Proverbs in Zambia ∴ more demanding proverbs from Chibale 1

Proverbs in Zambia: more demanding proverbs in Chibale 1
Of the two articles on proverbs that the people in Chibale consider more demanding, this is the one that presents proverbs that teach us how to avoid problems and how to solve them when they do occur. They can also be found in the second part of the digital book Amano Mambulwa, see here.

Proverb 101

Ifunda talicenjela, ucenjela mwine we funda

Abantu, ukuteba ifintu, ebalufyanya.
Balupwa wambo baleta ebeshiba inshila sha kuwamishamo/kupwishishamo njo imilandu.
Kwaliba imilandu iyo icitika nawe mwine ulishi ati mulandu uyu. Boneni ubuteko bwalikanya ukwipaya inama ukwabula ipaso. Ulo we waya kwipaya inama mumpanga, ifunda lyobe talishibapo noko likoya, kanshi we mwine wandi funda niwe ulingile ukwishiba imyendele pakuti ukafishe uko ukofwaya. Ulo bakwikata, nawe waluka kubati lifunda. Ulupwa lobe ebakupususha.

The load is not careful, careful is the owner of the load

It’s people who make mistakes, not things.
The people behind young people are responsible for their mistakes. When a child or an erring family member makes mistakes, it is the family that takes care of the issue.
There are people who do illegal things while knowing what they are doing. You see, the Government has put up measures to follow if you want to kill game: you need to get a licence. So, when you secretly go out to hunt, the meat loads you carry do not know where they are being taken. Once arrested you look like a fool and your family members will have to use all means to rescue you.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 366) with a different explanation:
Ifunda talicenjela, icicenjela mwine we funda ∵ The bundle of meat is not crafty, what is crafty is the owner of the bundle.
If a man has meat given him at a certain village; on his going home, the meat will not hide itself, and the villagers will crowd round, and deprive him of it. If he be wise, he will hide it in a tree before he reaches home, and get it secretly into the village later.

Proverb 102

Akasuba kamo takaboosha nama/mbeba

Ukuteka umutima pakucita ifintu, tekucitapo mukasaku iyoo.
Fimo ifintu fifwaya akashita akatali pakuti fise fibe bwino.
Pakukumba ubwalwa, bapela amashiku asano na abili pakuti bupye ukufikapo.
Mu mikumbile mwaliba ifikomo ifyakukonka mpaka no bushiku bwa kunwa. Nga bwapya panshiku ishitapendwa ninshi tabulipo bwino. Ukukumba kufwaya akashita.

One day will not make the game/mouse rot

Take time to do things, don’t do them in a hurry.
Certain tasks to be fully accomplished need enough time.
In the brewing process of local beer, from start to drinking day, it takes 7 days, because the whole process has stages to follow. If drunk earlier than these 7 days, it is not the real thing. Brewing needs time.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 58), with different explanation:
Akasuba kamo takabosha mbeba ∵ One day does not rot a mouse.
An excuse for putting off till tomorrow what is not absolutely urgent. If a mouse is caught in a trap it will still be good the following day. Certain kinds of mice, moles and cane-rats are esteemed very highly by the natives for relish: they are caught mostly at the time of the grass-burning. In the Lenje region: Akasuba kamo tokabosha nyama: One day does not rot the meat.

Proverb 103

Ngatwime kumaca, umufu wansala ili ucilele

Katucite mfi ulo ifitaweme tafingaisa mukucilinganya.
Ulo mwabuka, mulomfwa ukuba ababwangu na maka. Kuntanshi mungafilwa kupwishisha ifyo mutampile kumulandu wa kulema no kupwa maka elyo na mafya ayangesa muli nji nshita.

Let’s start early in the morning, while the hunger pangs are still asleep

Let’s do this before negative influences arise.
As you wake up, you still feel fresh with energy. Later you may fail finishing what you started due to tiredness or problems that arise in the meantime.

A similar/ The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 986), with different explanation:
Ngatwime kumaca, umufu wansala ili ucilele ∵ Let us rise very early, the death of hunger (comes) while you still sleep.
If one has spent a night on an empty stomach, it is wisest to rise betimes, and travel before one becomes too weak.

Proverb 104

Umucinshi wa nseba kwimina pamo

Imilimo yacintu bwingi yalinga ukubombela pamo elo yanguka.
Inseba tuni utwinji utwendela pamo, elo twaliba nomusango wakwimina pamo, takubapo akashalila. Enco bapashanyako nakubantu ukuti kamo ngakwaba ukubomba imilimo yacintu bwingi, kano bonse mwaimina pamo. Taciwamapo bambi bashala pantu ulo ngulya mulimo wakupwa, ukalabombela bonse abantu. Icilangililo kufika kwa bulalo pakanika apo abana baya mukusambililaku sukulu bangalokwabuka ukwabula ubwafya.

The respect of the nseba birds consists in flying out all together

Communal work is supposed to be done by all, and at the same time, so that it doesn’t take long.
The nseba, small birds flying in large numbers, start all at once flying out and none remain behind. That is why a proverb was derived from this: people must act likewise. When a communal job has to be done, it demands all concerned to stand up to do it. It is not good to see others shun. Once that project is completed, it will serve all the people in the surrounds. An example of such a project is putting up a bridge across a stream to let the school going children cross it without problems.

Proverb 105

Nkoya! Nkoya! Nkoya! alepaisha

Mailo tekwisapo.
Bamo abantu tabafwaya ukubomba imilimo ingabaletela icuma kuntanshi.
Umuntu uwaishiba ubune bwa bulimi, alaya mukulima pakuti akakwate icakulya icingi. Nomba ye aikalila ati, nebo nkaya nibwangu noma umo mwine emo acelelwa nangu kuyapo. Pakulekelesha kucula mulandu wa nsala.

I will go! I will go! I will go! causes suffering

Tomorrow never comes, do it now.
Some people don’t want to do work that will only bring them prosperity in the future.
Knowing the importance of farming, one goes out to cultivate so that there will be enough food to eat in the future. Then there are others saying ‘I will be leaving for cultivation soon’ who never leave! At the end they will starve.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 996):
Nkaya! Nkaya! alepaisha ∵ I’ll go! I’ll go! causes death.
Said to a man who doesn’t cultivate his garden, because he says that he is going away, but delays and delays, and at last is reduced to starvation.

Proverb 106

Nakana ifyakene mbwa kuseka/kufwala

Cilingile ukuba umo akofwaila.
Ukupashanya ifya kene mbwa ukuseka nangu ukufwala ecimo cine ukwebati ifyo ndefwaya nifyo fine takuli ukwaluka iyoo. Akaninina fyekefyo.

I refuse in the same way as the dog refuses to laugh/to dress

It has to be exactly how he wants it.
Acting in the same way the dog refused to laugh or dress means that that person wants it the way he has decided, and it is irreversible.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 824):
Nakana ifyakene mbwa ukuseka/ukufwala ∵ I have refused in the way the dog refused to laugh. OR: I have refused in the way the dog refused to dress.
Stating an absolute irreversible refusal. The dog wouldn’t laugh and nothing will ever make him do so.

Proverb 107

Uwaitwa tafwala bwino

Ukukonka akashita ulo cikofwayikwa.
Nga waitwa, cakubalilapo bona kati nshita ikulu eko ili angula iyo.
Wipela icilubo ku muntu pakukana fikilisha utukofwaikwa utunini libe ifya kucita ifikulu efikofwaikwa.
Calinga ukukonkana nobwite, ukwabula ukuposa inshita, ulo taulaishiba ico bakokwitila.
Ilyo waitwa, taulingile nomba ukutampa ukupekanya, ukumonati bushe nalafwala indo. Empali walacelwa ku bwite.

The one who is being called, doesn’t put on nice clothes

Know when action is required.
When you are invited or called, consider first the reason. Does it allow for more time or not. Don’t blame a person for not fulfilling less important requirement when other urgent action was needed.
If you are being called for an urgent matter, you have to follow-up immediately without wasting time, because this may need your immediate intervention instead of, for instance, looking for nice clothes to put on.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1437), with different explanation:
Uwaitwa tafwala bwino ∵ He who is called does not dress carefully.
If you are called, don’t wait to dress.

Proverb 108

Mposa mabwe ninkanshi akwete

Tulokuba abacenjela mu fintu tucita pantu kuti fyatuletelela.
Ukwangalakubi kuti kwalenga waibika mu bwafya. Mukwangala ngali temwa ukuposa amabwe, ukalasa mwana wa bene pambi ukamutibule shiso ko mulemanika. Ba lupwa bakesa kufwayab ati apo wamulemanika, niwe ukomupa inkashi yobe ope, pantu bambi abanakashi tabakamusuminepo ukupwa kuli ngulya cilema.

If you like to throw stones, you should have a sister

If you take risks, you should be able to cover what happens when things do not work out well.
We must be very careful in what we do because if we don’t, we shall be in trouble. Dangerous games can put you into troubles. In games if you are fond of throwing stones to others, one day you will hit someone and damage his eye or make him lame. In the past, the relatives of the injured would demand your sister to marry him because other girls would not accept him because he was handicapped.

Proverb 109

Akalulu pa mulamu kalikwata umukoshi

Bucibusa bwaba mukupimwa/ukulinganya.
Ico utangapela umuntu umbi, ku muntu waba mupepi nawe mu lupwa ena kuti wamupa.
Kwaliba limbi wakwatafye akamunani akanini, bambi abantu abatali balupwa lobe teti ubapeko, kusosa ati kacepa. Nomba uwamulupwa lobe nangu cibusa obe ukwafwa libili libili ena kumupako.

A rabbit has a neck when you are with your brother-in-law

¢Friendship comes in different degrees.
In hunting the neck is shared by the hunter and his brother-in-law.
There are times when you have very little to share. You will not share certain food with people who are not too close with you because you feel it is too small. But as for the ones close to you, it will be shared.

A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 566):
Kolwe pa mulamu ali ne mukoshi ∵ With the brother-in-law, the monkey has a neck.
Words used in praise of a brother-in-law, who will always share the smallest trifle. A monkey has very little neck; and so if one begged from a friend a piece of monkey’s neck, the latter would answer that a monkey has no neck. A -brother-in-law, however, would do his best to oblige, even if it meant his giving breast as well. Since in Ilamba a sister is looked upon almost as the property of her brother, the man who marries her has to be very deferential to his brother-in-law.

Proverb 110

Sampa ukulwila nankwe ubulobo, balamulekela

Ukunakilila mukucita ifintu kulaleta insansa. Tekweshapo ukuba uwakutemwa ukukwatisha noku pupumina pa fintu bwangu bwangu.
Ilyo mwaya mukuloba isabi, calinga muletekanya empali mwalusa ubulobo pamo ne sabi line. Nga mwamona lilelila, imwe kunakulila pakufumya.

When the sampa fish fights with your hook, you give it the chance to do so

You must be flexible in handling things that can bring you happiness. Do not be greedy or jump on things too quickly.
When fishing, be stable otherwise you lose hook and fish. When the fish bites the bait, take it lightly when pulling it out.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1036), with different explanation:
Sampa ukulwila nakwe ubulobo balamulekela ∵ The Sampa fish fighting with the hook, one lets him be.
Don’t argue with an obstinate person, it will only make matters worse. If the Sampa is left on the hook he will weary in time, and be landed easily; but if one tries to take him when he is strong, the hook will probably be broken.

Proverb 111

Kokoto kokoto taileta

Icintu ukofwaisha makamaka umunani usuma uwa nama wisa ukufuma muku bombesha.
Icikasha teti ciye ngacakuti taubombeshe. Ngo kofwaya ukulya umunani wa nama, cili kuli iwe, pantu uku kokota ifupa kano wabombeshe sana.

Good meat doesn’t serve itself

Anything you want will only become real after you have worked hard for it.
A very strong want of eating good food is not enough to be served good food. To have meat you have to work for it very hard.

A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 557):
Kokoto talileta, bantu ili bamuleta ∵ A bone does not bring itself, it is people that bring it.
To procure food one must work; it does not come of its own accord.

Proverb 112

Tabalila bulungu ninshiku shileta

Ifiletwa nangu ukuboneka, Lesa emwine waishiba ico angakupela muli mbulya bushiku.
Icakulya pananda, indupwa shimi shimo shalasungilila pakuti tafipwile bwangu, nolo ulu lupwa taluleikuta pantu basubile ukwisa lya mu nshiku sha kuntanshi. Kanshi te kulingapo kati fyakulya ati mfi fyakutufisha muli mbulya bushiku.

Do not cry for beads, the days will bring them

Make the most of what you have, because you do not know what you will have in the future.
With the food stocks of a given family, the mother strongly keeps the ration to a minimum, so that it doesn’t finish so soon, even though the family members do not get satisfied. It is not good to use more, for then the food would be finished too soon.

A comparable proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 617), with different explanation:
Lamo mukoshi, ubulungu nishiku shileta! ∵ Take care of your neck, it is time that brings beads!
Said to a child crying for beads to wear round its neck. Beads are not to be cried about, if you had no neck you might grumble. Be thankful for your neck, and take care of it; and the beads will come in time.

Proverb 113

Nshilala mwesu, mano alimo

Nci cisoswa ulo muntu alabila ati akomba bwino ifyo bonse balesubila no kumfwikwa.
Ifintu fyonse fyaliba nakashita apo fitangacitika napo fingacitika. Umwana nga akula, alakwata ukufuma muba fyashi nokutampa ukulala eka mu nanda yakwe. Pali njilya mpindi, telinji engjila njila munanda yaba fyashi nokulala. Nomba ulo alwalisha, amano akukana ukulala mwabo alapwa icakwebati abafyashi bakwe abanakashi batampa nokumu pipa nga alilwalisha, pantu umufyashi mufyashi.

“I don’t sleep in my parents’ house” means you are sane

This is said when a person states to be doing something that is only to be expected or already understood.
Everything has times or periods when it can be done and when it can not be done. When a child grows big enough, it leaves the parents’ house and starts sleeping in another house. From that point, he doesn’t go to the parents’ house frequently to sleep there. But time comes when he falls sick, too sick to refuse sleeping in the parents’ house. This may even go to the extent that his mother starts cleaning him because a parent is a parent.

Proverb 114

Mulinda bwalwa, alinda inkoto

Lintu tuli mukwangala, tukwate inshita yakuipima ati nomba capwa tubwelelemo ku nanda ukucila ukulindilila ico mutabwene.
Kwaliba ukwangala nabanensu, cibe limbi mukutandala nangu ukuya mukunwa ubwalwa. Nomba ilesa inshita umwine apekenye utu bwalwa alandati “ubwalwa bwapwa nomba”. Nomba apo iwe waumfwa bwino kwikalilila ukutayapo. Umuya inshita, pambi palya pese pabuke ulubuli elyo ku ceshamo bese bakupaminepo iciti walemana! Elyo waibukisha ati kanshi nganasa mwile akale.

Lingering when the beer is finished is lingering to be beaten

When we visit places, let us take care to leave on time instead of waiting for … we don’t know.
When we are enjoying with friends at a certain place, the owner may say it’s over now at a given moment. But as for you, you think you have to wait longer. As time goes on, there could be a fight and unluckily you are hit by a stick, this is the time you realise that you should have left earlier.

Proverb 115

Ifyakulya ubushiku bafibwena ku malushi

Tulokuba abaibukila ukuti ifintu tulokucita kuntanshi fikeshibikwa.
Umuntu uwatemwa ubucende, iciisa muku boneka lifumo. Ilyo bakokumana no mwanalume, takwali uwaishibe, nomba ukwisa ishibikilwa kwi fumo. Nangu kati walile amasana abene, ulo ukoisa kuliuka bonse bakeshiba ati niwe walile kumulandu wa musungushi.

What you ate at night will be known when you vomit

You can be secretive but bear in mind that what you do will one day be known to others.
A person who is adulterous will be known through her pregnancy. While she was meeting the man, nobody knew what was happening until a pregnancy occurred. The same thing happens, when you eat other people’s eggs, it will be known who ate them after you have vomited as the yoke will show.

Proverb 116

Tailila apo yaikatila

Ulo wapelwa icabupe, taulingile kucelwa kucisungila penka apo bakupelela, walinga wacisungishako kumbi.
Ulo inkalamo yaikata inama, ilasesha njilya nama ukutwala pancende imbi apafiseme.

The lion never eats at the place where it has killed

When you receive a gift, it is not wise to leave it behind with the intention to collect it later. It is better to take it somewhere for safety.
When a lion catches and kills an animal, it drags it to another place to hide it.

Proverb 117

Umweni wakolwe alya ifyo kolwe alyako

Calilinga ukukonka ifyo abo mukotandala, pantu teti musubile ifi bacilile.
We muntu ngawatandalila abakankala, tulakwata isubilo ilya kuti tukaya mukulala apaweme elyo nefyakulya fyakuba ifilondolokele ifiweme. Kati ni ncushi, tulingile ukupokelela ifyo batupekanishisha.

Visiting the monkeys you eat what the monkeys eat

You’d better follow the practices of the one you visit or the area where you came to live. Try not to expect more than what can be offered.
When visiting a well-to-do person, you can hope to have a good reception, like blankets for sleeping and good food. But if the one visited is poor, we must accept what is offered.

Proverb 118

Akana kanshiwa kaumfwile mano mulukolo

Ngoli mwana wanshiwa, amano ukapula kuli bambi abatali bafyashi bobe.
Ukuba weka nangu wakukwafwa, ubwafwilisho bukatula kumbi kati wanakilila. Ecimo cine nobwana bwa nshiwa. We walilufya abafyashi bobe uko winga tola amano akubomfya mu bwikalo bobe. Ngoli umwana musuma, bambi aba ibelele ebaka kwebako ifyakucita ngawaba no bwafya.

The orphan got knowledge while sitting outside the house

When you are an orphan, knowledge will be got from other people than your parents.
You have lost both your parents who could have given you good advice on the way you can live. If you are well mannered, other people will advise you how to go about when you are in trouble.
This holds for others too. When you are alone with none of the ones you know to help you, the help you need will come from other people as long as you are well-mannered.

Proverb 119

Tabunwa mukamfwilwa

Mubwalwa emo ilyashi lya nkama lisokolokwa pantu abantu nabakolwa.
Mu malo akunwenamo bwalwa, abantu bayamo balipusana pusana. Ngomo mwine mwingila abafwilwa, bata nangula bama, nabambi abaibelele ne ficitwa fyabo. Nomba ulo wakolwa, cilesa kumano ukulabila pafyo uli. Limbi ngauli muka mfwilwa watampa ukutopa abena buko kati balicelwa uku kupyanika, yangula ukulabila pa tupe bapita. Ili lyashi lyalingile ukwikala pamo pa ncende imbi, nomba we watwala pa bwalwa. Ici tacilangapo umucinshi.

Beer should not be taken excessively by those in widowhood

In drinking places, confidential information is revealed after being drunk which is not good.
At drinking places, people show many types of behaviour. Some of them, like widowers and widows, may have personal, confidential issues. When becoming drunk, they start thinking of bringing in issues like accusing their in-laws that they have delayed in giving them a new spouse or about items that were snatched from them. Of course, these matters are supposed to be discussed at home with all stakeholders present, not in public.

Proverb 120

Ubweni bwapeteke ba mbwa umucila

Ulokusha imibele yobe ku ncende waikala kwenu.
Pela umucinshi kuli mbo wasanga ku ncende shimbi, nabo baka kulanga imibele yabo iweme. Umuntu aishibikwa ku ncende ekala, ecilenga nokuti ngawatandala ku ncende imbi, uicefye pakuti wanonkelamo na mano ambi ku fintu waishiba kale.
We muntu ngawatandalila balupwa obe kumbi uko tabakwishiba, walinga waicefya sana pakuti abantu tabakwishibe imisango wakwata. Imibele yobe wakwata ishale kwenu. Abo wasangako babike pa mulu elo bangafisulula ne misango yabo.

At a new place the dog keeps its tail between its legs

Leave your behaviour at home.
Respect those whom you find somewhere else, and they will eventually show you how well-behaved they are. You are well known in the area where you reside, but when visiting other areas, you must act differently so that you learn more from those whom you didn’t know yet.
When you visit relatives in a new area, the other people there do not know you. Now, you need to be humble, not showing all of the behaviour you are used to at home.

Proverb 121

Nkaya nkaya ashilile ubunga mu katondo

Tacalinga ukulanda ku bantu amapange obe ilyo taulaishiba ati fili nokucitika.
Ilyo taulacita icintu, ba uwaipekanya ukucila ukukwata isubilo ukuti eko cikafuma. Umunobe kuti limbi akulaya ati tukese ya mu mpanga, ukapekanyepo utu bunga. Nomba inshita takwebele iyakwilapo, iwe waikalafye ukulolela wasuka wapwisha no tubunga wasungile utwakusenda mu mpanga.

“I’m going to …”, “I’m going to …” finished the mealie meal in the little pot

It is not advisable to mention your plans when you are not sure when these will take place.
Before you do something, be prepared with what is required, instead of having hope of getting these things from someone else. A friend may ask you to go with him in the wild hunting and he asks you to prepare some food. Because he didn’t tell you when this would take place, you continue waiting till you eat all what was to be used in the wild.

Proverb 122

Nyina ng’ombe pa bana tasela

Namayo ekasunga nokucingilila abana, emulandu wine abamwenapo.
Ulo abana baya mukwangala beka elo kwaumfwikapo ifyalubana, yangula kwaba ulubuli pali beka beka, ukuteka mitima nabafyashi kulingile kwakonkwa pantu tabeshibapo uwalutampa.
Umufyashi umo nga atampa ukukalipila mwana umbi, nci cingaleta ubonaushi.
Imisendele ilingile ukuba iyabucibusa. Abafyashi bonse ebalolesha pa bana bonse.

Mother cow never loses sight of her children

A mother is the custodian and protector of the children, so she takes care.
When children play alone and something goes wrong, or when there is a fight among them, patience must be taken by parents because no one knows who started the issue. Should one parent blame the other child, this may spark the whole thing.
The approach should be friendly. All parents take care of all children.

Proverb 123

Amano ndi ikwatile aile no tufi ku buko

Abengi bamona kwati balikwata amano ukucila abanabo. Tekuti tube lyonse aba mano ukucila bambi abanensu.
Umuntu utayapo ku tauni, afwile ukwipusha abayako pakuti aba uwaibukila.

I-have-the-wisdom went to his in-laws with shit on his clothes

It is better not to pretend to know everything. We cannot always be smarter than our peers.
A person who has never visited the towns, should first get the impressions from those who went there so that he is aware of what is there.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 89), with different explanation:
Amano-ndi-li-kwatile (w)alile ne tufi ku buko ∵ Wisdom-I-have-myself went with dung (on his clothes) to his wife’s village.
Pride goes before a fall. A man who won’t stand advising or correcting will someday make a fool of himself.

Proverb 124

Nawe, ulushimu lukakumema!

Nci cilabilwa ku muntu ngo uwakusenda ati walinakilila: ukacimfya ulo nomba ngu mulandu tawakapwe, ukwesha ku kumema nawe.
Nangu njino nshita kuti wanshupa, wibukishe bumbi bushiku ukeshibikwa ne cilandushi cika kuponena.

As for you, a bee will hover round you!

This is said to a person who wants to take advantage of your weakness: you may succeed now but this case will not stop, it will hover around you.
Though this time you can mistreat me, remember that one day you will be known, and vengeance will be taken on you.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 885), with different explanation:
Nawe ulushimu lukakumema ∵ As for you, a bee will hover round you.
Even if you take advantage of my weakness and kill me now, one of my relations will hover about you to avenge me.

Proverb 125¹

Umupama pamo watibwile ingoma

Bika amano pacintu ukofwaya, tepa fingi iyo.
Ukutibula ngoma ecomunga bwenako ukukonkanya. Ukubombela pa cintu cimo pakashita akatali, ku kulekelesha emo ungabwena ifyo walefwaya cibe fiweme angula fibi.
Mubwikashi bwesu fwe bantunse, kulaba ifyo tufwaisha, nomba ifi fintu fisa mukuboneka pa nshita ntali. Kanshi pakuti ici cintu cimoneke, kano watala waipelesha sana ukubombapo elyo panuma caisa moneka.

Hitting the drum at one place only will make it break

Concentrate on some things to achieve, not on many.
Breaking the drum is a positive image of perseverance. Working on one thing for a long time, at the end you would get the fruits out of it, good or bad.
During our stay in this world, there are certain matters we would like to have or achieve some of which may come about only after a long, long time. You must give a lot of time and effort to it so that in the end you enjoy what you have achieved.

Proverb 126

Mutota nsha enda na kafunda

Kwateni icilangililo pakuti abantu bamusumine pafyo mukososa.
Uyo ulabila pali nakasha ulo abwela kufuma uko aile alinga aletako cipandwa ca nama paku shininkisha.
Ngawaile mukutandala ku tauni pakashita akatali, pa kubwelela ku mushi kano wapintako natumo tumo pakuti abali ku mushi bakabone. Tekwebapo bwaka twali kulila ku tauni ukwabula icilangililo.

Praising a duiker’s meat goes with something to show it

Carry with you a proof or sample of what you are talking about so people will believe you.
The one who talks about a duiker from a trip should bring with him a piece of it to prove.
After visiting towns for some time, as you come back to the village, it is better to carry with you something that will make those you left behind accept what you say about town life.

A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 773):
Mutota-nshe alenda ne kafunda ∵ The one who brings news about locusts, brings a bundle of them with him.
Do not make an assertion unless you can substantiate it with a token.

Proverb 127

Twishilila nshima ku muto

Pantu ifintu fyawama sana, walabako nokwebati nafimbi fikoisa ificilile apa. Tulingile ukuteka umutima.
Inshima yenda no munani, ungaba uwa buswete! Ilyo inshima baleta mu nsaka, tabatwalapo lubilo ukutampa ukulya, yangula ukutobela muli supu. Kubona ati fyonse baleta empali umunani wa nama ucili kunuma.

Let us not finish off the nshima with soup alone

Because the things are so good, you forget that there is more to come. We must patiently go on.
Nshima goes with relish, sometimes with meat. When it is brought into the eating place, do not panic to start eating it with soup only! Wait until all are served, may be meat is still being prepared for this meal.

Proverb 128

Nawe, niwe ntoshabape, tatota!

Tautotelapo ngaba kwafwa.
Utakwatapo mafunde aweme atampa no kulaka nabantu abamwafwa.

As for you, you quarrel with your benefactors, you don’t thank!

Said to one quarrelling with those who support him.
An ill-mannered person will quarrel with those who help him.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 872):
Nawe niwe ntoshabape, tatota ∵ As for you, you are one who quarrels with your benefactors, you don’t thank.
Said to an ungrateful person.

Proverb 129

Uwakwensho bushiku bamutotela abwaca

Uwa kwafwilisha nshita ya bushiku mutashe nga bwaca.
Cabafye ku fintu umuntu uli onse akucitila, pakulekelesha walinga ukumutasha pa mulimo ulya.

You thank the night guide at dawn

A guide at night is praised the following morning when it has turned out that he has done his work well.
You don’t thank for work that is not finished yet.

Proverb 130

Nikwenkwe uyu, talalansala, nalelo alokupita

Ngu ni Kwenkwe, lyonse alafwaya nshila yakuisekeshamo nakambi tuli nankwe muli baifwe.
Ifi efilandwa pali ngo usekelela mu bufwayo (bwa bulale lale) bwakwe. Mwilanguluka ati abantu bamusango ngu bekala kumbi, baba muli baifwe.

This is a hyena who never sleeps hungry, and now you will see him passing by

This is a hustler, he will always find a way to serve himself, and he is just among us.
This is said of someone who is keen on serving his own (sexual) needs. Do not think that such people live elsewhere, they are here among us.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 916), with different translation and explanation:
Nikwenkwe uyu, talalansala, nalelo balukupita ∵ This is a beaten track, it does not sleep hungry, and today also people have been passing.
This track is frequented; it has food every day, i. e. the footprints of the people passing by.

Proverb 131

Mutima e muntu wine

Ubuntu bweka tabwa pwililikapo.
Tulafwaya amano akubwena bambi mu micitile yabo. Twalibatemwa paficitwa fyabo ifiweme nokubapata pa ficitwa fyabo ifibipile. Amano alasokolola buciine bwa bantu kupitila mu micitile yabo. Tekutipo fibombe fyeka, ukwabula ukwikatana.

The heart is the human self

Human beings alone are not complete.
We need wisdom to see others as they are through their actions. We will love them when they do good and hate them when they do evil. Wisdom will reveal people’s true nature through their actions. It cannot function in isolation, without social interaction.

Proverb 132

Umwaice aboseshe akatiti mwitumba

Ukubangila, kuweme. Mwilindila nshita itali limbi mungaisanga fyamu bipila ifya fumamo.
Uku kulanguluka kwabipa, ukuteshiba ati ulo kafwile fye, elintu kali nokwipikwa. Tekulindilapo ati njipailepo nakambi akali mu mpanga ekuti njipike tubili.
Umo nga ali nobulwele ubukofwaikwa kucitila pekapo, ishibishako nabambi bakulosheko ifya kubondapa ulo tabulafika panshita itali ya kukana citila.

Eventually the small bird rotted in the boy’s pocket

The sooner, the better. Don’t wait too long or you might end up with a bad outcome.
It is poor thinking not to know that as fresh as the small bird was, it has to be cooked soon. Not to wait until you kill another in the bush so you can cook two.
If one has an illness that requires immediate action, inform others for guidance to cure it before it becomes incurable.

Proverb 133

Umwana atomfwa omfwila mu musuku

Amafunde abafyashi bapela abana alinga ukuyakonka pantu bena balipitamo ukufuma ku kale, kanshi balishiba nefitumbukamo.
Ngefyo cili shino nshiku, amalwele nayaseka sana icakwebati abana misepela bapwa ukufwa. Necikolenga mulandu wakuti balilekele ukumfwa amafunde. Boneni abakulu bebati, mwebana tekwesha ukulala nabanakashi pantu limbi ulya mwanakashi alilwala akasele, nomba we kukana ati mubepelefye.
Icakulekelesha kusanga umwana alilwala akasele nomba abakulu epa kumushinina ati wabona nomba! Apo ninshi ali mukupelwa umuti ku bakulu.

The wayward child will only listen if it is already receiving treatment

Rules that parents give their children can best be followed because they, the parents, have gone through that and know what comes out of it.
The child in this proverb only started listening when he was treated by the cupping horn.
Nowadays, there are many diseases that are claiming the lives of the young. The reason is that children are not taking advice seriously. For example, the advice not to engage in casual sex. Imagine the boy having syphilis while you reject the advice! At the end when you are sick, you still call the elders to help in the treatment.

For the other proverbs considered more demanding in Chibale, click here.

To download the whole proverbs book Amano Mambulwa as a pdf, click here.

Footnotes

1
Photo 154.

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