulungu one,” Padri agazunya.

Maduhu agantongela u Padri mpaga mulugutu lo ng’ombe jakwe. Aho bhashiga, Maduhu agang’wila u Padri, “Ubhebhe Padri usage nu Mulungu oko, nu nene nasage na mulungu one. Ing’ombe iji nu mulungu one. Najisanije jiniji du. Naduhayaga ginhu jingi. Amambo gako aga dini bhuli bhubuli.”

Maduhu agazumalika musi. Ni ngholo yakwe yugimila habhutongi bho ng’wa Mulungu. Bhanhu bhingi bhagaja aha bhujikwa bhokwe. Aho bhoshila ubhujikwa bhokwe, abhadugu bhakwe bhagasola pye ing’ombe jakwe (yaani mulungu okwe) na bhakima bhakwe.

 

Kiswahili: Mzee Maduhu Na Padri

Mzee mmoja jina lake Maduhu alifanya urafiki na padri fulani. Padri huyo alikuwa akimtembelea mara kwa mara. Siku moja, Maduhu  alimwambia padri, “Njoo, nikuoneshe Mungu wangu,” Padri  alikubali.

Maduhu alimwongoza Padri hadi kwenye zizi la ng’ombe wake. Walipofika, Maduhu alimwambia Padri, “Wewe Padri ubaki na Mungu wako, na mimi nibaki na Mugu wangu. Ng’ombe hawa ni Mungu wangu. Ninawategemea hawa tu. Sitaki kitu kingine. Mambo yako ya dini kwangu ni upuuzi mtupu.”

Baadae, Maduhu alifariki dunia. Na roho yake ikasimama mbele ya hukumu ya Mungu. Watu wengi walihudhuria mazishi yake. Baada ya mazishi, ndugu zake waliwachukua ng’ombe wote (yaani mungu wake) na wake zake wote.

 

ENGLISH: MADUHU AND THE PRIEST

One old mannamed Maduhu made friendship with a certain priest. The priest was visiting him regularly. One day, Maduhu said to the priest, “Come, so that I show you my God.” The priest agreed.

Maduhu led the priest to his cowshed. When they arrived, Maduhu said to the Priest, “You, Priest , will remain with your God, and I will be with my god. These cattle are my god. I only depend on them. I don’t want anything else. Your religious affairs are nothing but nonsense.”

Later, Maduhu died. And his spirit stood before the judgment of God. Many people attended his funeral. After the funeral, his brothers took all the cattle (his god) and all his wives.

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Oliho namhala umo uyo olina bhana bhadatu: bhamabhasa Kulwa na Dotto, na jipanda mabhasa, lina lwakwe Shija. Abhana bhanabho bhali na wikaji bho wiza nubhabha obho. Ubhabha obho oli nsabhi noi. Lushigu lumo, ubhabha agabhawila abhana bhakwe, “Ihaha aying’we ng’wakulaga ng’wabhizaga bhanhu bhatale. Nalimulomba muchole bhakima bha gutola. Ukulwa wandye.”

Ukulwa agaligwa ililagilo lwa ng’wa bhabha okwe, uja kiya ya kule. Ukunuko agampandika nkima nsoga. Utunga bhulunja nanghwe, na ushoka kaya. Agang’winha ubhabha okwe amafumilo ga lugendo lokwe. Ubhabha agayega na gunumbilija noi u Kulwa.

Nalupuna ludima lo ng’wa Dotto. Agaja kiya aguncholaga nkima oguntola. Agaduja ugumpandika unkima unsoga, bhizunilija nanghwe, na bhutunga bhulunja.

UDotto aho oshoga kaya na gulomela giki okindaga ugunpandika unkima, ubhabha agamuja, “Ehe, Dotto onpandikilaga hei unkima ng’wunuyo?” Dotto agashosha, “Kiya ya kule,” “ng’wa nani?” agabhuja ubhabha, “kuli namhala fulani!” agashosha u dotto. “Ala! iki nu nduguyo uKulwa olunga bhulunja kuli nkima nu ng’wunuyo?” agabhuja ubhabha.

U guku obho agang’wila ubhabha obho, “Bhalekage du.” Inhalikilo lubhiza ludima lo ng’wa jilondela mabhasa uShija. Nanghwe agaja nu lwande lunulo ulo bhagaja gujulungija abhakuluye.

Shija aganunja nu nkima ng’wunuyo uyo oliolunjiwa na bha Kulwa nu Dotto. Shija agashoka kaya na gung’wila ubhabha okwe higulwa ya bhupandiki bho lugendo lwokwe. Ubhabha obho uyomba, “Bhanabhane ng’witaga ginehe? Bhuli pye ubhudatu wing’we ng’wantogagwa ng’wunuyo umo?”

Abhana bhakwe bhaganshokeja, “Uduzunilije duje kuchuo kugiki tupandike bhulangwa. Uyo alamale chiza gukila pye hu ng’wenuyo uyo alantole umkima uyo.”

Huna ubhabha obho agabhazunilija abhana bhakwe guja si ja kule gujusoma. Umo obho agasomela hilwa ya darubhini, uungi agabhiza daktari, na ogadatu agabhiza Rubani o ndege.

Aho bhamala amasomo gabho ukunuko si ja hanze, umo agayomba, “Ilibhelela dupime na dubhone ihali umo ili ukunuko kaya.” Bhagapima na gubhona ihali ili ya mhola gete ukunuko kaya.

Halafu bhagayomba, “Dupime nuko dalungija.” Aho bhampima unkima uyo bhanunja, bhubhona giki alinsadu noi, hangi ali ohandili gete. Bhagibhuja, “Dite ki ihaha?

Umo obho agashauri, “Udakitali asole bhugota na jipimo jakwe, nurubani asole Ndege, na wangu wangu duje bho nduhu gukeleja. Pye bhagizunilija, bhandya lugendo lo guja gujunhagula unsadu ng’wunuyo.

Aho bhashika koi bhagansanga unkima ng’wenuyo olemelagwa alihandili gete. Udakitali agandya nimo gogumpima na gunhagula. Baada ya likanza ido agapila gete. Aho opila gete, dakitali agayomba, “Iki opila, unkima uyu alione.”

Untalamu o darubhini nawe agayomba, “Unkima uyu alione, kulwa nguno unene hung’wene uyo nampima bho darubhini kufuma kule na gumana igiki alinsatu o handili.”

Urubani nawe agahaya, “unkima uyu alione kulwa nguno unene huyo nagabhanguhya wangu wangu, kuyiniyo, unkima uyo alione.”

 Umu wiharaliki wenubho umo obho agayomba, “Agubhiza nkima ong’wa guku wise kulwa nguno kunamna imo nulu yingi, bhuli umo wise ong’wambilijaga unkima ng’wenuyo. Ulu utolwa na guku, agubhiza aguduzugilaga ijiliwa, naise dugulwa kudi bhizukulu bhakwe.”

Bhagizunilija, giko unkima ng’wunuyo ubhiza nke ong’wa guku obho, abhoi bhubhiza bhizukulu bha ng’wa mama obho ng’wenuyo.

Nhana umama obho agabhazugila ijiliwa. Na gulinganila nu wikaji bho wimeji, umama obho ng’wenuyo ali nkima obho. Bhagikala bho bhuyegi. Mpaga leo abhizukulu bhagabhamelaga abha guku na bha mama bhabho.

 

Kiswahili: Kulwa, Dotto Na Shija

Kulikuwa na mzee mmoja aliyekuwa na watoto watatu: mapacha Kulwa na Dotto na kipanda mapacha jina lake Shija. Watoto hao walikuwa na maisha mazuri na baba yao.

Baba yao alikuwa tajiri sana. Siku moja, baba yao aliwaambia watoto wake, “Sasa ninyi mmekua na kuwa watu wazima. Nawaomba mtafute wanawake wa kuoa. Kwanza aanze kulwa.”

Kulwa alitii agizo la baba yake, akaondoka na kwenda mashariki ya mbali. Huko alimpata mwanamke mzuri. Akafunga naye uchumba. Baadae Kulwa alirejea nyumbani. Akampa baba yake matokeo ya safari yake. Baba alifurahi na kumshukuru sana Kulwa.

Baadae ilifuata zamu ya Dotto. Naye alikwenda mashariki kumtafuta mwanamke  wa kumwoa. Alifaulu kumpata mwanamke mzuri, akakubaliana naye wakafunga uchumba. Dotto aliporejea nyumbani na kueleza kuwa amefaulu kumpata mchumba. Baba, alimuuliza Dotto, “Je, umempata wapi mchumba huyo?” Dotto alimjibu “Mashariki ya mbali.” “Kwa nani?” “Kwa mzee Fulani!” “Ala! Si hata ndugu yako Kulwa amefunga uchumba kwa mwanamke huyo huyo?”

Babu yao akamwambia baba yao, “Waache tu.” Mwisho, ikawa zamu ya kipanda mapacha, Shija. Naye alielekea upande uleule walikokwenda kuchumbia kaka zake.

Shija alimchumbia mwanamke yuleyule aliyekwisha chumbiwa na Kulwa na Dotto. Shija aliporejea nyumbani na kumweleza baba yake kuhusu mafanikio ya safari yake. Baba yao akasema, “Wanangu mmefanyaje? Mbona wote watatu mmempenda mwanamke mmoja yuleyule?”

Watoto wake wakajibu, “Uturuhusu tuende kwenye chuo ili kupata mafunzo. Yule atakayefuzu zaidi kuliko wote ndiye atakayemwoa mwanamke huyo.”

Ndipo baba yao akawaruhusu wanawe kwenda nchi za mbali kwenda kusoma. Mmoja alisomea mambo ya darubini, mwingine akawa daktari, na watatu alifuzu urubani  wa ndege.

 Walipohitimu masomo yao huko nchi za nje, mmoja alisema, “Itafaa tupime na tuone hali halisi ya huko nyumbani.” Walipima na kuona hali iko salama kabisa kule nyumbani. Halafu wakasema “Tupime pia kule tulikochumbia.” Walipompima yule mwanamke waliyemchumbia, waligundua kuwa mchumba wao ni mgojwa sana, tena mahututi kabisa. Wakaulizana, “Tufanye nini sasa?” Mmoja alishauri, “Daktari achukue dawa na vipimo vyake, na rubani achukue ndege, na hima twende bila kuchelewa.

Wote walikubaliana, wakaanza safari yao kwa ndege kwenda kumtibu yule mgonjwa. Walipowasili huko walimkuta yule mwanamke yuko taabani kabisa. Daktari alianza kazi ya kumpima na kumtibu. Baada ya muda alipona kabisa. Baada ya kupona kabisa, daktari alisema, “Kwa kuwa amepona, huyu mwanamke ni wangu.”

“Huyu ni mwanamke wangu, kwa sababu mimi ndiye niliyempima kwa darubini kutoka mbali na kufahamu kuwa mgonjwa mahututi,” mtaalamu wa darubini alidai.

Rubani naye akadakiza, “huyu ni mwanamke wangu kwa sababu mimi ndiye niliyewafanya muwahi haraka, kwa  hiyo huyu ni mwanamke wangu.

Katika mabishano hayo mmoja alisema, “Atakuwa mke wa babu yetu kwa sababu kwa namna moja au nyingine, kila mmoja wetu amemsaidia mwanamke huyo. Akiolewa na babu, atakuwa anatupikia chakula, nasi tutakula kama wajukuu zake.”

Walikubaliana, hivyo yule mwanamke akawa mke wa babu, wao wakawa ni wajukuu wa huyo bibi. Kweli bibi yao aliwapikia chakula. Na kwa kadiri ya maisha ya utani bibi huyo alikuwa ni mke wao. Waliishi kwa furaha. Hata leo wajukuu huwatania babu na bibi zao.

English: Kulwa, Dotto And Shija

 

ENGLISH: KULWA, DOTTO AND SHIJA

There was an old man who had three children: twins Kulwa and Dotto and the one who followed the twins  named Shija. The children had a good life with their father.

Their father was very rich. One day, the father told his children, “Now you have grown up and become adults. I ask you to look for women to marry.  Kulwa should start first.”

Kulwa obeyed his father’s command and left to go far eastward. There he found a beautiful woman.He engaged her afterwards, Kulwa returned home. He gave his father the results of his journey. His father was very happy and thanked Kulwa.

Later followed Dotto’s turn. And he went east to look for  a woman to marry. He successfully found a beautiful woman, and agreed with her and  decided to get married. Dotto went home and explained that he had succeeded in getting a woman. The father asked Dotto, “Where did you get that woman from?” Dotto replied “In the fareast.” “From whom?” “From an old man!” “Ala!  Hasn’t your brother Kulwa engaged that same woman? ”

Their grandfather said to their father, “Leave them alone.” Finally, it became the turn of Shija who was born after the twins. And he also went to the same place where his brothers went to  look for women to marry.

Shija took the same woman who had been taken by Kulwa and Dotto. Shija returned home and told his father about his success. Their father said, “My sons, what have you done? Why do you all love the same woman?”

His children replied, “Let us go to college to get training. The one who will get the highest qualifications  will marry the woman.”

Then their father allowed his sons to go abroad to study. The first one studied telescope studies, the second studied medical studies, and the third one studied eaircraft studies wit the intention to become a pilot.

 When they graduated from abroad, one of them said, “Let us try to get the view of home   and see the real situation there.” They looked using a telescope  and saw the situation completely safe at home. Then they said, “Let us also see where we got our fiancées from.” When they looked at the woman they had engageded, they found out that was seriously sick. They then asked each other, “What should we do now?” One of them advised, “The doctor should take his medication and  testing equipment, and the pilot should look  for an aeroplane so that we can go there without a delay.

They all agreed, began their journey by plane to go to attend the patient. When they arrived there, they found the woman in a desperate situation. The doctor began testing and giving her the required medication. After a while, she was completely healed. After she was completely healed, the doctor said, “Because she is healed, this woman is mine.”

“This is my wife, because I was the one who tested her from a telescope and knew that she was seriously ill,” a telescope expert demanded.

The pilot also responded, “This is my wife because I was the one who made you get here fast, so this is my wife.”

In that argument one of them said, “She will be our grandfather’s wife because in one way or another, each one of us has helped the woman. If she is married to our grandfather, she will feed us, and we will eat as her grandchildren.”

They agreed, so the woman became their grandfather’s wife, and they became her grandchildren. Truly, their grandmother cooked them food. And according to the life of jokes, the lady was their wife. They lived happily and unto this day, grandchildren make jokes with their grandfathers as well as with their grandmothers.

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Waliho bhabha umo otegaga noni ulina na ng’wana okwe, ilina lwakwe witanagwa, Masemba. Otegaga Malwabhu, ung’wila giki ung’wana okwe,  “Jugaloleje inoni jise.” Ugasanga lyapujiwagwa inoni Lidundo.

Lyung’wila giki, “Nkoyi nilekelage nagugupija nane.” Ushoka kaya ugabhujiwa nu Ise uhaya giki, “Dudapujije.” Uja hangi unamhala ugatega,  bhagaja gujulindila hangi ntondo, uwilwa hangi ntondo ugujuloleja, aha ukaloleja usanga lyapujiwagwa inoni itale lina lyalyo Nkaganga.

Aho ulidima lyung’wila giki, “nilekelage nkoyi nunene nalagupija.” Na ulilekela ng’hana ushoka kaya. Ugabhujiwa hangi nu Ise, ginehe nkoyi uko dugutegelaga, uhaya “Nugumo.”

Unamhala wiza ubhuka uja koyi uko bhagutegelaga. Aho oshika koyi ugasanga jifuluguto na jitobhango, wibhuja unamhala, aliyo ginehe icheniki. Wandya gugisilija lulu unamhala. Uwilwa na bhanhu, “Iki umasemba agumanagu ujilekela ulu opuja.”

Namhala ukolwa gete niyo,  ushoka kaya. Giko lulu ung’wila giki, “Dujage dugatule mandu ilibhuluma lyakulile no.” ung’wila giki, “dupunzage mambo.”

Bhupunza ng’hana, intondo bhubhuka lulu bhajile gujukoma imambo.  Bhulinha lulu unamhala utongela ugulinha ukwigulya. Na ung’wila lulu masemba, “Linhaga nang’ho dutone amandu. Ng’hana ulinha nawe unabhandya lulu ugutula amandu, aha bhakwija uhaya giki, “Dikage duje kaya.”

Utongela hangi unamhala ugwika, omana ulu agwikaga, unamhala  ulinalipuo omana ujitula imambo janegela ojidubula, nose ung’wana ubhuja giki, “Bhabha ugujikomolaga bhuli imambo?”

Nang’hwe unamhala uhaya giki, “Ambu janegelaga ize najikome bhupya jidame.” Namhala lulu wandya gusolela na mandu duhu, adajikomile. Aho wamala ugusolela ung’wila lulu ung’wana okwe giki, “Ubhebhe lulu omanaga ujilekela inoni jane ohayaga ugubhejaga, unene naje kaya, chaga naha linti linili.”

Uja ng’hana kaya unamhala, uyukumya duhu ung’wana, alibhuja, “nakwita ki lulu iki inoni jang’wa bhabha najilekelaga?” Uyugwisha agulyaga mandu nose ugamala.

Naulizuka ilinoni ilitale ilo oliolilekela ili Kaganga wandya gulitana lulu bholyimbo akwimbaga giki;

“Nkaganga noni nkulu nzugu umbone nene,” Lyuditima lulu ijilaka jalyo lilikule. Ulala lulu, ntondo hangi dilu ulitana,

“Nkaganga noni nkulu nzugu umbone nene.” Lyuditima hangi lyegela. Ulala hangi, iza ulitana hangi ahawela umuakwitanilaga.

“Nkaganga noni nkulu nzugu umbone nene.” Lyegela lulu aliyo uliotubha gete ni nota yankola no. uyulitana lulu agulilaga umana giki akucha. Lyuditimila lulu  haha bihi. Ntondo dilu lulu lyushika, aha lyashika aha ng’wandu lyung’wila, “Masemba ginehe?” Nang’hwe uhaya, “Nene bhabha naluha,  nijagulya nagayiwa kunguno ya giki nakulekela, ubhabha okolwa no igiki nakulekela.

Lyuyomba giki, “faga mate,” amate genayo lulu iza lyugaguba, lyung’wila hangi giki, “subhalaga.” Usubhala amine nagene lyugaguba. Lyung’wila  logadatu, giki, “Nyaga” Aho onya mashi lyugaguba. Na lyung’wila lulu giki, “fungumukaga, aha ofungumuka iza lyunguba nu weyi nalyumpeja lulu kunchala kaya, lyang’wibhalaga kungongo.

Aha lyang’wegeleja umchalo lyung’wila giki, “Jaga lulu kaya, ugabheja ugunipija. Masemba ugashinga hakaya, ugabhina ntungilija gukila abhana abhangi.

Kiswahili: Mtegaji Wa Dundo

Kulikuwa na baba mmoja aliyekuwa akitega ndege na alikuwa na mtoto wake jina lake aliitwa Masemba. Alikuwa akitega Malwabu, alimwambia hivi mtoto wake, “Nenda ukaangalie ndege wetu.” Akakuta amenaswa ndege aliyeitwa Dundo.

Akamwambia kwamba “Bwana nisamehe nami nitakusalimisha.” Akarudi nyumbani na kuulizwa na baba yake hivi, “Hatukukamata?”  Mzee alienda tena kutega, wakaenda tena kwenda kusubilia kesho yake.   Akaambiwa tena, kesho utakwenda kuangalia. Alipoenda kuangalia akakuta amenasa ndege mkubwa jina Nkaganga.

Alipomshika akamwambia kwamba, “Nisamehe na mimi nitakuponya.” Akamwachia kweli akarudi nyumbani. Akaulizwa tena na baba yake, vipi bwana huko tunakotega, akasema “Lile lile.”

Mzee akaja akaenda kule wanakotegea. Alipofika kule, akakuta alama za kuonesha kuwa mtego ulikamata. Mzee akajiuliza, lakini vipi hivi. Akaanza kuulizia, akaambiwa na watu, “Hivi yule Masemba mwanao huwa anawaachia ukikamata.”

Mzee akakasilika kweli, akarudi nyumbani. Hivyo basi, akamwambia hivi, “Twende tukaangue ubuyu hii hali ya kukosa mboga imetuchosha mno.”  Akamwambia kwamba, “tutengeneze vijiti vya kupigilia.”

Wakavitengeneza kweli, wakaanza kupanda huku wakivipigilia vijiti hivyo kwa ajili ya kupandia kwenye miti ya ubuyu. Wakapanda huku mzee akiwa ametangulia kupanda juu. Akamwambia Masemba, “Panda nawe tuchume ubuyu. Kweli alipanda naye ndipo wakaanza kupiga ubuyu.  Walipotungua mwingi, alisema kwamba, “Tushuke basi tuende nyumbani.”

Alitangulia tena mzee kushuka. Wakati akishuka alikuwa na chuma la kuvipiga vijiti vinalegea na kuvichomoa. Mwishoe mtoto akauliza hivi, “Baba, kwa nini unavichomoa vijiti vya kupandia?”

Naye mzee akasema kwamba, “Vimelegea nije nivipigilie upya viimalike.”  Basi, mzee akaanza kuokota ubuyu tu, hakuvipigilia. Basi, alipomaliza kuokota akamwambia mwanae hivi, “Wewe ulipokuwa unawaachia ndege wangu, ulifikiri unafanya vizuri, mimi naenda nyumbani, ufe hapa kwenye mti huu.”

 Mzee akaenda kweli nyumbani. Mtoto akaanza kushangaa tu, akijiuliza, “nitafanya nini sasa, kwa vile nilikuwa nawaachia ndege wa Baba?” Akawa akila ubuyu kwa kutwa nzima, mwishowe akaumaliza ubuyu.

Akamkumbuka yule ndege mkubwa aliyemwachia Nkaganga akaanza kumuita kwa wimbo akiimba hivi:

“Nkaganga ndege mkubwa njoo unione mimi,”

Basi likatoa sauti ya lenyewe likiwa mbali. Basi, akalala kesho yake asubuhi akaliita tena.

“Nkaganga ndege mkubwa njoo unione mimi,”

Likatoa sauti tena likasogea. Akalala tena, akaja kuliita tena kesho yake, alivyokuwa analiita.

“Nkaganga ndege mkubwa njoo unione mimi,”

Likasogea basi, lakini alikuwa ana njaa kweli na kiu ilimkamata sana. Akawa analiita huku akilia akijua kwamba atakufa.

Sauti yake ikasikika hapa karibu. Kesho yake asubuhi likafika. Lilipofika kwenye mbuyu huo, likamwambia, “Masemba vipi?”  Naye alisema, “Mimi baba nilishateseka. Hata chakula nilishakosa kwa sababu ya kwamba nilikuachia. Baba alikasilika sana kwamba nilikuachia.

Likasema kwamba, “tema mate,” mate hayo basi yakaja likayadaka. Likamwambia tena hivi, “kojoa.” Akakojoa ule mkojo nao likaudaka. Likamwambia mara ya tatu, hivi, “Kunya” alipokunya mavi likayadaka.

Basi, Likamwambia hivi, “Polomokaga, alipopolomoka lilikuja likamdaka naye. Basi likamkimbiza kumpeleka nyumbani, huku nimembeba mgongoni.

Lilipomsogeza kwenye kijiji hicho, likamwambia hivi, “Nenda basi nyumbani, ulifanya vizuri kuniokoa. Masemba akashinda nyumbani, akawa mkweli kupita watoto wengine.

 

ENGLISH: A TRAPER OF “DUNDO” (A LOCAL NAME GIVEN TO ONE OF THE BIG BIRDS).

There was a father who was trapping birds and had his son named Masemba. He was trapping Malwabu (a name of bird). One day, he said to his child, “Go look at our birds.” He found a big bird called Dundo trapped.

He said to him, “Lord, forgive me and I will save you.” He returned home and was asked by his father, “Haven’t we caught any?”The boy said “Yes”.The old man went to set traps again, and went back to wait for the next day. The old man  told his son again, “Tomorrow you will go and check again”. When he went to check the next day, he found a big bird named Nkaganga trapped.

When he touched it, it said, “Forgive me and I will heal you.” He left it and returned  home. He was asked again by his father, Mr. how is there where we set our traps? The son  said, “It is the same.”

The old man came to where they were talking. When he got there, he found signs to show that the trap caught. The old man wondered how. He began to inquire, and was told by the people, “Your son,Masemba, normally lets them go after catching them.”

The old man was truly angry he returned home and told him , “Let’s go and pick up ubuyu (dry baobab fruits) we are tired of this situation of missing vegatables.” He said to him, “Let us make short sticks to fix on the baobab tree so that we can climb into the tree easliy”

They  really made them and started climbing up by fixing the sticks on baobab tree. They climbed up and old man advanced to climb up. He said to Masemba, “You also climb up so that we can pick baobab fruits. He really went up with him and began to pick baobab fruits. When they got a lot, he said, “Let us go down and go home.”

The old man went back ahead of Masemba. When he came down he had the iron to hit the sticks and pulls them. Finally, the child asked, “Dad, why are you pulling out the sticks?”

And the old man said, “They are loose let me go over and get them ready.” So, the old man just started picking up fruits, put the sticks as he said. So when he had finished picking up, he said to his son, “When you left my birds, you thought you were doing well, I am going home, you die here on this tree.”

 The old man went home. The son just began to wonder, asking himself, “What am I going to do now, since I was leaving the Dad’s birds?” He started eating fruits of that tree, until he finished them.

He remembered the big bird that he left known as Nkaganga and began calling it by a song singing:

“Nkaganga a great bird come and see me,”

Then it made its own voice far away. So he slept the next morning and called it again.

“Nkaganga a great bird come and see me,”

It sounded again. He slept, and called the bird again the next day.

“Nkaganga a great bird come and see me,”

It came closer, but he was really hungry and thirsty. He was calling it while crying, knowing that he would die.

Its voice was heard around there. The next morning it came. When it reached that tree, it said to him, “Masemba how do you feel?” “Father, Iam in great trouble. I have even missed food because I left you. My father was very angry that I left you go.”

The bird  said to him, “Spit salva” Salva came to it and caught it. It  said to him again, “urinate.” It took the urine and swallowed it. It then  told him the third time, “defecate”. Whe he defecated, it caught the dung.

Lastly, the bird said to him, “Let yourself down.” When he let him down, it received him on its back  and took him home on its back.

When it took him to the village, it said this, “Go home, you did well to save me.” Masemba spent time at home, and became honest more than other children.

Collected by: Don Sybertz,

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

Lushigu lumo, mhuge yalina na nzala, giko igaja kumongo kugiki ipandikile jagulwa. Aho yashika ukumongo, igansanga ng’wano ngholo aling’wa minzi.

Imhuge yunkanga ung’wano ngholo yuyomba, “Bhebhe! Lekaga ugugayugula a minzi!” Ung’wano ngholo agashosha, “Lekaga ubhubuli bhoko! Nadinayugula minzi, aliyo nu bhebhe huna uliagayugula  aminzi. Umanile gete igiki aminzi gagahumaga gufuma ng’wigulwa umumilima gwiza hasi kunu uko nali unene.”

Ahenaho imhuge igachola wikobhya bhungi, na gunaumu ung’wanongholo, “Aliyo ni bhuli uganidukila unene ing’wakizo?” Ung’wanongholo, agailemeja, “Ala! iki unene ing’wakizo nalinadina bhyalwa! Ninadugijahe ugugudukila?”

“Ulu udanidukilile ubhebhe, bhasi, mumho nu mayu oko onidukila.” Imhuge agakoyakoya. Gashinaga pye iyiniyo yaliyabhulongo, kulwa nguno imhuge aliyiyangula gunya ung’wanongholo uyo. Giko, wangu wangu igang’wikindila ung’wanongholo, yumulaga na gunya.

Ubhulangwa bhoho bhuli giki, gashinaga umuwikaji bho bhuli lushigu, umunhu ulu wiyangula gwita shibhi, agogohaga, bho gufunya jilembekejo kugiki mpaga wiyite du iyo wiyangulaga guyita.

 

Kiswahili: Mbwa-Mwitu Na Mwanakondoo

Siku moja, Mbwa-mwitu alikuwa na njaa, hivyo akaenda mtoni ili kujipatia mlo. Alipofika mtoni, alimkuta Mwanakondoo akinywa maji. Mbwa-mwitu alimshitua Mwanakondoo akasema,  “We! Acha kuyachafua maji!” “Acha upuuzi wako! Sijachafua maji, bali wewe ndiye unayeyachafua maji. Unafahamu fika kwamba maji hutiririka kutoka juu kilimani kuja chini huku niliko mimi.”

Hapo Mbwa-mwitu akatafuta hila nyingine, ya kumlaumu Mwanakondoo,  “Lakini kwa nini ulinitukana mwaka jana?”  Mwanakondoo akakanusha,  “Ala! Mbona mimi mwaka jana nilikuwa sijazaliwa! Ningewezaje kukutukana?”

“Iwapo hukunitukana wewe, basi mama yako alinitukana.”  Mbwa-mwitu alitapatapa. Kumbe, hayo yote yalikuwa madai ya uongo, kwani  Mbwa-mwitu alidhamiria kumla yule Mwanakondoo. Hivyo ghafla akamrukia Mwanakondoo, akamwua na kumla.

Katika maisha ya kila siku, binadamu anapokusudia kutenda maovu anaogopa kwa kutoa visingizio ilimradi atende alichonuia.

English: The Wolf And The Lamb.

 

ENGLISH: THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

One day, the wolf was hungry, so it went to the river to get some food. When it got to the river, it found the Lamb drinking water. The wolf struck the Lamb and said, “You! Stop polluting water! ” The lamb replied, “Stop your nonsense! I do not pollute the water, but you are the one who pollute the water. You know that the water flows from the top of the hill to the ground where I am. ”

Then the wolf sought another trick to blame the Lamb, “But why did you insult me last year?” The Lamb denied, “Alas!Last year I was not yet born! How could I insult you?”

“If you didnot insultme, then your mother did.” The wolf screamed. In fact, all of these were false claims, as the wolf intended to eat the Lamb. So, suddenly, the wolf  jumped onto the Lamb, killed it and ate it.

In everyday life, when a person intends to do evil, he hesitates doing directly by giving false accusations in order to ultimately do what he intends.