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

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

Zunzu ili noni ndololo gete alu nomo gwayo nihu no. Iki mili gwayo guli ndo, nu nomo nihu itadugije kwigombagula nulu kwinuna.

Umu shiku ja kale kushika na lelo bhanhu bhatumamilagwa kununwa ulu usata. Kwene kuhaya bhatemagwa lusalago na kutulwa ho jinuno, (ipembe lya ng`ombe) mininga gabhubhi gafume kubhununilo wa jinuno jutulwa ho jigondo nulu lubhubhi. Huna lulu ulu Manga wandya kuliduta lipembe na lubhubhi, jinuno jikala ho nulu dakika itano.

Iki masala ga bhanhu ng`hangala ningi gajililile ku limela ulu yubhonwa ngoko iligombagula mu nhingo, angu ilinuna. Nulu noni yose yose, aliyo Zunzu itudula kwigombagula umu nhingo kulwa nomo bhulihu nu mili gwayo guli ndo, kushika agombagulwe na ng’wiye.

Kiswahili: Zungu Hajitibu (Hajidonowi)

Zunzu ni ndege mdogo kabisa lakini mgomo wake ni mrefu mno. Kwa vile mwili wake ni mdogo na mdomo wake ni mrefu hivyo, hawezi kujidonoa au kujitibu.

Siku za zamani hadi kufikia leo watu walikuwa wakihudumiwa kwa kuvutwa kwa mdomo katika kupatiwa matibabu akiugua.

Ndipo kusema, amekatwa chale na kuwekewa pembe ya ng’ombe au kivuta damu chafu, ili itoke kwenye kivutio yaani kwenye ncha ya pembe. Hapo iliwekwa aina fulani ya gundi iwezayo kushikilia pembe.

Ndipo mganga huanza kulivuta lile pembe na ile gundi, kile kivuta damu chafu hukaa pale kwa muda kama wa dakika tano hivi.

Kwa vile na akili za watu, mara nyingi huelekea kwenye kutaniana kama akionwa kuku akijidonoa shingoni, eti anajivuta damu chafu, au anajitibu.

Hali hiyo, huweza kuongelewa pia kwa ndege yoyote, lakini Zunzu hawezi kujidonoa donoa shingoni, kwa sababu ya mdomo wake kuwa mrefu na mwili wake ni mdogo, mpaka adonolewe na mwenzake.

ENGLISH: ZUNZU (A SMALL BIRD) DOES NOT CURE ITSELF

A mumming bird is a very small bird but its beak is very long. Since its body is small and its beak is so long, it cannot cure itself.

From the past to this day, people were treated by means of a mouth.

That was done by incising some parts of the body and using the horn of the bull  to suck out the dirty blood  and make it come out through the tip of the horn. There was some kind of glue that could hold the horn.

Then, the healer could suck the horn and the glue which drew the dirty blood. It could stay there for about five minutes.

The minds of people  often make jokes when they see a chicken biting itself into the neck.They say the chicken is pulling out dirty blood, or she is curing herself.

That practice is also observed among birds. As for Zunzu, that  cannotbe done. She cannot bite her neck because its mouth is long and its body is small. She can only do that when assisted by a partner.

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

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

Namhala wali na bhana bhadatu. Namhala ng’wenuyo wali ni bhonde lya maguwa. Akayubhawila kujugalinda abhana bhakwe kunguno galiwagwa shinu. Usabho agabhawila giki, ulu bhalilinda bhiya ukulya amagua. Bhagita giko shiku ningi, nduhu ukulya amagua.

Lushiku na lushiku, ung’waniki uumo ubhihindanya abhiye ukabhinza wandya kulya. Aha wamala ukulya ugabhisa amafefa mumafa. Aha washoka, bhumuja abhiye wali waja he? Uyomba inakagalola amashinu uko magua ulu kadulyaga.

Ntondo yaho unamhala uja ukwibhonde lyakwe ukasanga amagua gabhinzile. Ubhabhuja abhalindi, “Nani walile amagua gane?” Bhalindi bhuyomba, “lmalulu” ubhawiia, “Yombagi ya ng’hana, nalihaya kusumba.” Aliyo bhatayombile uyo walile.

Namhala ushoka kaya, ukiza ni sumbi lya jisukuma lya nzule. Wiza ulitula ung’wibhonde, bhuyigasha umo umo ahi sumbi. Wandya kwimba, Nani wayilya mitumbi tumbi Nene nailile mitumbi tumbi. Ulu wamala ukwimba wabhuka.

Nu wakabhili, wigasha wandya ukwimba nigiko umu wimbilaga ung’wiye. Nu wa kadatu wigasha nang’hwe, aho wandya ukwimba, ili sumbi lyuyulibhila hasi, ulwalimalija ukwimba ulibhila hasi, ulibhila pye nilisumbi, lisi lilugala.

Namhala umana lulu uyo walyaga amagua gakwe. Ku mhindi abhaniki bhiyie abhabhili aha bhaja ikaya ukabhabhuja umayu wabho, “Ung’wiching’wi ali hali?” Nabho bhuyomba, “Ima lulu uko wajaga, twangayiwagwa.”

Aha gwashila ung’waka gwenuyo umujidiku unamhala ulima ngunda bihi nuko kwibhonde. Kuyubhita ka Jiji kajile ukwibhonde lyakwe. Kangisha, “Madilo bhabha” wazunya, “Madilo Jiji.” Bhigisha bhamala kang’wila giki, “Nabhite kunu nano” wakabhuja, “Ujile he? “Kuyomba, najile kunu duhu.” Kajiji kenako guja.

Gashi akanoni kenako gajaga kagadaha minzi, kandya kumumba ung`waniki aho walibhilila. Kagashada shiku idatu kagubhitaga. Nose unamhala ukabhuja, “Gwa ukubhitaga ukujaga heshi igete Jiji?” kuhaya, “Nagujaga kunu duhu.” Bhulekana, kukandya kumumba.

Aha kamala kuchimika loya logo aha ntwe gati ya bhulolo. Ng’waniki nsumba no. kajiji kung’wila ung`waniki ng`wenuyo “Nakutole lulu.” Ng’waniki uzunya. Kubhiza kansola kunchala kung’wago.

Aho kaganshisha ikaya kubokelwa na bhabyaji bhago. Bhigasha nu ng’waniki ng`wenuyo. Kikalile gakwe kagabhiza kawiza no. Kungulila myenda misoga, bhudodi wa mumagulu, jilatu jisoga.

Bhagigasha bhumala ng’waka kushila. Aha bhamala ng’waka ng’waniki ung’wila ungoshi Jiji, bhakagishe kung’wawe wa ng’waniki. Jiji uzunya bhuja ukujugisha ukubhukwiye.

Aha bhashika ukubhukwiye wa Jiji bhusumbilwa. Ngikulu utogwa no, ugumona ng’wana wakwe. Wina makanza malihu atumonaga. Aha bhigasha shiku ningi Jiji agankomiga unke bhashoke kaya.

Ng’waniki ulemejiwa nu Nina. Aho walemejiwa, nang’hwe ung’wila jiji giki, “Jaga duhu ubhebhe, nene natujaga.” Aha wawilwa giko Jiji wifukula uja, aha wakashika uko ng’wawe, ubhujiwa nu Nina, “Wakaneka he ung’winga wane? Jiji uyomba walemile atizaga ukunu.”

Aho wawilwa chene, ngikulu usatwa uhaya, “Jilaga imyenda yako ugantaje.” Ntondo diyu wipuna ujiji ajile, ukansanga unke alisha. Jiji wapelanaga ugagwa halugutu duhu wandya kwimba.

Mnangala yii! Mnangala,
Ninhe myenda yane mnangala,
Naje kaya yise mnangala

Ng’waniki ubhuka witunganya pye imyenda ifulushi lidi gete, umponegeja uyomba, “Gaya amamyenda gako.” Jiji ubhucha ilifulushi lya myenda uja akugwaga gwaga lyamunaga. Ntondo hangi unyamuka ujiji ugwa hangi aha lugutu wandya kwimba;

Mnangala yii! Munangala,
Ninhe bhudodi wane munangala.

Ng’waniki uyomba, “Mabhudodi duhu gayo.”
Jiji ubhucha bhudodi wakwe ajile kaya. Ntondo hangi ujiji ubhuka izile, ukashika naha akashigilaga wandya kwimba hangi;

Munangala yii! Munangala,
Ninhe loya lone munangala,
Naje kaya yise munangala.

Ngikulu wandya kumuja ng’wana wakwe giki, “Uloya hangi lulihe!” ng’waniki wihimangija wandya gusha duhu lulu bhufu. Jiji akishogela ukwimba hangi nduhu atinhagwa uloya lokwe. Jiji nose upelana gete wakalala Jiji ugankwala ung’waniki hagati ya ntwe. Jiji uludubula uloya lokwe. Ng’waniki usesaguka.

Kiswahili: Mnangala

Mzee alikuwa na watoto watatu. Mzee huyo pia alikuwa na shamba la miwa. Akawaambia watoto wake kwenda kulinda miwa iliyokuwa inaliwa na wadudu. Baba yao aliwaambia hivi, wakiwa wanalinda wasile miwa. Walifanya hivyo kwa muda wa siku nyingi, bila kula miwa.

Siku moja msichana mmoja aliwazunguka akaenda kuvunja miwa akaanza kula. Alipomaliza kula aliyafika maganda ya miwa kwenye majani. Aliporudi, walimuuliza wenzake “ulikuwa umeenda wapi?” Alisema, “nilienda kuyaangalia madudu kwenye miwa kama hayali.”

Kesho yake mzee alienda kwenye bustani yake akakuta miwa imevunjwa. Akawauliza walinzi, “Nani alikuja kuvunja miwa yangu.? Walinzi walisema, “Hatujui.” Akawaambia, “Semeni ya ukweli, nataka kutega dawa.” Lakini hawakusema yule aliyekula.

Mzee alirudi nyumbani, akaja na kiti cha kisukuma cha Nzule. Akaja akakiweka kwenye bustani, wakawa wanakaa mmoja mmoja kwenye kiti hicho. Akaanza kuimba, “Nani alikula pingili pingili Mimi nilikula pingili pingili.” Akimaliza kuimba anasimama.

Na wapili alikaa akaanza kuimba hivyo alivyoimba mwenzake. Na watatu alikaa naye, alipoanza kuimba kile kiti kikaanza kudidimia aridhini, alipomaliza kuimba alididimia ardhini, alididimia pamoja na kiti, ardhi ilijifunga.

Basi mzee akajua yule aliyekula miwa yake. Jioni walipoenda wale wasichana wenzake wawili nyumbani, mama yao akawauliza, “Mwenzenu yuko wapi?” Nao walisema, “Hatujui alikoenda, tumemkosa.”

Ulipoisha mwaka huo, mzee alilima shamba karibu na kwenye bustani yake. Kakawa kanapita ka Jiji (Jina la ndege) kanaenda kwenye bustani yake. Kanamsalimu, “Habari za jioni baba” anakubali, “Habari za jioni Jiji.”  Wanamaliza kusalimiana, kanamwambia hivi, “Nipite huku kwenye unafuu” anauliza, “Unaenda wapi?’ Kanasema, “naenda huku tu.” Kajiji hako kakaenda.

Kumbe kandege hako kalikuwa kanaenda kumuumba msichana pale alipodidimia. Kalitumia siku chache kakiwa kanapita. Mwishowe mzee akauliza, “Kila siku unapita ukienda wapi kweli Jiji? Kakasema, “Naenda huku tu. Wakaachana, kakaenda kuanza kumuumba.

Kalipomaliza kuchomeka unyoya wa kenyewe kwenye utosi wa kichwa cha udongo. Msichana mzuri mno akatokea. Kajiji kalimwambia msichana huyo “nikuoe basi.” Msichana alikubali. Kakawa kamemuoa kakampeleka nyumbani kaliko.

 Kalimfikisha nyumbani kakapokelewa na wazazi wa kenyewe. Wakakaa na yule msichana. Kuishi kwake kulikuwa kuzuri mno. Kakamnunulia nguo nzuri, ya mapambo na mabangili mazuri ya miguuni, na viatu vizuri.

Walikaa wakamaliza mwaka. Walipomaliza mwaka msichana alimwambia mumewe Jiji, wakawasalimie kwa wazazi wake msichana, Jiji alikubali, wakaenda kusalimia, kwa wakwe zake.

Walipofika kwa wakwe zake Jiji, walipokelewa. Mama mkwe alifurahi mno, kumuona mwanae. Alikuwa na muda mrefu bila kumuuona. Walipokaa siku nyingi Jiji alimwambia mke wake, warudi nyumbani.

Msichana alikatazwa na mama yake. Alikatazwa, naye akamwambia Jiji hivi, “Nenda tu wewe, mimi siendi.” Alipoambiwa hivyo, jiji alizila akaenda. Alipofika nyumbani kwao, aliulizwa na mama yake, “Umeenda kumuacha wapi mkamwana wangu” Jiji alisema, “Amekataa kurudi huku.”

Alipoambiwa hivyo, mama yake, aliumia akasema,  “Fuata nguo zako ukamnyang’anye.” Kesho yake asubuhi, Jiji alijihimu akaenda, akamkuta mke wake anasaga. Jiji akiwa amekasilika alienda kuanguka zizini tu, akaanza kuimba.

Mnangala Yii! Mnangala,

Nipe nguo zangu Mnangala,

Nienda nyumbani kwetu Mnangala.

Msichana akasimama akazifunga nguo zote kwenye furushi kubwa kabisa, akamtupia akisema, “Haya manguo yako.” Jiji alibeba lile furushi la nguo akaenda huku akianguka anguka na furushi likiwa limemzidi. Kesho yake tena Jili alirudi akaanguka kwenye zizi akaanza kuimba:

Mnangala yii! Mnangala,

Nipe udodi wangu Mnangala.

Msichana akasema, “Mabudodi (bangili za shanga) tu hayo hapo.” Jiji akabeba budodi wake akaenda nyumbani. Kesho yake tena Jiji alianza safari akirudi, akafika pale anapofikia akaanza kuimba tena:

Mnangala yii! Mnangala,

Nipe unyoya wangu mnangala,

Niende nyumbani kwetu Mnangala.

Mama yake akaanza kuuliza mtoto wake hivi, “Unyoya tena uko wapi!” Msichana, akajifanya hasikii, akaanza kusaga unga tu. Jiji alirudia kuimba lakini hapana, hakupewa unyoya wake. Mwishowe Jiji alikasilika akaruka na kwenda kumkwaluza msichana utosini kwa kucha zake. Jiji aliung’oa unyoya wake kwa kucha zake. Msichana akasambaa.

ENGLISH: MNANGALA

There was an old man who had three children. He also had a sugarcane farm. He told his children to guard the sugar cane that was being eaten by animals. Their father told them, to guard the farm. He told them not to eat sugarcane. For many days, they guarded the farm without eating sugarcane.

One day,one girl went to cut the sugarcane and began to eat. When she finished eating, she hid the pods of the sugarcane in the grass. When she joined others, her fellows asked her, “Where did you go?” She said, “I went to check if the animals were not eating sugar cane.”

The next day, the old man went to his garden and found sugarcanes which had been eaten. He asked the guards, “Who came to cut my sugarcane? The guards said, “We do not know.” He said to them, “Tell the truth, I want to put some potion.” But they did not say the one who had eaten the sugar cane.

The old man came home, and came with the Sukuma stool called Nzule. He came and put it in the garden.Then they were asked to sit on the stool, one after the other. He guided each of the children to sing, “Who ate parts of the sugar cane? I ate portions.” Whenever one finished singing, one had to  stand. The first daughter sang the song and stood up.

And the second one began to sing as the first one did.Then the third one sat with on the stool.When she started to sing, the stool began to sink into the ground. By the time she finished singing, she fell to the ground, she sankwith the stool. Then, the earth closed.

So the old man knew who had eaten his sugarcane. When the evening came, the two girls came to their house, and their mother asked them, “Where is your fellow?” They said, “We do not know where she went.”

When that year ended, the old man planted a farm near his garden. The bird called Jiji started passing (the name of the bird) going to the garden. It greeted, “Good evening father.” The old man responded, “Good evening Jiji.” After they had greeted each other, Jiji said to him, “Let me go over here where it is easier.” He asked, “Where are you going?” Jiji answered ‘I am just going there.’ It went.

The bird was going to create a girl when she sank. It spent a few days passing. Finally the old man asked, “I see you passing every day, where do you really go, Jiji?” He said, “I just go there. When they left it started to reform her.

At the end, it put its fur on the surface centre of the head. A very beautiful girl came out. Jiji then asked  the girl  “Will you marry me?” The girl agreed. She got  marriedto Jiji.

Jiji brought her to its home. Her husband bought her beautiful clothes, well-decorated and beautiful dresses, and good shoes.

They spent a year together. When they finished the year the girl told her husband Jiji, they should go to greet her parents. Jiji agreed. They went to greet his parents–in-law.

When they came to Jiji’sparents-in-law, they were cordially received. The mother-in-law was very happy to see her son-in-law. It had been a long time without her seeing him. After they had stayed for many days, Jiji told his wife that it was high time they went back home.

Unfortunately, the girl’s mother forbade her to go. After having been forbidden, she told Jiji, “You just go, I will not go.” When he was told this, Jiji lamented and went. When he got home, he was asked by his mother, “Where did you leave my daughter-in-law?” Jiji said, “She has refused to come back here.”

When he narrated that story, Jiji’smother was hurt. She said, “Go and take your clothes from her by force.” The next early morning, Jiji went to his wife’s home. He found his wife grinding. Jiji fell on cowshed, and started to sing.

Mnangala Yii! Mnangala,

Give me my clothes Mnangala,

Let me go to my home Mnangala.

The girl stood up and put all the clothes in a big suitcase, and threw them to him, saying, “These are your clothes.” Jiji carried that luggage of clothes and went home. He felt to be very overloaded. As a result, he was repeatedly falling and rising on his way. The next day Jiji returned and fell on the cowshed and started singing:

Mnangala yii! Mnangala,

Give me my docoration Mnangala.

The girl said, “Only the jewels (bracelets of beads) those are there.” Jiji carried her beads and went home. The next day Jiji began his way back. He arrived there and  againstartedt o sing:

Mnangala yii! Mnangala,

Give me my feather,

Let me go to our home Mnangala.

Her mother began to ask her child, “Where again is the feather?” The girl, pretending to be deaf, began to grind the meal. Jiji repeated to sing but now, it was not given its fur. At last Jiji, became furious and jumped and went to the girl’s head with its nails pulled its fur from her. Jiji pushed its fur with its nails. The girl disintegrated.

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

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

Waliho ngosha umo lina lyakwe Jiji, wali nguhi no. Ubhuguhi wenubho bhukang’wenheleja kwitanwa Jiji (kanoni kado). Nose akabyala bhana bhingi bhali bha mimili mitale na bhalihu, huna lulu ulu bhitanwa bha ng’wa Jiji, bhabhi bhucha Soni.

Nose bhuhaya, hambu hambu tusame henaha. Namhala alitugola no, alituponda Soni. Bhusama na gusama. Aho bhasegendela bhukamanwa, bha ng’wa Jiji ng’washikile nanali ukunu?

Bhandya kwiwila, “Kunu twamanwa, tusamagi tujagi, bhongeja lugendo lwabho kuja ipande lingi. Bhahayushika nu kwene bhukamanwa, bha ng’wa Jiji ng’washikile nanali?” Nose bhiwila giki, bhagosha tushokagi kaya tulinoga dalali. Tuli bha ng’wa Jiji nulu tuje hali tuli bha ng’wa Jiji.

Kiswahili: Hata Uenda Wapi Ni Wa Jiji

Alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja jina lake aliitwa Jiji. Alikuwa mfupi mno. Ufupi huo ulimsababishia yeyé kuitwa Jiji (ka ndege kadogo).

Mwishowe alizaa watoto wengi wa miili mikubwa na warefu. Wakawa wanaitwa watoto wa jiji, nao walijisikia aibu.

Mwishowe wasema afadhali wahame hapo. “Mzee anatutunza mno, lakini anatuaibisha.” Walihama pale. Walipofika mbali walitambuliwa, na watu wakaauliza, “Wa Jiji mmefika lini huku?”

Wakaanza kuambiana, “Huku tumetambuliwa, tuhameni twendeni.” Wakaongeza mwendo wao kwenda upande mwingine. Walipofika na huko wakatambuliwa, “Wa Jiji mmefika lini?”

Mwishowe, wakaambiana hivi, “wanaume turudi nyumbani tunachoka bure. Sisi ni wa Jiji hata tuende wapi ni wa Jiji.”

WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU ARE OF JIJI

There was a man named Jiji. He was very short. His shortness made him to be called Jiji (a type of a small bird).

Eventually he gave birth to many children who were tall and had well-built bodies. These children were called sons of Jiji.They felt embarrassed because of their father’s height.

Finally, they decided to leave and move to somewhere else where no one knew them. “Our father takes care of us very well, but he shames us.” Then, they left the place. When they were far off, they were recognized, and the people asked, “When did you of Jiji arrive here?”

They began to say to one another, “We have been identified, let us move on. Let us go.” They went to the other side. When they got there, they were recognized, “Sons of Jiji when did you come here?”

Finally, they said to each other, “Men,let us go back home.We are tired. We are of Jiji.Wherever we go, we are of Jiji. ”

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

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

Bhaliho bhanhu bhabhili, uungi mboku uungi Jishegena bhalibhazengile jijiji jimo. Lushiku lumo bhumanyiwa guwinga nkilo ya mongo. Ubhuka gwandya ujishegena aho ogashika ha mongo usanga mongo ng’wingi gete uduma ugubhita alu winga bhononaga bhanhu bhalimba, bhaliyunja na jose jamalagagubhejiwa ijawiza.

Nyango guligulolelile guko ali jose jilinung’hila okalalagwa no. Ikanza ido ushiga nang’hwe umboku nu nang’ha gokwe. Jishegena umuja, “Ginehe nkoyi ujile he?” Mboku uhaya, “Namanyiwe guwinga niyo naliohagati gete unene, aliyo lulu mongo gokalaga gete nadum agukila nkilo, udiyigwaga iyombo nubhunung’hu bho shiliwa.

Mboku ushosha, “Naligwa noyi niyo.” Hanuma lulu dite ginehe dubhone gubhita duje uko jiza jili? Umboku ung’wila ujishegena giki, “Ubhebhe nkoyi ulina miso, lelo amagulu nduhu. Unene nane nalina magulu amiso nadinago.”

Nalulu nzugu nagusesele iki ubhebhe ulina miso, ugumanubhona aho hiza. Bhose bhizunilija, ujishegena useselwa nu mboku.
Ujishegena wandya ung’wila umboku bhitaga gumoso, imaga lyashiga isanzu, kajaga lizile igogo, uja nkono gonila. Bhanhu bhenabho bhukila mongo nabhuja kuwinga bhukalya malya chiza.

Kiswahili: Kiwete Na Kipofu

Kuliwepo na watu wawilli, mwingine kipofu na mwingine kiwete waliokuwa wakiishi kijiji kimoja. Siku moja waliaalikwa kwenda kwenye harusi ng’ambo ya mto.

Kiwete alikuwa wa kwanza kuianza safari, alipofika kwenye mto, alikuta mto una maji mengi kabisa akashindwa kupita. Wakati huo harusi ilikuwa imependeza sana, watu walikuwa wakiimba na kucheza vizuri, pia vyakula vizuri vilikuwa vimekwisha tengenezwa tayari.

Mlango ulikuwa umeangalia kule alikokuwa kiwete huyo, vyakula vyote vilikuwa vinamnukia na kumtamanisha mno. Kwa muda mfupi kipofu alifika naye akiwa na fimbo yake.

Kiwete alimuuliza, “Vipi rafiki unaenda wapi?” Kipofu alisema, “Nimealikwa kwenda kwenye harusi, tena mimi nilikuwa wa katikati kabisa, lakini mto umejaa kabisa nimeshindwa kuvuka ng’ambo, husikii kelele na kunukia kwa vyakula?”

Kipofu alijibu, “Nasikia tena sana.” Wakaulizana, “Sasa tufanye nini ili tupate kuvuka kwenda kule ambako vizuri vipo?” Kipofu alimwambia kiwete hivi, “Wewe rafiki una macho, lakini huna miguu. Mimi nami nina miguu lakini sina macho.”

“Basi njoo nikubebe mabegani kwa vile wewe una macho, utakuwa unaona pale ambapo ni pazuri.” Wote wakakubaliana, kiwete akabebwa mabegani na kipofu.

Kiwete alianza kumwambia kipofu “pita kushoto, simama kinakuja kichaka cha miiba, wahi linakula gogo, uende mkono wa kulia.” Watu hao walivuka mto na wakaenda kwenye harusi wakala vyakula vizuri.

ENGLISH: THE DISABLED AND THE BLIND

There were two people.One was blind and other was disabled.They lived in one village. One day, they were invited to go to the wedding ceremony on the other side of the river.

The disabled was the first to start the journey. When he got to the river, he found the river flooded. It had so much  water that he could not go. At that time, the wedding had reached a very interesting stage. People were singing and playing well.At that time, good and delicious food was already prepared.

The door of the house where the wedding was taking place was facing to the side where he was limping. A short time later,  the blind came at him with his stick.

The man with physical disability asked, “How is it my friend? The blind one said, “I was invited to go to the wedding, and I was to be a very important person, but because the river is flooded, I was not able to cross over. Poor us! Hear the noise and the smell of food!”

Then the two men asked each other, “Now what can we do to get across to the wedding?” The blind man said, “You friend have eyes, but you have no feet. I have legs but I have no eyes.Then come let me carry you on my shoulders because you have eyes, you will see where it is good.” They agreed.The crippled was carried on the shoulders of the blind.

Then the  crippled man took the lead. He could  tell the blind “Turnleft, stop the thorny bush is passing, hurry up, a logis coming, turn right.” Finally the two people crossed the river and got to the wedding party.

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

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

Aho kale waliho ngosha umo uyo o1ihang’wakwe weyi na nke na ng’wana wabho nyanda. Ngosha ng’wenuyo olina milimo ng’wanza mjini. Numba yabho yalinsumba gete mukaya, bholiho bhumeme chiza ng`hana.

Nkima alamanilile gufuma hanze makanza ga bhujiku bhuli lushiku aliyo aladabhachaga tala, ofumaga giti. Nose ngoshi agang’wila nke wane bhuli utogilwe gufuma hanze yaya gubhacha tala mkaya, udamanile giki bhupe ginhu jiza gete?
Mayu ng’wene aganshokeja ngoshi giki unene nabhiza ng’wenyeji noyi munumba yeniyi, nduhu aho najimililwe na hado. Nkima agakija gwigwa mihayo ya ngoshi. Agaduka alifuma gitumo amanililile.

Lushiku lumo ngosha aho alalile tulo nhale, nkima agafuma, gashi agana galimiso nago gika gunondeja uninago mumo giti mpaga ha nyango gudumagufuma hoi. Ninago aho ashogile mukaya aho oshiga hanyango ubhona ginhu jilisula hoi. Wibhuja ilelo yiyi, ngoshi wane waniwila ugubhacha tala aliyo nalema gwigwa lishinu ki ilyenili?

Ushogashoga ubhona ilang’ha ulisola na uja alikunga bhomakono abhili utula ahenaho na nguzu jose mpaga kabhili, ng’wana adalilile. Mayu ng’wene ubhita guja mkaya na gumisha ngoshi.
Haho adinabhacha bhumeme, ngosha aho wamishiwa, nke aling’wila, “Nene nali nkali gete nalinafumaga, aho nashogile nansanga muna shinu aho nyango nantula mpaga numulaga, bhachaga tala ugalole.”

Ngosha moyo guchenuka, ng’hana ubhacha wangu wangu, numba yela gete ufuma gushiga aho nyango unsanga ng’wana wakwe achile, ung’witana nkima nzugu ulole iyo obhejaga, unene naguwila giki ubhacha tala. Wabhona lulu, bhose bhandya kulila, ngosha umpeja nkima. Gashi ili chiza gutumila bhupe gukila giti.

Kiswahili: Mwanamume Alikuwa Na Mke Wake

Hapo zamani alikuwepo mwanamume mmoja ambaye alikuwa nyumbani kwake na mke na mtoto wao mvulana. Mwanamume huyo alikuwa na kazi Mwanza mjini. Nyumba yao ilikuwa nzuri kweli kwa ndani, ulikuwepo umeme mzuri kweli.

Mwanamke alikuwa amezoea kutoka nje wakati wa usiku kila siku lakini alikuwa hawashi taa, alikuwa na anatoka nje giza likiwepo. Mwishowe mme wake alimwambia, “mke wangu kwa nini unapenda kutoka nje bila kuwasha taa ndani, hujui kwamba weupe ni kitu kuzuri kabisa?

“Mimi nimekuwa mwenyeji mno kwenye nyumba hii, hakuna pale nilipopasahau hata kidogo.” Mwanamke aliacha kusikia maneno ya mme wake. Alibaki akiwa akitoka kama alivyozoea.

Siku moja wakati mwanamume akiwa amelala usingizi mzito, mwanamke alitoka, kumbe mtoto alikua macho, naye akashuka kumfuata mama kwa nyuma kwenye giza mpaka mlangoni akashindwa kutoka pale.

Mama yake alipofika mlangoni akiwa anarudi ndani aliona kitu kinachungulia pale. Akajiuliza, leo haya, “mme wangu aliniambia kuwasha taa lakini nilikataa kusikia lidudu gani hili?”

Alirudi nyumba akaona fimbo akachukua na kuja akinyemelea kwa mikono miwili akapiga hapo kwa nguvu zote mpaka mara mbili, mtoto hakulia. Mama huyo alipita kwenda ndani na kumuamsha mme wake.

Akiwa hajawasha umeme, mme wake alipoamshwa, mke wake alimwambia, “Mimi ni mkali kweli nilikuwa nimetoka, nilipokuwa narudi nimelikuta lidudu pale mlangoni nimelipiga mpaka nikaliua, washa taa ukaangalile.”

Mme wake moyo ukashituka, kweli akawasha taa haraka haraka, nyumba ikawa nyeupe kabisa, akatoka, alipofika pale mlangoni akamkuta mtoto wake akiwa amekufa, akamwita “mwanamke njoo uangalie ulichotengeneza, mimi nilikuambia kwamba uwe unawasha taa. Umeona sasa!!” Wote wakaanza kulia, mwanamume alimfukuza mwanamke. Kumbe ni vizuri kutumia weupe kuliko giza.

ENGLISH: THE MAN HAD HIS WIFE

In the past, there was a man who lived with his wife and a son. The man had a job in Mwanza city. Their house was really good inside, there was really good electricity.

The woman had been used to get out at night every day, but she did not put on lights, she had come out of the darkness to be there. Finally her husband said to her, “Why would my wife like to go out without  the lights on? Don’t you know that light is the most beautiful thing?”

“I am now very familiar in this house. I have never forgotten anything.” The woman could not heed the advice of her husband. She continued behaving as she was accustomed.

One day, when the man was in a deep sleep, the woman went out. As she did that, her child woke up. He came down to follow his mother in darkness. The child remained standing still near the door.

When his mother came to the door, she saw something looking at her.  She wondered what that was. Then she said, “What is that I am seeing again? My husband told me to switch on the lights but I refused to heed the advice?”

She looked around and saw the stick. She picked it and held it with both hands and bounced all the strength twice.The child did not cry. After hitting her own child unknowingly, the woman went to wake her her husband up.

 All this time, the woman had not switched on the lights. When her husband got up, his wife said to him, “I am so strong that I hit something and killed it as I met it on the way when I was coming back from outside.Switch on the lights.

After hearing that, her husband was shocked. He switched on the lights.All the house became bright. Then he went to the door and found his dead son. He called his wife“Woman come and look at what you have done. I have been repeatedly tellingyou to switch on the lights. Now see what you have done!”They both started crying.The man then warned, “It is is always important to remember that light is better than darkness.”