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

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

Waliho ngosha wali wogoha mihayo ya muchalo. Hamo na gupandika mihayo mitale. Ubhabhona bhanhu bhalicha. Huna lulu usamila ng’wipolu. Wigasha shiku ningi moyi. Myenda yushila, nzwili juliha no.

Lushiku lumo bhayanda, bhakaja gujuyela ung’wipolu bhugamona, bhuhaya isaji. Bhogoha na bhandya gupela. Umo wabho ugwa lyunchima linti ucha. Bhangi bhupela mpaga kaya. Bhugabhawila bhabyaji. “Dabhonaga isaji, bhiza bhunsanga ng’wipolu. Bhumona uhaya, “Lufu ludapelagwa.”

Kiswahili: Ntakumalizia Mtoto Wa Geni

Alikuwepo mwanaume aliyeogopa maneno ya kijijini kwake. “Labda nitapata shida kubwa. Akawaona watu wanakufa. Ndipo sasa alihamia porini. Alikaa humo siku nyingi.  Nguo zake zikaisha, nywere zake zilirefuka mno.

Siku moja vijana walienda kutembea porini wakamuona, wakadhani ni kichaa. Waliogopa na wakaanza kukimbia. Mmoja wao alianguka akachomwa na mti akafa.

Wengine walikimbia mpaka nyumbani. Wakaenda kuwaambia wazazi. “Tumeona kichaa, walikuja wakamkuta porini.” Wakamuona wakasema, “Kifo huwa hakikimbiwi.”

ENGLISH: I WILL FINISH YOU SON OF GENI

There was a man who was afraid of words of people in his village. He said, “May be I will get a lot of trouble.” He saw people dying. He moved to the wild. He stayed there many days. His clothes were gone, and his hairs were too long.

One day the youngsters went to the wild and saw him.  They thought he was crazy. They were afraid of him to the point of beginning to run away. One of them fell and was chopped by a tree to death.

Others ran home. They went to tell their parents. “We have seen a crazy person, they came and found him in the wild.” They saw him  and said, “One cannot run away from Death.”

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

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

Lushiku lumo ng’wana Nkuba bhali na Padri bhakwihalalijaga giki, ‘Ubhebhe ng’wana Nkuba iki ugenhaga mbula gemaga ulu igunipandika mu nzila.”

Ng’wana Nkuba uhaya igugupandika ni Ngudu utali ugushiga. Padri uhaya, “Nagugwinha shilingi jihumbi jimo, ulu mbula yunipandika mu nzila.

Ng’wana Nkuba uhaya nang’hwe, “Ugusola ng’ombe ulu idugupandika.” Padri ubacha gali yakwe ulaga na guja. Ng’wana Nkuba ugasoseja ijibhiga jakwe nang’hwe, ikanza idololo mbula yandya kutula nu padri adinashiga ni Ngudu.

Igali yukwama mutembe. Ulomba bhanhu bhakungwambilija ifunyiwe. Aho yafuma padri ushoga kuli Ng`wana Nkuba gung’winha ishilingi jihumbi jimo. Padri na kumala kuzunya, ng`hana idulile.

Kiswahili: Mwana Wa Nkuba Na Padri

Siku moja Mtoto wa Nkuba, au mwana wa Nkuba, walikuwa na Padri wakibishana kwamba, “Wewe Mwana wa Nkuba, si unaleta mvua jaribu kama itanikuta njiani.”

Mwana wa Nkuba, alisema, “itakukuta hata kabla ya kufika Ngudu.” Padri alisema, “Nitakupa shilingi elfu moja, kama mvua itanikuta njiani.”

Mwana wa Nkuba, alisema naye, “utachukua Ng’ombe kama haitakukuta njiani.” Padri aliwasha gari yake, akakimbia kwa kasi. Mwana wa Nkuba, alichochea kijungu chake, muda mfupi ikaanza kunyesha mvua kabla hata Padri hajafika Ngudu.

Gali ikakwama kwenye matope. Akaomba watu wa kumsaidia aiondoe. Ilipotoka padri alirudi kwa mwana wa Nkuba, kumpa shilingi elfu moja. Padri alikubali kweli inawezekana.

ENGLISH: SON OF NKUBA AND PRIEST

One day the son of Nkuba, or Nkuba’s son, had a priest arguing that, “You Son of Nkuba, if you can bring rain try if it catch me along the way.”

The Son of Nkuba said, “It will find you even before you reach Ngudu.” Priest said, “I will give you one thousand shillings, if the rain finds me along the way.”

Nkuba’s son said to him, “if it does not find you on the way you will take a cow.” Priest started his car, and ran away faster. The Son of Nkuba, stirred up fire in his pot, shortly it began to rainy before even the priest reaching Ngudu.

The car fell into the mud. He asked the people to help him in getting rid of it. When he came out of the mud the priest returned to Nkuba’s son, giving him a thousand shillings. The priest accepted the truth.

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

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

Lushiku lumo muna Lung’wando ubhawila bhiye giki, “Nishindikilagi kubhukwingwa, aliyo tuje na sunge, bhuli ng’wene bhubhucha. Muna Mbiti atabhukije. Aho bhashika mu mapolu muna Mbiti ubhawila bhatongele nang’hwe ushoka kaya ya ng’wa Lung’wando na kaya ya ng’wa Jidivi na ya ng’wa Sala, ukasola bhana bhabili bhabhili bhuli kaya. Utunga ifulushi sunge wiza ubhawila ku bhucha isunge yeniyo bhumanhya na bhanhu ugishiwa muna Mbiti. “Ng’wadila muna juchu, madilo ng’wana juchu, madilo miza bhanga na bhagubhuchaga nigo na kumana yaya.

Muna Lung’wando wiganika gete, ung’wila muna mbiti atongele bhifule iki atina nigo uwei. Utongela muna Mbiti, aho bhasula umu nigo bhubhabhona bhana bhabho. Ubhashosha ukabhenha bhana bha mbiti.

Lung’wando utunga ifulushi muna jidivi wimila ha jifulu, unola muna mbiti ulu washika bhuja bhukampandika. Bhumanhya na bhanhu, ugisha muna Mbiti, madilo juchu, madilo na bhimila bhakubhuchaga unigo na kumana yaya. Ugishiwa lung’wando, madilo muna juchu madilo nakatunga nu shashanija umo watungile uwe.

Ugishiwa muna Sala, madilo muna juchu madilo nakimanikila nushisha bhane ugishi

wa muna Jidivi madilo muna juchu, madilo nakima na jigulu nilolekeja iki nali nyagokolo ubhuja muna mbiti, nigwa ng’wana juchu, yaya masemba duhu. Bhushika ng`hana gubhukwiye ya Lung`wando bhusung’anhwa na bhakwelaye bhandya kulya, muna mbiti ugwa ng’hana ng’wana juchu yaya masemba duhu.

Bhulagwa kuja kaya muna mbiti usanga bhana bhakwe bhalinduhu, bhatandatu. Umana giki bhabhalile uko bhugeni ukamuja muna Lung’wando bhana bhane wabhachalile ku bhukwiyo, ukagema sunge, lelo nakukulya nu bhebhe yaya muna juchu.

Nakulipa nyama tukwisangila kwibambasi dilu. Aha wela Muna Sayayi ubhasanga bhana mhuli bhagulyaga masindi, ulipundulila lisindi limo wingila moi, ili tula mbula, Mhuli imo ulimila ilisindi linilo, wingila munda ya mhuli, muna Sayayi alina silimbi ufula, bhiwila abhana Mhuli tulekanagi tumane uyo agufulaga silimbi.

Ufula hangi Sayayi bii! Bhana Mhuli bhumulaga ung’wichabho, uwei ufuma agupelaga umuna Lung`wando, kujung’wila muna mbiti, giki, “tujagi ku nyama na bhulagaga.” Wandya gulya umuna mbiti gushila na mhayo.

 Kiswahili: Sungura, Mbweha, Paa na Fisi

Siku moja Sungura aliwaambia wenzake hivi, “Nisindikizeni kwa wakwe zangu, lakini tuende na mzigo,” wengine wakabeba, lakini Fisi hakubeba. Walipofika porini Fisi aliwaambia watangulie naye akarudi nyumbani kwa Sungura na kwa mbweha na Paa au Swala, akachukua watoto wawili wawili kwenye kila familia.

Alifunga fulushi la kupeleka kama mzigo wake akawaambia wabebe mzigo huo. Akakutana na watu akasalimiwa Fisi. “Habari za jioni bwana, habari za jioni bwana, habari ni nzuri, wamebeba mzigo bila kujua.

Sungura alifikiri kabisa, akamwambia Fisi, atangulie wapumzike kwa vile yeye hakuwa na mzigo. Fisi akatangulia, wakachungulia kwenye mzigo wakawaona watoto wao. Wakawarudisha na badala yake, wakawaleta watoto wa Fisi.

Sungura alifunga fulushi, mbweha akasimama kwenye kichukuu, akamchungulia Fisi alikofika, wakaenda mpaka wakampata. Wakakutana na watu, akasalimia Fisi, habari za jioni bwana, habari za jioni, wakasimama wakiwa wamebeba mzigo bila kujua.

Akasalimiwa Sungura, habari za jioni bwana, nimeufunga kama alivyofunga yeye. Alisalimiwa Swala au Paa, habari za jioni bwana, habari za jioni, nilishitukia, nikafikisha watoto wangu.

Akasalimiwa na Mbweha, habari za jioni bwana, habari za jioni, nilisimama kwenye kichuguu nikajionea kwa vile ni mvivu. Akauliza Fisi, nimesikia bwana, hapana michezo tu. Wakafika kweli kwa wakwe zake Sungura, wakapokelewa na shemeji zake, wakaanza kula, Fisi alianguka kweli bwana, hapana utani.

Waliagwa kwenda nyumbani, Fisi alipofika nyumbani, hakuwakuta watoto wake sita. Akafahamu kwamba, wamewala kule ugenini, akamuuliza Sungura “watoto wangu waliwapeleka kwa wakwe zako, akajaribu mzigo wa kupeleka huko, leo nitakula wewe.”

Sungura lisema, “Hapana bwana. Nitalipa nyama tutakutana jangwani asubuhi.” Kesho yake, aliwakuta Tembo wakila mamung’unya, jamii ya tikiti maji, akatoboa na kuingia kwenye mung’unya mojawapo tembo akalimeza, wakati huo mvua ilikuwa inanyesha. Akaingia kwenye tumbo la Tembo, Sunguru akiwa na filimbi. Akapuliza, Tembo wakaelezana tuachane ili kumfahamu yule anayepuliza hiyo filimbi.

Akapuliza tena Sungura bii! Tembo wakamuua mwenzao. Akatoka humo sungura akikimbia, kwenda kumwambia Fisi kwamba, “twende kwenye nyama, nimeua.” Fisi akaanza kula, neno likaisha.

ENGLISH: RABBIT, FOX, ANTELOGY AND HYENA

One day Rabbits told his colleagues, “Escort me to my grandparents, but let us go over with loads,” some carried, but hyena did not carry it. When they came to the forest hyena told them to go ahead of him. He returned to their house and took two children in each family.

He fastened his luggage for sending and told them to carry it. He met people who greeted with Hyena. “Good evening mr, it is good, the news is good, they have carried a cargo without knowing.”

The rabbit thought absolutely, he said to the hyena, that he should go ahead of them, they rested because he did not have a burden. When the hyena left, they looked at the load and saw their children. They brought them back and instead, they brought the children of the hyena.

The rabbit scrubbed the hyena, the fox stood in the lighter, watched the hyena coming, and went on till they found him. They met the people, greeted Hyena, good evening mr, good evening, stood barely loaded with burdens without knowing.

The Rabbit was greeted, “good evening e sir,” I have closed up as he closed. The other was greeted, “good evening sir, good evening,” I was shocked, I have reached my kids here.

He was greeted by Fox, “good evening sir, good evening, and I was stood on the countryside felt discouraged. He asked Hyena, I heard the master, there was no games. He came to his grandparents at the rear, when he was received by his sisters in law.  They began to eat, hyena fell true, sir, there is no jokes.

They said goodbye on their way home, when hyena came home, did not find his six children. He knew that, when he was in control of the village, he asked the rabbit “you took my kids to your grandmother, and tried to load the truck there, today I will eat you.”

The rabbit says, “No sir. I will pay the meat we shall meet in the desert in the morning” The next day, he found an elephant feeding kind of water melon, he made on hole in it and entered into it. The elephant swallowed it. It was raining, while the rain was over. He went into the elephant’s stomach, Rabbit with a whistle. He shot, elephants split each other apart to get to know who blows the whistle.

Rabbit whistled again bii! Elephants killed their partner. Rabbit went out of there running, going to tell Hyena, “go to the meat, I have killed.” The hyena began to eat, the word disappeared.

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

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

Banhu bhabhili bhakihalalija nani atogilwe sabho, bhangi bhuhaya giki, “Bhagosha tujitogilwe.” Bhangi bhuhaya bha mayu bhajitogilwe kukila ho.”

Mu halali yabho bhung’witana ngosha umo, ntumami wabho bhung’wila, twagayiwa maninga ga nkima ga kusanja mu bhugota. (nulu lubhango nulu ki) giko bhung`wila umulage nke wako, tukwinhe shikolo.”

Ngosha uzunya nahene. Aho washika kukaya usumbhilwa na nke, ugishiwa chiza chiza, winhwa minzi ga koga, uzugilwa na shiliwa shawiza wiza.

Aho wamala kulya wandya kwidedeng’hanya, “Nke wane wanitila chiza, namulage, yaya no, ulu kunipeja mu milimo bhanipejage.” Huna lulu ubhuka ushika hangi kumilimo yake. Ushika ung’wila ngonzo wakwe. “Bhabha naduma kumulaga nke wane bhuhaya. Bhasi ati na mhayo ya shilaga, bhubhona kuli ngosha tatindwa.

Tulole kwipande lya bhakima. Bhung’witana nkima aliyela yela haho, bhung’wila, “Twagayiwa mininga ga ngosha ga kusanja mu bhugota.” Nu bhebhe mayu ulibhona kinahe udugije kumulaga ngoshi wako. Utenhele mininga tukwinhe shikolo.

Ubhuja giki iki igosha nakulibhulaga kinahe? Tukukwinha mawalwa makoji, ulu ugang`wa ulu ukumona gankola. Unsinza na kunsinza.” Bhasi, nkima uzunya winhwa walwa wenubho. Untwalila ngoshi, aho wabhung’wa bhunkola ng`hana, usola lushu ubhuta ntwe. Bhasi, ukingilija amininga huna ugabhucha ubhatwalila mininga nu ntwe. Kihamo bhagosha nabho bhung’wanukula. Wabeja mayu huna lulu uwilwa nzugu wigashe kunu mayu, tukwenhele shikolo shako. Ulekwa kuchumba, bhanikili bhutula simu ku polisi.

Kiswahili: Mali Za Duniani Nani Anazipenda Zaidi- Mwanaume Au Mwanamke?

Watu wawili walibishana juu ya nani anapenda mali zaidi kati ya wanaume na wanawake. Wengine walisema kwamba, “Wanaume wanapenda mali zaidi kuliko wanawake. Lakini wengine walisema, kuwa, “Wanawake wanapenda mali kuliko wanaume.”

Katika mabishano hayo, walimwita mwanamume mmoja, mfanyakazi wao, wakamwambia, “tumekosa damu ya mwanamke ya kuchanganya kwenye dawa.” (Au Baraka au nini), hivyo wakamwambia, amuue mke wake, wampe mali au kitu.

Mwanamume huyo alikubali, “sawa.” Alipofika nyumbani, alipokelewa na mke wake, akasalimiwa vizuri, akapewa maji ya kuoga, akapikiwa chakula kizuri.

Alipomaliza kula, alianza kufikiri, “Mke wangu amenifanyia vizuri, nimuue, hapana kabisa, kama nikunifukuza kazini wanifukuze.” Ndipo akafika tena kwenye kazi yake. Akafika na kumwambia mwajiri wake. “Baba nimeshindwa kumuua mke wangu,” wakasema, basi “haina neno yameisha.” Wakaona kwamba, kwa mwanamume wameshindwa.

Tuangalie kwa upande wa akina mama. Wakamwita mwanamke aliyekuwa akitembea tembea hapo, wakamwambia, “Tumekosa damu ya mwamume ya kuchanganya kwenye dawa. Na wewe mama unaonaje unaweza kumuua mume wako, utuletee damu tukupe mali au kitu?”

Akauliza kwamba, “kwa vile ni mwanamume nitamuuaje?” Wakamwambia, “tutakupa pombe kali, akinywa na kama ukimuona amelewa. Umchinje.” Basi yule mwanamke akakubali, akapewa pombe hiyo.

Alimpelekea mmewe, alipokung’wa ikamlewesha kweli, alichukua kisu akamkata kichwa. Basi, alikinga damu ndipo akabeba akawapelekea damu na kichwa pamoja, na wanaume nao wakampokea.

Wakasema, “asante mama wakamwambia njoo ukae huku mama, tukuletee mali yako.” Akaachwa chumbani, wenyewe wakapiga simu ya kuita polisi.

ENGLISH: WHO LOVES MORE THE WORLD PROPERTY – MALE OR WOMAN?

Two people argued about who likes more property than the other between men and women. Others said, “Men love more wealth than women. But others said, that, “Women love property more than men.”

In the dispute, they called one man, their employee, and said, “We have missed blood of a mixing in medicine.” (Or Bless or what), so they told him that he should kill his wife, so that they give him wealth or something.

The man agreed, “Ok.” When he arrived home, he was welcomed, well greeted, given water to bath, and well fed by his wife.

When he had finished eating, he began to think, “My wife has done well for me, why should I kill her, absolutely not, if they want to get me out of work and let them drive me out.”  He then came back to his job again. He came and told his employer. “Daddy I have not been able to kill my wife,” they said, then “there’s no word gone.” They found out that, to the man they had failed.

Look at the mother’s side. They called a woman who was walking around, saying, “We have missed the blood of a man for mixing it in medicine. What do you think can you kill your husband, and bring us such blood, we will give you property or something?”

She asked, “How can I kill a man?” They said, “We will give you a lot of alcohol for him to drink it and if you see that he has drunk, slaughter him.” So the woman agreed, she was given the alcohol.

She sent to her husband, when he had drunk seriously, she took a knife and cut off his head. So she blocked blood and carried it to them and head together, and the men also received her.

They said, “thank you mother and told her   ‘stay here mother, let us bring you your property.” She was left in the room, and they called the police.