Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu Edited by: Fr. Zakaria Kashinje OSA
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.