Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

For English translation see Sukuma Legacy

Olihoi Ntemi uyo agabhinha bhanhu bhakwe mitihani kugiki gubhapandika abho bhalinikujo (masala). Imitihani yiniyo yaliibhalolile abhang’wi noi bha walwa, (bhalevi) na abhaduti (bhabehi) bha Njemu. Bhuli igele agalinha ng’ombe iyoilinda.

Untemi agabhawila, “Nang’winhaga ng’ombe iyoilinda bhuliigele. Mlinawiyabhi bho gwita umomutogelilwe ahigulwa ya ng’ombe iyo nang’winhaga.”

Iligele lya bhalevi bhali bhanhu mpungati. Bhagayomba, “UNtemi udinhaga ng’ombe. Duyibhulagagi ing’ombe yiniyo kugiki dulye nyama.” Nghana bhagayibhulaga ing’ombe yiniyo na bhagamfunya ung’wana (indama) bhiyiigwa gwandya guyocha indama yiniyo na yufuada g

ochiwa inyama yose.

Abhalevi bhenabho bhalibhazunya giki, Untemi agulilumba iligele kulwa guilya inyama yose bho nduhu gulilekeela ipande lyose lyose lya nyama yiniyo. Kunamna yiniyi iligele ligwendelea chiza noi. Nghana bhagayilya ing’ombe ngima nu ng’wana oyo. UNtemi oliabhalolile duhu kugiki abhone nani alina  masala.

Abhabehi bha njemu bhali bhatano, bhagayomba, “Dinhiwagwa ng’ombe yiyi nu Ntemi na ilinda nhale noi. Dudizuyibhulaga, duyilekagi mpaga ibyale tamu.”

Abhabehi bha njemu bhenabho bhagizunilija giko. Hanuma yaho, ing’ombe igabyala ndama. Jubhiza lulu ng’ombe ibhili, ninayo ni ndama.

Abhabehi wa njemu bhagayomba, “Dujijinje ing’ombe jiniji bho gujikabhanya na mbuli. Ulu dulajipandike imbuli, dugudula gugabhanha umubhise. Bhagadula ugukabhanya na mbuli inne.

Untemi Ng’hwaya agayomba, “Abhabehi bha njemu bhalina masala kulebha abhalevi bha walwa, ku nguno bhadayibhulagile ing’ombe iyoyalinda. Uguyibhulaga ing’ombe iyo ilinda, ilisawa na gujibhulaga ng’ombe ibhili.”