Proverbs in Zambia ∴ deep proverbs from Chibale 1
Proverbs in Zambia: deep proverbs in Chibale 1
Of the two articles on proverbs that the people in Chibale consider deep, 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 third part of the digital book Amano Mambulwa, see here.
Other articles in this series
The proverbs about how to behave and what to do when problems arise considered simple in Chibale.
The proverbs about what to expect and how things work considered simple in Chibale.
The proverbs about how to behave and what to do when problems arise considered more demanding in Chibale.
The proverbs about what to expect and how things work considered more demanding in Chibale.
The proverbs about what to expect and how things work considered deep in Chibale.
Proverb 201
Bwela kabwa kanji, kutanda kwa nshiku shonse
Ulo icintu cakanga ukucitika mbulya bushiku, kwesha nakambi pantu ngawaleka ukwesha ninshi ukafilwa.
Cibinda ewalokwita akabwa kakwe, ati bwelako, apo wafilwa ukwikata inama lelo, wakwisa kwikata lumbi inshiku shinji.
Ulo umuntu aya mukulunga mu mpanga, ela mwi shuko ngaya kwipaya inama. Kati tendelepo bwino tekuti alekepo ati nomba capwa! Akesa kuyamo bumbi bushiku mu kwesha.
Come back, my dog, there are so many more days to come
When something does not work out, try again. You only fail if you stop trying.
The hunter is asking his dog to return for not being successful in hunting that day but wishes it good work in coming days.
When a hunter goes out hunting, he goes there with a hope to kill. When not successful, he will continue doing so till one day he is successful.
The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 164), with different translation:
Bwela kabwa kanji, kutanda kwa nshiku shonse ∵ Come back my little dog, travelling (hunting in the bush) is a thing of every day.
Said by the villagers to a hunter returned without success; never mind, hunting is a thing to do every day: one day you will be successful. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Proverb 202
Insala ni ndiminwa te mpulilwa iyoo
Nji nsoselo ilabomfeshiwa lyonse ulo inshita imilimo ya bulimi yafika ku mpelo. Ikotwibukishako ukwebati tatulingile ukulolesha pali bambi ukutufwaila ifyakulya mukuya mukulomba lomba.
Calinga tukoicimfya insala muku bombesha na maka mu mabala nokufumya ifingi. Ukulomba cilanga fye ukuti tatwakwetepo amaka akuilimina fwe bene no lupwa.
Hunger requires cultivation, not begging
This proverb is repeatedly used at the end of each farming season. It reminds us that we shouldn’t depend on others to provide food for us by going begging.
You have to overcome hunger by working hard in the fields to produce more. Having to beg shows that you’ve been too inactive in cultivating for yourself and your family.
Proverb 203
Mwalya imo mwashika no bucinga
Mwati ukulya inama imo, elo mwashika no bucinga mwaliba nokulokesha ifya mupepi mu fintu kucita nokuta languluka ifya kuntanshi.
Ciba kubati amwa ikata nama mubucingo bwenu, peka apo mwashika mbo bucinga kubati empela yafyonse. Mulingile ukulanguluka fyaku bomfya bweka mbu bucinga nakuntanshi.
You have eaten one animal, and you have buried the trap
You are being short-sighted in your dealings and not thinking about the future.
It’s like after trapping an animal in the animal trap, you decide to bury the trap as though it’s the end of everything. You need to think of using the same hole for further use.
Proverb 204
Nawe, uli ne mangala kupena!
Uwa mutima ubi ku bantu nokufwaya ukutinwa.
Umuntu utafwaya kumwalula bamwebati ubukali bwakwe bwa cibanda pantu tomfwapo ku bantu, abyata kwati kampeshi.
As for you, you have a headdress that flashes like lightning!
This is said about those who want others to fear them for their hard hearts.
A person who refuses to take advice is referred to as acting like lightning.
The same and a similar proverb were recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverbs 881 and 679), with different explanation:
Nawe uli ne mangala kupena.
As for you, you have a head-dress that flashes like lightning.
You have an evil temper
Mba shani pali nebo u fwite ngala? ∵ How is it that over me you array yourself in plumes?
Why are you so spiteful, as though arrayed in a war headdress of feathers to kill me?
Proverb 205
Akatili kafwa kulushinga lwakako
Ukuba abaibukila nefintu tusosa nangu ukucita. Ukubebeta ukumona ifingesa pantanshi pali fwebo.
Epamo nakatili, kesa mukufwa ku lushinga, pantu umwando bapyata ufuma ku mpapa yakako.
Abapanga amafunde bantu abene, nomba ciboneka kubati yabantu bambi maka maka ngauli necifulo capamulu. Ku ceshamo palya pa cifulo ngawafumapo, wakusanga ati amafunde mwapangile akukosela.
A steinbuck dies by its own bow string
Be extra careful with what you say or do. Check what effects it has in the long run.
The steinbuck dies from being shot with a bow the string of which has been made from its tendons.
People themselves, especially the ones holding a higher position in society, make laws, and the others are the ones to follow these laws. However, when vacating that higher position, they find the laws to be tough for themselves.
The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 69):
Akatili kafwa ku lushinga lwakako ∵ The steinbok has died (been killed) by its own sinew.
The arrow that killed it was hurled from a bow strung with steinbok gut.
Proverb 206
Nkaka ku maboko, ku molu ndokwenda
Tulokukwata umutima wa luse ku banesu pantu nafwe limbi tungasangwa mu mafya amo ene.
Umuntu ilyo aba na mafya, niku bantu tubutukila pakuti batwafwe. Nomba kulaba inshita imbi wacelwa ukubwesha ico wapokele. Umwine nga aisa mukufwaya, tweba ati, unkake ku maboko pakuti ndokubomfya amolu ukwenda mu kufwaya icipe cobe.
Tie my hands so I can go using my legs
Let us give some room to our debtors so that they have time to look for our money or item in question.
When we are in problems, we rush to see neighbours for help. But once you are late to pay back and the owner comes to ask for it, we say: tie my hands only so that I can walk to find your item.
The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 993):
Nkake ku maboko, ku molu ndukwenda ∵ Bind my arms, with my legs I walk.
If you want me to pay your debt, give me the opportunity to get about and raise the money.
Proverb 207
Ndi mumbulu nshilangwa mabinda
Mu milimo naishiba sana tekutipo unange ifyakucita.
Imimbulu ninama shimo ishaishiba amabinda ampanga, elyo shenda ishingi. Shalishibikwa mu musango shumfwaninamo pa kulunga nokubesha. Ngecilangilo pakusowa inama, shicita iyasunako kunama ikobutuka kushala ikolya.
I am a wild dog, don’t tell me how to hunt
This is my specialisation. I don’t need anyone to show me how to do it.
Wild dogs are animals that know all the hunting areas of the wild and they move in large numbers. They are well known for their hunting prowess and organisation. For instance, when chasing an animal, the one that tears a piece from the running animal remains behind to eat.
Proverb 208
Cimbwi afwile ntangalilo
Cimo cimo pakashita kamo. Tubombe imilimo apo amaka esu angatupesha.
Imilimo ngayafula tulingile ukubomba umo umo ukutasendela pamo yonse. We muntu umo wine ulokufwayako ukuya mukutema icitemi elyo nakambi pamo penka utekepo inshima! Ngawalabomba shani? Lekelako bambi nabo babombe.
The hyena died for wanting to go into two paths
One thing at a time. Let us do our work according to our possibilities.
When there is too much work to be done, let us do one thing at a time. When you plan to go out to cut trees and at the same time you want to cook food, how are you going to do that? Leave other works to be undertaken by others.
Proverb 209
Noko wamunobe tekatilwa pa lwino
Ubusunge bucililepo buya ku ba kuifyalila.
Walinga ulokupusanya imibombele nabafyashi ba munobe. Takwaba mufyashi unga kusunga ngabanoko.
Mu lupwa, abafyashi baleshiba ifya kusunga cila umo umo. Lelo teti basunge cimo cine aba mu lupwa bonse.
Your friend’s mother will not allow you in the kitchen
Good care will go to the first-degree children.
You must change your behaviour when dealing with your friend’s mother. No other woman takes care of you like your own mother.
In a family, the parents know how to treat each one of the members. But they can not similarly take care of all children of the whole extended family.
A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 962), with different explanation:
Noko wa mubyo utekatilwa pa citupa ∵ The mother of your mate, who is not caught at the loft.
One of your father’s wives, who is not your own mother. In the families of the polygamist, the mother will not beat her own child if found taking food that has been stored in the loft, but she will soundly thrash the child of one of the other wives, if found so doing in her house.
Proverb 210
Uwawa taimina
Cikotukonkomesha ukuba abakwafwana na banensu.
Abena mupalamano ebesa mukwafwa umo nga aba mubwafya pantu takwete amaka. Ilyo we muntu waba namasanso nge cililo, abo wingasubila ukukwafwa bena mupalamano.
Fallen and not able to lift himself up
Be helpful to your neighbours.
Neighbours always help each other out when one of them is powerless. When you have a funeral, the people you expect to come to your aid are your neighbours.
Proverb 211
Shimucita panini panini, apokele mwikalafye umukashi
Ukunonka mukubomba akamulimo nangu kacepeshe, pa kulekelesha ukakwatilamo amalipilo ukucila ukwikala fye.
Telyonse wingakwatilamo ishuko lyakukupako uto ukabila mu bumi bobe. Mu cine ngataukobombesha teti usubile akalusangu ukufuma kuli onse. Iwe ngawaikalafye tapali neco ucita, umwanakashi uwa upwa kumunangani kuti afumako nokwisa upwa kuli iwe pantu ulabombako nokusanga utufwaikwa mu bwikashi bwa muntu.
The man who did the work little by little gained himself the wife of the lazy person
Working, though little by little, in the end will make you receive a reward. Sitting idle will make you lose.
It is not always the case that the essentials to your life are dished out to you as gifts! If you don’t work, for sure, don’t expect gifts from anyone. When you spend your time lazily, eventually the woman married to you will need a divorce and be married to a laborious man where life will be easier, having life’s essentials..
Proverb 212
Ubukala bwa mbwa bwingila pacepace
Ukupoka icintu ukofwaya ukufuma ku bantu bambi walinga wapelako akashita/watekanya ukutatwala mukasaku. Ukucita nangu njebe ukwimaka inanda, kulaba ifyakukonka. Icibalilapo kutama injelwa, ashauma elo mwaishiba apa kwimakila. Boneni nakambi mwapekanya ifi fwaikwa fyonse. Fyonse ifi fibe umo fikonkanina. Nga ni kunanda, umutenge eulekelesha. Ensoselo imo kalwila wa buntungwa umuyashi Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe atemenwe ukubomfya ukulosha ku basungu. Ilyo baingilefye muno calo, bakwete ululimi uluweme pa umulandu wa mukuba wesu mpaka batampa ukututeka ngefyalo ifi: Nyasaland, Northern na Southern Rhodesia. Kwali kulwisha sana mpaka baisa tupa no buntungwa.
The dog’s penis enters slowly slowly
When you want to succeed in achieving something important, you must give it time and not be in a hurry. We take an example of building a house, there are steps to follow. The first thing is to mould bricks, when dried then you see where to build. See to it that all the requirements are on site. And so on until putting on the preconstructed roof. One of Zambia’s freedom fighters, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, liked to use this proverb while referring to the whites. As they came in the early days, they had sweet talk, but because of the rich copper deposits they eventually colonised the countries Nyasaland, Northern and Southern Rhodesia. And it was tooth and nail to remove them out till independence was granted. This is how Kapwepwe felt because the colonisers did not want to give independence to the blacks too soon.
Proverb 213
Katili we kanama leka abakulu bakushile isaala
Ulo uli mwaice nabakulu epo bali, calinga waicefya mukucita ifintu pantu nawe akashita kobe takalafika.
Ukuba mwine mushi, kano waikala muli ngulya mushi pakashita akatali pakuti waishiba nabantu walikubonapo. Ukwishiba imisango yabo yonse nawe bakwishibe bwino. Kati mwine mushi afwa, elo bangatontonkanya ukukubikapo kati walinga.
You, steenbok, little animal, let the big ones leave the place to you
When you are still young and elders are there, it is always good to downgrade yourself when doing things because time for you to act will come.
To become a village headman, you need to stay in that village for a long time so that you have come to know the people you’ll be leading. Becoming familiar with their behaviour and making sure they’re familiar with yours. After the current headman dies, that’s when the elders could think of giving you headmanship.
Proverb 214
Inama imakene ilalengesha ilele
Ukuba pa ntanshi mukucita ifya bipa kuti basuka abantu babifishishamo nabaikalile. Bwaba kwati bulwele bwa palupwa.
Palupwa ngapali baa bantu abashitekanya mukusosa sosa balengesha nokuti nabalupwa bambi babipilamo pa mulandu obe uwakuitakisha..
A standing animal also endangers the lying animals
Attracting the attention of others by a negative habit also has consequences for the ones related to you that do not stand out negatively.
When a family has talkative members who are not careful with what they say, others may start thinking that all in that family are the same.
Proverb 215
Mumbwe ukulila kubona uko ashintile amatako
Mube abaipekanya. Umuntu pakucita cimo amona uko ashintilile amaka.
Calyafya ukupangila ukwipaya insofu ngata ulapekanya ifi fwaikwa. Nangu ukofwaya ukushita icintu, kano wabala wapekanya indalama shakushita ico.
Before the jackal makes a sound, it will make sure it has a hideout
Be well-prepared.
When a person wants to do something difficult, he should know the things required, for instance where to get help.
It is unsound for someone to plan to kill an elephant when he has not prepared what is required. Also, when you want to buy something, you must see to it that you have the money at hand to buy that item.
Proverb 216
Akafumbe kantu ufumbete
Sekela mu fintu ukwete.
Akafumbe ako wikete muminwe eko ucetekele ukulya, pantu utuli mumpanga te tobe iyoo. Napa kupekanya icakulya balinga umunani ukwete.
Na mu bwikashi bwesu pakukwata icuma, tulingile ukulinga napo tupelele amaka. Ciba namukufwaisha ifyo mungabomfya pa mananda yesu, uku kumbwa ifyo bambi bakwete tacawamapo, emwisa amano akwiba. Shiteni ifintu ukulingana ne ndalama mukwete, apa pelele amaka enu.
Stick to the little oily mouse in your hand
Be happy with what you’ve got.
The little oily mouse you are holding in your hand is what you really have for relish, not all those large animals still in the wild or at the butcher’s.
In the way we live regarding wealth, we should be happy with what is available, let us not go beyond our limits. This includes the limit what is to be used by the family, not to be swayed by life in our neighbours’ homes as this may force us to steal. Buy what matches your budget.
Proverb 217
Tailowela ukutumene
Ukutaisunga mu cilabile labile kunga leta amashamo.
Tecakwesha ukulanda ifintu ifyo utangacita we mwine pantu kuti wailetelela.
Ilingi line abantu balasumina mu bufwiti, kanshi ulo ukososa pa cintu bwingi wishibe ifyakusosa pantu kuti wailengesha.
Tacalinga ukusosa ifyo utangacita kwati kusosa ati: uyo onse uwaibile katondolo yanji, nkamulowa. Tawishibe pali lilya ibumba palipo naumo uwakwata amano abufwiti. Ena akesha ukucita elyo ngafyacitika, bakeba ati ni ulya asosele pacintu bwingi, libe teopo kwalifye ukutinya, kanshi ni umbi.
Do not harm yourself by being reckless in talking
Reckless talking may cause misfortune.
It is not advisable to speak over things which you yourself are not involved in or claim knowledge you do not possess.
Imagine you claiming that you can bewitch someone: ‘I am going to bewitch the person who stole my sweet potatoes’, while you can not do such a thing. Now others will do it, and everybody will conclude that you did it, because you said it yourself.
Proverb 218
Mungulube alapaminwa pa ako alya
Ilyo tatula cita icintu conse, tulingile twashininkinsha ukusanga iciine, uku tacita mukasaku!
Munjili bali mupamine pantu ewali kwiba fyakulya mu cifwani.
Ngatwaumfwa ilyashi ili tatusekeshe pafya citika, twalinga twatekanya pantu limbi tukabepesha no muntu ushacitile.
The warthog is beaten for what he has eaten
Before deciding on what to do, we must find the truth and not do things in a hurry!
The warthog is beaten because he was the one stealing food from the field.
If we get messages that do not please us, we have to take them lightly and find out what they mean. This is before we accuse someone who never did it.
The same and a similar proverb were recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 761 and 762):
Mungulube alapaminwa akwa lya ∵ The river-hog is beaten for what he has eaten.
Don’t punish the innocent.
Mungulube alatulika aka alya ∵ The river-hog is made known for what he has eaten.
Don’t spread false accusations. One should only report that about which one has evidence, as in the case of a pig eating the maize.
Proverb 219
Uwapama nafyala, apamina limo
Tekwesha ukukwata mutima wa cifukushi.
Mulutambi lwa ciLala, umuko talinga kwikata banafyala, mulandu. Kanshi ulo kuli ukutosha pakati ka muko nabanafyala, pambi angabapuma pantu ukubekatamo bwaka naco clangs ukubapama.
Ukuba nji nsoselo yapela cilangililo umo taulingile ukushinshikila. Tekwebapo ati efyo ungacita kupama banoko fyala.
When you intend to beat your mother-in-law, do it fully
Don’t be half-hearted.
In the Lala culture, a son-in-law is not allowed to touch his mother-in-law, it is an offence. So, when there would be quarrelling between him and the mother-in-law, he might as well physically beat her because mere touching her is already regarded as beating.
Of course, this proverb comes up with an extreme example of a situation in which you should not be half-hearted. It is not meant as an incitation to beat your mother-in-law.
Proverb 220
Nawe, uli icipekepeke icisabi ica mu Lubembe!
Ku mwana utatina balwendo.
Ici sabi cipekepeke bacilinganya ku mwana utatina abalwendo abo teshibe kwati alibeshiba. Ba mupalanya ku cisabi icipekepeke icisangwa mu nika beta Lubembe ici tatina abantu.
As for you, you are the big pekepeke fish in the Lubembe river!
This is said to a child who does not fear strangers.
To a child who is not careful with strangers but goes there as though he knows them. He is likened to cipekepeke fish found in Lubembe river that does not fear people.
A similar, comparable/ The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 874):
¢Nawe uli cipekepeke icisabi ica mu Lubembe ∵ As for you, you are the big Pekepeke fish in the Luwembe River.
Said to a child, who is not careful about strangers, but goes to them as though he knew them well. The Pekepeke is a large toothed river fish, that does not fear people.
Proverb 221
Niwe pungwa, munshiponya isako!
Tekwesha ukuyumfwa. Umuntu alinga ukuba uwakwafwa abanankwe ilyo baba mu mafia.
Pungwa alishibikwa ukukana ponyapo nangu isako limo panshi. Kwisa tola onse masako akopona ulo akopupuka.
Mu mikalalile yesu tatwakwanishapo kukwata fyonse, eico ilyo wasanga ukuti cimo icintu pamo nga umucele, walinga ukuya pokako paba nenu. Nomba ngawaba nga pungwa, ukesa shupikwa kuntanshi ilyo ukabulilwa kamo.
You are the scavenger eagle, the non-dropper of feathers!
Don’t be too self-centred. A human being should be helpful to others when they are in problems.
The scavenger eagle is famous for never having one of its feathers drop to the ground. It will pick up every feather that falls from its plumage.
The way we live, we don’t have all the necessities we require. So, when you miss one thing, say some salt, you have to seek it from your neighbours. Now when you behave like the scavenger eagle you will find it hard once you run short of anything.
The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1034), with different explanation:
Ni we pungwa muntaponye’sako ∵ You are the eagle, the non-dropper of a feather.
Should the scavenger-eagle drop one of its feathers when flying, it would swoop down and catch it, tearing it to tiny shreds. Unless the bird is killed, a feather is never found intact. Hence this term is applied to the miser. Lenge: Cungwe ta ponya lipepe.
Proverb 222
Peepe pabena wishi tasalapo
Tekuti lyonse ube ‘weka’.
Ulo wafika muncende iyabwangu, calinga waishibana nabena mupalamano obe pantu ebakakwishiba amano obe, nokukwafwa ebakakwafwa.
The he-goat will not choose from his father’s family
You can not always ‘be yourself’.
When you visit a new area, it is better to get to know those next to you so that they know your behaviour because once in trouble, they will be the ones to help you.
Proverb 223
Tabasala nkuni, nobuselekete bonse ninkuni
Tawalinga ukukana ico bakupela ngo bupe. Tekuba uwakusala, lyonse kufwaya fintu ifikulile, notunono nato tuli bwino kuli iwe.
Twaikala mu calo ca malanda ukushingwana no bucushi ubwalekanalekana. Ilyo umo uwa luse akumfwilo luse noku kupa cimo, iwe walinga ukupokelela, tekususha ati kano mwampela cakuti na cakuti. Ne nkuni shine kuteba ishili shonse.
Don’t be selective as to firewood, all wood will do
Receive whatever you are given as a gift. Don’t be choosy, only wanting the bigger things, also the simple ones are good for you.
We are living in a world with all kinds of problems. Now, when one is so kind to give something to you, you as recipient are supposed to receive, not to choose. Even firewood from other trees can do the same.
Proverb 224
Shikala no mwabo
Bikeniko onse amano kufintu mwapelwa.
Bomfyeni italanta mwaba nalyo ukucila kwesha ifyo mushapelwa ifyo mutali nokucita.
Nshimu shaishibikwa cipi cipi nomwabo, mubumi bwabo bonse. Takwabapo ukulekaleka ukwesha fimbi ukucila mukusenda mwabo wakupangila ubuci.
Bees with nectar
Focus on what’s been given to you.
Take advantage of your talent instead of trying all kinds of things you weren’t meant to do.
Bees are always associated with nectar, for all their lives. That’s their thing. They don’t change for any other livelihood than nectar collection, in order to make honey.
A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 473), with different explanation:
Ishikala shi lekala ne mwabo ∵ Those (bees) that sit down, sit down with nectar.
Said when offering a visitor food.
Proverb 225
Niwe pungwa ukolelemba, nabashukile bakotola lelo!
Sumina kuli mbo abanga kwafwa.
Ba pungwa nangu ifyuni fimbi filangilila abantu apali icakulya/ maka maka inama. Ulo abantu ngabaya nkulya, cacine balasanga inama ilifwile. Nangu pungwa aba uwakuibwenesha, alafwa bambi kusanga buswete.
Incito shaba ishapusana pusana. Mbalya basambisha babomba bwaka, nomba mwenka mulya emufuma intungulushi shiteka. Abalengele nimbalya baba sambishe pakuti babe pali mfilya fifulo ifyo bataibukilepo.
You are a scavenger eagle hovering, and the lucky ones are going to pick meat!
Recognise those who (could) help you.
Scavenger-eagles and other birds that hover in the sky acknowledge to the people that there is an animal killed there. And when people go there for sure they find a dead animal. So, even though the scavenger eagle is very self-centred, it helps others to find meat.
There are many different types of work. The teachers do their work of teaching the young and others become leaders. However, the main reason they hold such high positions is their teachers. Will they be aware of that?
The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1035):
Pungwa ulukulelemba, abashukile balukutola lelo ∵ The eagle is hovering, the lucky will pick up (meat) today.
On seeing vultures or scavenger-eagles hovering in the distance, the natives will all turn out to search for the dead animal that has attracted the birds; the finder will be the lucky one.
Proverb 226
Nawe, uli shikilwe taumfwa!
Nji nsoselo ilabilwa ku muntu uuli be miya ya kutomfwa nokukana sumina ifunde.
Ngataukoumfwapo ifyo abanobe bakososa ninshi mu buntu tawabamo.
As for you, you are resolute in not listening!
This is said to a person who is stubborn when it comes to listening and taking advice.
If you don’t take good advice from friends, then you are not worth being a human being.
The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 884), with different explanation:
Na we u li shikilwe, ta umfwa ∵ As for you, you are intractable, you do not listen!
Said to a disobedient person.