Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu
With special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African proverbs,Sayings and stories)

Nchilu ogusamba bhiloleji uleka abhabhini. Oliho ngosha umo olagijaga mbina ha ng’wakwe. Ulubhandya ugubhina, osola jisambo obhinha abhanhu abhobhizaga gwilolela, oleka abho bhagubhinaga.

Ugwene guhaya giki, ulu namugi agamalilaga sabho jakwe kuwalwa nulu kubhashimbe, agusambaga bhiloleji.

Kiswahili: Mwenye Hasira Huzawadia Watazamaji Anaacha Wachezaji

Mwenye asira huzawadia watazamaji na kuwaacha wachezaji. Alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja aliyekuwa anaagiza ngoma kwake. Wakiaanza kucheza alichukua zawadi anawapa watu waliokwenda kutazama, aliacha waliokuwa wanacheza.

Ndiyo kusema kwamba, kama mwenye nyumba anamalizia pesa zake kwenye pombe au kwa wanawake, anazawadia watazamaji.

ENGLISH: A STUPID MAN REWARDS VIEWERS RATHER THAN DANCERS

There once lived a man who one day invited different groups of dancers to his house. After the dancers had started dancing, he gave gifts to the viewers who had come to watch them dance, instead of giving them to the dancers.

The moral of this tale is that a man who wastes his money on alcohol or women rewards viewers rather than dancers.

 

 

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

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

Lushiku lumo Lung’wando akawilwa na Mulungu, “Bhebhe ng’wana Kang’wa, ukafule mhembe ya kugabhanha mikila bhana ndimu. Jilalikage pye indimu ujiwile jize kugabhanha mikila.” Nguno shiku jenijo ndimu pye jali jitina mikila. Huna lulu ng’wana Kang’wa akafula mhembe umo akawililwa na Mulungu.

Aho wela ndimu jandya kwiza aho jitanilagwa. Aliyo ndimu imo Mhimbi yubhiza itujaga. Ulu bhabhita bhiye bhajile bhamuja giki, “Bhuli ubhebhe utujaga kujusola mikila?” Nang’hwe uhaya giki, “Tongagi duhu aying’we, unene nakwiza hanuma, nguno ngabhi nu mami (ja ng’wa mami najo jane) Nakwisanga duhu natulilagwa.”

Bhamanuja cheniko, bhaja bhakashoka na mikila. Kushika Mhindi muna Mhimbi ubhuka ajile. Aho washika ko unsanga ng’wana Kang’wa mamiye uhaya, “Mami, ninhage nu nene unkila nizila.” Mamiye uhaya giki, “Yashilaga imikila ng’wipwa wane, nu nene nendulebhela, nasolaga kadololo duhu.” Mhimbi wandya kulila ucha soni upela ku mapilinga. Kushika lelo Mhimbi akikalaga ku mapilinga wibhisabhisaga, ogoha kwisanja na bhiye angu akusekwa iki atina nkila.

Kiswahili: Sungura Na Pimbi

Siku moja Sungura aliambiwa na Mungu, “Wewe Ng’wana Kang’wa, kapulize filimbi ya kugawana mikia wanyama pori. Waalike wanyama pori wote waje kugawana mikia.”

Basi kwa hali hiyo Ng’wana Kang’wa alipuliza filimbi kama alivyoambiwa na Mungu. Hii ni kwa sababu siku hizo, wanyama pori hawakuwa na mikia.

Kesho yake wanyama pori walianza kwenda pale walipoalikwa. Lakini mnyama mmoja jina lake Pimbi hakuenda. Walipopita wenzake wakienda walimuuliza hivi, “Kwa nini wewe huendi kuchukua mikia?” “Ninyi Tangulieni tu mimi nitakuja baadaye, kwa sababu mgawaji ni mjomba wangu (mali ya mjomba nayo ni yangu) nitaikuta tu nimewekewa.”

Walikuwa wakienda hivyo, wanaenda na kurudi na mikia. Kufika jioni akaanza safari ya kwenda. Alipofika akamkuta mjomba wake Ng’wana Kang’wa, akasema “Mjomba, nipe na mimi mkia nimefata.”

Mjomba wake alisema hivi, “Imeisha mikia mpwa wangu, na mimi kidogo nikose, nimechukua kadogo tu.

Pimbi alianza kulia akaona aibu akakimbilia kwenye mawe. Mpaka leo Pimbi huwa anakuwa maporini kwenye mawe akijificha ficha. Alishaogopa kuchangamana na wenzake eti atachekwa kwa vile hana mkia.

ENGLISH: THE HARE AND THE HYRAX

One day, God said to the Hare, “Ng’wanaKang’wa (a nick name for the Hare) blow the whistle so that all wild animals can come here to get tails.”

Ng’wanaKang’wa did as God had told him. In those days animals did not have tails.

The next day nearly all wild animals went to the place where God wanted them to gather. But one animal called Pimbi (Hyrax) did not go. As the other animals passed by his place, some of them asked, “Why are you not going to the place where we’re going to get tails?”

“Just go. I’ll come later and get my tail,” he said. “The tail distributor is my uncle (my uncle’s property is mine, too). I’ll certainly get a tail.”

The other animals went and got the tails. In the evening, Pimbi went, too. When he arrived at the place, he said to Ng’wanaKang’wa, “Uncle, I came to get a tail. Please give me one.”

His uncle said, “My nephew, I’ve run out of tails.”

Pimbi began to cry. He was so embarrassed that he ran to the rocks. To date, Pimbi hides on the rocks. He doesn’t want to be close to other animals because he fears that they might laugh at him because he doesn’t have a tail.

 

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

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

Waliho nsaji umo aha mhunze aladina myenda. Agaja kubhamaduka gujulomba myenda, ugimiwa ugapejiwa uwilwa dingilage aha isaji ebhe. Munhu ng’wenuyo akinga uja kulinwani ng’wiye katibu kata, John Nkinga ugalomba kwenuko myenda.

Katibu kata ung’winha unsaji ng’wenuyo myenda. Ng’waka gwenuyo bhugigela bhusatu bhojipindupindu. Aha makanza gene bhaliho na bhajinja bha Shi.

Katibu kata ubhajija kujinja Shi kunguno ya bhusatu wenubho bhojipindupindu. Bhajinja bha Shi bhiwila giki dumulagagi ung’wenuyu ni bhuli alidujija guguja Shi? Dulile he?

Bhizunilija shene ng’hana bhamulage. Ahi kanza bhakwilomelaga oliho unsaji uyo aginhiwa myenda nu John Nkinga aladegelekile, abhoyi abhajinja bha Shi bhahayaga giki ung’wenuyo amasala magehu nekagi duhu adita nulu ki.

Unsaji uyu nwani ng’wiye ong’wa katibu kata uja ukang’wila giki abhajinja bha Shi bhahaya giki, “Bhaliza gugubhulaga kunguno obhajija gujinja Shi.

Katibu kata ahawigwa chene uja kuli mkuu /ntale o wilaya ugalomba bhuhamisho usamiwa uja gujutumamila Masanga.

Yubhiza sawa nulu sumo ulo lulihaya giki, “Nipijage lohasilili nang’ho nalagupija lohigulya.

Kiswahili: Niokoe Ya Chini Chini Nami Nitakuokoa Ya Juu Juu

Kulikuwa na kichaa mmoja pale Mhunze hakuwa na nguo. Alienda kwa wenye maduka kuomba nguo, akanyimwa na kufukuzwa akaambiwa ‘tuondokee hapa kichaa wewe.’

Mtu huyo aliondoka akaenda kwa rafiki yake katibu kata, John Nkinga kuomba huko nguo. Katibu kata alimpa kichaa huyo nguo. Mwaka huo uliingia ugonjwa wa kipindupindu. Wakati huo pia walikuwepo wauza samaki.

Katibu kata aliwakataza kuuza samaki kwa sababu ya ugonjwa huo wa kipindupindu. Wauza samaki waliambizana kwamba wamuue huyo katibu, kwa nini aliwakataza kuuza samaki? Wangekula wapi? Walidai hivyo.

Walikubaliana hivyo kwamba wamuue. Wakati wakizungumza alikuwepo yule kichaa aliyepewa nguo na John Nkinga akisikiliza, wao wauzaji wa samaki walifikiri kwamba huyo ana akili ndogo tu hangefanya kitu chochote.

Kichaa huyu rafiki ya katibu kata alienda kumwambia hivi, wauza samaki wamesema kwamba, “Wanakuja kukuua kwa sababu umewakataza kuuza samaki.

Katibu kata aliposikia hivyo, alienda kwa mkuu wa wilaya kuomba uhamisho akahamishwa kwenda kufanya kazi Masanga.

Ikawa sawa na methali imesamayo hivi, “Niokoe ya chini chini nawe nitakuokoa ya juu juu.”

ENGLISH: SAVE ME NOW AND I’LL SAVE YOU IN FUTURE

Once upon a time, there was a madman at Mhunze. He used to go about naked. He went to shop owners to beg for clothes. He was refused and told to get away from them.

The madman went to his friend, a ward secretary called John Nkinga, to beg for clothes. The ward secretary gave him clothes. The same year cholera broke out in their village. There were fish sellers in the village.

The ward secretary forbade them to sell fish because of cholera. The traders asked the madman to kill the secretary because he had forbidden them to sell fish. “How else can we earn a living?” they asked.

They agreed to kill him. While speaking, the madman, who had been given clothes by John Nkinga, was listening to them. The fish sellers thought that he had just a little mind and that he could do nothing.

The madman went to the ward secretary and said to him, “The fish sellers are coming to kill you because you’ve forbidden them to sell fish.”

When the ward secretary heard it, he went to the district commissioner to request that he be transferred to Masanga.

What happened was similar to the saying “Save me now and I’ll save you in future.”

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

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

Waliho mayu umo na ngoshi wakwe. Mayu uyu witanagwa ng’wana Masanja. Bhose bhubhili wabho bhikalaga ng’wa nsabhi umo wa ng’ombe. Na bhuli ng’wene bhali na nimo gokwe heke. Ng’wana Masanja unimo gwakwe kubhazugila shiliwa bhadimi. Na ngoshi walina nimo gwa kusoloja ng’ombe ahikanza bhalija kwidima, na hikanza lya kushoka.
Lushiku lumo nsabhi akabheja jigukulu bhulya na kuhaya, “Talya twiguta giki? Uadamu nu Eva ulu ninalinene, ninatahubhile giko.” Nu ng’wana Masanja nawe uhaya, “Unene ulu ninali Eva ninatahubhile.

Aha shiku iti ningi, nsabhi agita hangi jikukulu. Shiliwa pye shigenhwa, shutulwa ha meza. Naha Meza henaho, nsabhi akatula kashiseme kado kasoga. Kna nkundikijo. Umushiseme ijo yaliliho noni imo. Iyo yaliyakundikijiwa.

Aha yabhita yeniyo bhakalya bhiguta gete. Aho bhatinakundula umu kajiseme ako, ikanza lidakulile winga unsabhi, ubhaleka bhabhili aha meza, ng’wana Masanja nu ngoshi wakwe.

Nsabhi akaja kujubhambilija bhadimi. Aho winga unsabhi, ung’wana Masanja uhaya, “Nene nali ng’wana Masanja kamo.” Akasula hanze, uyomba “Mpaga nasule umujiseme iji.” Ng’wana Masanja ukundula ilikundikijo kubhuluka kanoni kulala. Ng’wana Masanja nu ngoshi bhuzonga noi. Bhuli ng’wene alibhuja.

Nsabhi aho washoka wingila mukaya. Ubhasanga ung’wana Masanja nu ngoshi wakwe bhasunduhalaga no. Nsabhi umana giki bhakundulaga akajiseme.

Nsabhi ukundula umukajiseme umo kali akanoni ubhuja giki, “Ing’wakundula ijiseme iji?” Ng’wana Masanja akapinihala gete. Ngoshi wakwe akahaya nu ng’wana Masanja wakundulaga akanoni kulala ng’wigulya

Kiswahili: Mimi Ni Bint Wa Masanja Hasa (Mara Moja) (Tajiri Na Mwana Masanja).

Alikuwepo mama mmoja na Bwana wake. Mama huyo alikuwa anaitwa Mwana Masanja. Wote wawili walikuwa  wakiishi kwa tajiri mmoja wa ng’ombe. Mwana Masanja kazi yake ilikuwa kupika chakula cha wachungaji. Na wanapokwenda machungani na wakati wa kurudi huwahesabu.

Siku moja tajiri alifanya sikukuu wakala na  kusema, “Tumekula tumeshiba hivi? Huyu Adamu na  Eva kama ningelikuwa mimi nisingelikosa namna hiyo.”  Mwana Masanja naye akasema,  “Mimi ningelikuwa Eva nisingelikosa.

Baada ya siku si nyingi, tajiri alifanya tena sikukuu. Chakula chote kililetwa kikawekwa mezani. Pale pale mezani tajiri akaweka chombo kidogo kizuri  kina mfuniko. Katika chombo hicho  kilichofunikwa alikuwemo ndege.

Baada ya hayo walikula na kushiba sana. Kabla ya kufunua kwenye chombo kile, muda haukupita tajiri aliondoka akawaacha wawili pale mezani, Mwana Masanja na Mmewe.

Tajiri alikwenda kuwasaidia wachungaji. Alipoondoka tajiri, mwana Masanja akasema, “Mimi ni Mwana Masanja hasa.”  Akachungulia nje, akasema, “Lazima niangalie kwenye chombo hiki.”

Mwana Masanja akafunua mfuniko, akatoka ndege ndani ya chombo na kuruka angani.  Mwana Masanja na mmewe wakahuzunika mno, kila mmoja akiwaza.

Tajiri aliporudi akaingia ndani, akawakuta mwana Masanja na Bwana wake wamehuzunika sana. Tajiri akafahamu kwamba wamefungua kwenye chombo hicho. Tajiri akafunua kwenye chombo alimokuwamo ndege.

Akawauliza kwamba, “Mlifungua kwenye chombo hiki?”

Mwana Masanja alihuzunika sana. Mme wake akasema,  “Huyu Mwana Masanja alifungua na ndege akaruka juu.

 

ENGLISH: I’M MASANJA’S SPECIAL DAUGHTER

There once lived a woman and her husband in a certain village. The woman was called Ng’wanaMasanja (Masanja’s daughter). Both were living with a man who had a big herd of cows. Ng’wanaMasanja cooked food for the shepherds. The shepherds counted the cows when they went to the bush to graze them and when they returned home.

One day, the rich man organised a feast. After they had eaten, the people said, “We’ve eaten and are very full.” Again, they said, “If we’re Adam and Eve, wouldn’t we have committed such a mistake. Ng’wanaMasanja also said, “If it were me, wouldn’t I have done so, too?”

A few days later, the rich man organised another feast. All the food was brought to the table. He put on the table a beautiful container covered with a lid. There was a bird in the container.

After they had eaten the people were very happy. Before opening the container, the rich man went where the shepherds were to help them with some work, leaving Ng’wanaMasanja and her husband at the table.

When he’d left, Ng’wanaMasanja said, “I’m Masanja’s special daughter.” She looked outside and said, “I want to see what is in this container.”

Ng’wanaMasanja opened the lid. The bird came out of the container and flew into the sky. She covered the container with the lid again. Everyone thought that Ng’wanaMasanja and her husband were very sad about the bird’s disappearance.

When the rich man came back, he found Ng’wanaMasanja and her husband very sad. He opened the container and then asked, “Did you open the container?”

Ng’wanaMasanja was very sad. Her husband said, “This Ng’wanaMasanja opened it and the bird flew away.

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

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

Waliho ngosha umo walatolile, ubyala bhana bhagosha bhike ikumi na bhabhili. Huna lulu nkima kubhazugila bhana bhingi cheniki wapandikaga makoye.

Makoye kizilaga hikubhi, lyanguhaga kushila. Bhandya lulu bhana kuiimba (kutaya) nduhu ukwiguta. Likubhi lya shilaga mayu. Twamalaga ikubhi. Ngikulu ubhashogeja, “Twite ki lulu?”

Huna lushiku lumo kizaho kageni. Ngeni umuja, “Bhanhu bhako bhakumanaga bhulomba (bhutaya) ikubhi bhuli?” Uhaya, Nite kinehe?” Mhuli itabhunagwa nkondo gwayo nakwiyumilija duhu.

Natigelile kuleka kubhazugila.” Ngeni ung’wila giki, ulu ulitogwa bhana bhako bhoye kumana bhulomba makubhi, nakulange isala. Ulu wazuga ikubhi, watula fugo, walileka ikubhi lingi hishiga likale lilipogoma, kushiga kubisha bhugali moto kwikale gulibhaka ho. Gemaga nzila yeniyo hamo ikukwambilija.”

Aho wabhatwalila bhugali, ikubhi lyali isebu. Aho bhandya kulya lulu, ulu wagema kulija ikubhi lingi wapya waduma kulija ikubhi lingi. Bhose bhita chene, nabhuduma kwinja ikubhi lingi. Bhuyinenela (kwinja kakubhi kado kado. Nose bhugali bhushila ikubhi litali lilimo mu nungu.

Ngeni ung’wila, wabhona isala lyenilo tumamilaga giko shiku jose. Iki mhuli itabhunagwa nkondo gwayo. Utudula kubhapeja bhana iki kugayiwa ikubhi iyumilijage duhu.

Kiswahili: Tembo Hazidiwi Na Mkonga Wake

Hapo kale aliishi mwanamume mmoja ambaye alikuwa ameoa. Walibahatika kuwa na watoto wa kiume kumi na wawili. Kwa hiyo, mama alipata shida sana kuwapikia chakula watoto wengi hivi. Shida kubwa ilikuwa kuhusu upatikanaji wa mboga. Daima mboga katika familia hiyo ilimalizika haraka  haraka.

Watoto wale wakianza kulalamika, ulikuwa ni wimbo wao wa kila siku, “Mboga imekwisha mama! Tumemaliza mboga mama!”

“Sasa nifanye nini wanangu?”

Siku moja alifika mgeni. Mgeni yule akamuuliza yule mama.

“Kwa nini watoto wako kila siku wanalalamika kuwa hawana mboga?”

“Sasa nifanyeje?  Tembo huwa hazidiwi na mkonga wake. (Tembo hashindwi na mkonga wake). Nitajitahidi  tu kuwapikia, kamwe sitaacha.”

Mgeni akamwambia,  “Iwapo unapenda watoto wako waache tabia ya kuomba mboga, nitakufundisha mbinu.”

“Mbinu gani?” Mama aliuza.

Mgeni akajibu, “Unapopika mboga na kuiweka kando ili kupika ugali, uwe unaiacha mboga nyingi figani.  Ikae pale ikichemka hadi unapokuwa umesonga ugali. Moto uwe pale ukiendelea kuwaka.

Alipowapelekea ugali mboga ilikuwa bado ina moto. Na yeyote atakayeanza kuchota mboga nyingi, itamchoma na kumwunguza kooni. Mazoea yana taabu.

Siku hiyo, mama yao akawaandalia mboga kama alivyoelekezwa na yule mgeni. Wote wakanawa. Basi, wakawa wanachota mboga kidogo kidogo na hawakuathirika.

Mwishowe ugali ukaisha na huku mboga ikawa bado chunguni. Mgeni akamwambia yule mama, “Umeiona akili hiyo? Fanya hivyo kila siku.”

“Sawa kabisa! Kwa vile Tembo hazidiwi na mkonga wake. Huwezi kuwafukuza watoto kwa kuwa umekosa mboga. Vumilia tu.”

 

ENGLISH: AN ELEPHANT IS NOT OVERWHELMED BY ITS TRUNK

Once in Tanzania there was a Sukuma mother who had 12 sons who were a constant concern for her. Try as she may, she never was able to cook enough food to satisfy them. She would prepare a bowl of “ugali” (stiff, cooked corn meal) together with more than enough “mboga” (meat, fish, or vegetables
in gravy).

In no time the 12 boys would finish the mboga and say: “Mother, the mboga is finished. Give us some more to eat with our ugali.” The same thing happened day after day until the mother was at a loss as to what to do. Then one day an elderly woman came to visit.

When the food was prepared, the guest was amazed how quickly the ten young men devoured the mboga and then said: “Mother, the mboga is finished. Give us some more.” After the meal the elderly woman said to the mother of the ten boys: “My dear friend, I am amazed how quickly your sons eat the mboga.

The mother replied, “What can I do? An elephant is not overly burdened by its trunk.” The guest replied, “What you say is true. But let me tell you something. The next time you cook mboga don’t give it to them all at once. Leave some of it in the pot on the stove until it becomes very hot.”

The next day when the boys asked for more mboga, the mother gave it to  them sizzling hot right from the fire. In fact, the mboga was so hot that they could eat the ugali with only a little bit of mboga for fear of burning their tongues. In this way the elderly guest was able to help the mother of the ten boys in her predicament. Truly an elephant is not overly burdened by its trunk.