Proverbs in Zambia ∴ more demanding proverbs from Chibale 2

Proverbs in Zambia: more demanding proverbs in Chibale 2
Of the two articles on proverbs that the people in Chibale consider more demanding, this is the one that presents proverbs about what to expect and how things inevitably work. They can also be found in the second part of the digital book Amano Mambulwa, see here.

Proverb 134

Amenshi ni noko, tabipa

Wikanapo ifintu ifikankala kuli iwe.
Pafintu tufwaisha sana sana ku mubili, menshi. Ulo waba ne cilaka ca menshi, ufwaisha sana ukunwa amenshi nangu limbi tayakobonekapo ukwela, ukanwa. Eico umufyashi obe mwanakashi nangu aboneke umbi pa menso, ni noko walinga ukumupa umucinshi. Kuti abanobe balanda ifibi pali ba noko, iwe tekuti ufisumine.

Water and your mother: they can never be bad for you

Don’t deny the things that are important for you.
Of all the bodily needs, water comes first. When you are thirsty, there is great desire to drink water though it may not be clean. So even if your mother is looking ugly, she is your mother and she deserves respect. Other friends may talk bad things against your mother, you will not take part.

A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 960):
Noko tabipa ∵ One’s mother is never bad.
However ugly, she is not so to her own child. In the Lenje region: Wanyoko tawabicya.

Proverb 135

Kanshi ishamo limonekela nakutulo

Tuli bantu na mano. Ilyo tucili abomi, libe natubuka yangula tulilele, tubomfya amano mu kwikala bwino nokwafwa bambi.
Limbi limbi kuti fyacitika ulo ulele walota ukusangwa ne shamo munshila utenekele. Elo, apapita utwanshiku, iwe, yangula umbi umwina mupalamano, wasangwa bu bwafya ubukulu. Tekubapo fyeka ifyo walotele mbulya bushilu, lelo mu musango umbi uwakukusha, yangula muli ngulya mu musango we shamo.

Misfortune may reveal itself during sleep

We are humans with wisdom. As long as we live, whether awake or asleep, we will use wisdom to order our lives and help others.
It may occasionally happen that during your sleep you dream of experiencing misfortune in an unexpected situation. Then, a few days later, you, or someone else close to you, are in hot soup. It is not necessarily what you dreamed that night, but something else that leaves you, or that person, in misfortune.

Proverb 136

Inanda tabaibwena kumutenge ubune

Te fintu tubona ku menso efingalenga ukushininkisha ati efyo fyaba.
Ulo tubona abantu abaikala mu cupo kunse yananda bali abansansa, tekwebapo ati fyonse fiweme mu nanda. Ifilandwa mukati ka nanda fimbi yangula ifitawemepo ifingalenga icupo ukupwa.

The value of a house can not be seen from its roof only

What we see is often not enough to be able to conclude that it is good or always that way.
When we see married couples being happy outside their houses, we cannot conclude that all is okay. What is said inside the house can be different and lead to divorce.

Proverb 137

Mungulube tabuka bwaka, kubona ici mubusha

Icintu ngaca citika ninshi kulipo icalenga.
Mungulube mukasuba tendaukapo, nomba amwasanga akobutuka ninshi pali abamubusha afwayepo ukwakuti akafisame.
Na bantu bene, tekutipo ukalipe bwaka apatapo nangu cimo, kano bakukalifya nawe epakulalipa..

The warthog does not wake up for nothing: something must have roused him

Something happens for a reason.
During the day, the warthog does not run about. So, when you see him running just know that something made him wake up and run for safety.
The same thing with people: you don’t get angry just like that, something will have provoked it!

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 763):
Mungulube tabuka lukoso, kubona ici mubusha ∵ The river-hog does not wake for nothing, for it is something that has roused him.
Said to excuse a man for his anger: he has cause or provocation. A river-hog is not seen running about in broad daylight, unless something has disturbed him, and he is seeking another place of hiding.

Proverb 138

Uko tauli imbwa yobe taibutuka/taikata

Bambi abantu balasankanya malyashi, nakuli mbo aba bafwako.
Ilyo umuntu aashima imbwa yenu mukulunga, bali ishiba ati ilabutuka nokwipaya inama. Nomba kubucenjeshi bwabo pantu tabakofwayapo naiwe we mwine bakulumbeko, besa mukubeba ati teyopo ikete inama. Nakambi akesa kwashima mbwa imo yeka.

When you are not there, your dog suddenly fails to run/catch

Some people make up stories, even for those who help them.
When a person borrows a hunting dog, he knows that it is a very good dog in running and killing animals. Because he thinks he is too clever and doesn’t want to share the spoils with the dog’s owner, he cheats the owner saying the dog failed to run after/catch the animal. Still, he will borrow the same dog again next time.

Proverb 139

Icila cansaka umo acileta

Nji nsoselo ikwete umwakulosha mubili. Ku lubali lumo ikokosho kwebati onse uwikala mu mushi ali nomulimo wakuleta ifiweme notwashala tumbi. Ulubali lumbi ikopanda mano akwebati ngo uwaletele ngalya mano alingile uku asunga mukubonati fyonse fyaletwa nokupwa ifyakuwamina bonse ngefyo cicitwa ulo umo atatula ulwimbo.

At the meeting place, one person brings a song/dance/discussion/activity

This proverb has a double meaning. On the one hand, it states that every person in a village has the responsibility to bring forward good things and issues. On the other hand, it advises that once something is brought forward, the starter must (be able to) keep the initiative to bring everything to a good end like it is done when someone brings a song.

Proverb 140

Inshiku tashicela mumo

Ifintu kuti fyayaluka fimbi, tuleba abakusubila.
Ificitika umuye nshiku filapusana.
Nga wali cula, telyonse ukabelelela, bumo bushiku bamo bakesa kwafwa.

Days do not dawn all the same

Things can change; we should remain expectant.
What happens during the days differs per day or period of days.
If you are poor, it is not that you will be like that for ever, one day people may come and help you.

Proverb 141

Iciiba mutima, iminwe taibapo

Fwailisheni fili ku mutima ifilenga fimo ukucitika.
Umutima ku muntu ekampingu wafintu akofwaya ukucita. Ulunkumbwa nalo ilyo amenso abona lulenga umutima ukufwailisha inshila yakukwatilamo cilya cintu.
Icikonkapo kutemwa ukubula cilya cintu nangu ukwiba pakuti ba mutima basekelemo. Mwabona nomba, iminwe eyisenda ncilya cintu. Kunuma nku, kabwalala bali kumuputula amaboko pakuti bonse bamubone. Iminwe yaculilamo, libe umutima wikele tondolo.
Fwe bantu ilinji line bambi balafwaya ukutubomfya pakuti ngawaikatwa bonse bakaseka iwe. Kanshi tube abaibukila pa fintu abantu bambi bakofwaya fwe tubacitile.

The thief is the heart, not the fingers

Try to find out what is behind a certain action.
The heart in a person decides what to do. Want of something after the eyes have seen it, makes the heart look for ways in which to act. What follows is the desire to have that item through theft. Now you can see: the hands pick that item! but the decision was made by the heart. Long ago, a thief had his hand cut off so that everybody could see! The hands suffered while the heart was safe. Often ordinary people are the ones who are being used in evil acts so that at the end they will be blamed instead of the real perpetrators. So let us be careful to check what assignments they want us to undertake on their behalf.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 327):
Iciba mutima, iminwe ta iba ∵ The thief is the heart, the fingers do not steal.

Proverb 142

Umweni acindamina ku mukaya

Abanga cindika umulwendo nimbalya abo aya atandalila, te bantu bambi abatamwishibilepo iyoo.
Umuntu kati afuma ku mushi ukuya ku tauni mukubona ulupwa, mbalya abo asanga nkulya bamwishiba eba kumusansamukila ukulanga bambi ati ulya muntu mukaya wabo. Nabambi abaibelele bakakwata ukucindika ngulya muntu. Amwa mupufya, cingapela kwisa ku bantu bambi?

A visitor is treated with respect by the people who know him well

It is normal to expect when you visit people who know you well that they pay respect to you and that it will not be those who don’t know you.
When one leaves home and visits towns to see relatives, those he finds there who know him well will receive him with respect, just to show others that they know him well. Then others will also give respect. If you while knowing that person show a negative attitude, what will you do unto unknown people?

Proverb 143

Kwenu ni kwikoshi

Ukwishiba no kwibukisha intuntuko yobe calilinga pantu ukaluba ukwakuya nga wapelelwa uko waya.
No muntu nawo ilabako inshita ekata kwi koshi, kanshi epa fuma ne nsoselo nji.
Umuntu mwalalume ngaima ukuya mukupa, alasha ulupwa lwakwe nokuya ikala ku buko. Nomba nangu angekala ifyo, alilinga ukuloku tandalila ku mushi wakwe pakuti akoishiba ifikocitika nkulya, tekulabililako iyoo.

Your home is like the back of your neck

Knowing and remembering your roots is advisable because when confronted with major problems, you will hesitate to go back to your village when you were not visiting them.
Touching the back of the neck is a habit of many especially when they want to think carefully.
When a man leaves his home going out to marry, he makes a new home over there leaving behind his relatives. It is advisable to frequently visit your home so that you remain updated, instead of forgetting it completely.

Proverb 144

Kasolo afulila pa lubwebwe tekuti akelepo

Kufintu fikoboneka mungeshiba icikonkapo.
Kasolo uwaimbila ifuli pa mabwe, kwishiba bwaka ati taikalepo apa nshita itali.
Nabantu bene pakwimaka umushi, balabala babona incende ilingile apali umushili wa filyo, apa tekalilwa amenshi ne miti yakutemamo utwakwimakila.

If a mouse digs a hole where there are many stones, it won’t stay there for long

From what you see you can tell what will come next.
When a mouse digs where there are many stones you know that it will not stay for too long there because the hole will not go deep enough.
This also is applicable to people who want to have a new village. The first thing to do is to see if the soil is good enough for the crops, the area is not waterlogged and has enough trees for other projects. If you do not look for these signs, you might be surprised and leave sooner than you want.

Proverb 145

Akafupa utemenwe ekakusho mucena

Ukutemwisha icintu cimo, kuti cakuletelela imilandu pa kulekelesha.
We muntu ngawalitemwisha amano abi, ku ntanshi kuti waba mubwafya. Ulubuli nalwena kuti wasangilwamo ne milandu. Kati ukoumfwikila mukulwa na bantu, mailo kuceshamo ukasanga ati waipaya umuntu. Tutaluke ku misango iibipile.

Fondness for gnawing bones will make you lose your teeth

Even a harmless habit of doing one thing all the time, may lead to problems in the end.
Now what will happen with bad habits? When you have bad manners, at the end you will be in troubles. If you are always fighting with other people, one day when you are not lucky, you will kill someone! Let us leave bad manners.

Proverb 146

Mwipika umo alashatisha

Cikankala ukukwata ifyakupusana pusanako mu bumi bobe.
Ngatakuli ifyakupusanako, ukulya kukaba ukwacepela elyo nefikashalapo mu mpoto fikalala.
Ukwipika Nako kuti kwacitwa mu nshila ishapusana. Ngateifyo, cikapela mbo abakolya ukutendwa nemipikile yenu. Nge cilangililo nci, kati ni cilemba, natumbi tulingile ukusanshwako pakuti iboneke kubati niyimbi.
Nci tekwebati Niku cakulya ceka iyo cili nakufintu fimbi kubati kwikala mu ncende ishipusene pusene nokumona nafimbi yangula ukufwala ifyakufwala ifipusene pusene.

Always the same recipe makes the pot burn what’s inside

It is important to have variation in your life.
If there is no variation, there will be less eating and the food remaining in the pot will be burnt.
Cooking can be done in different ways. If not, it will make those eating get bored with your cooking. For example, if it is beans, then something should be added as a balanced diet to look different.
This does not only hold for food but also for other things like change of residences to see more or putting on different clothes.

Proverb 147

Ifitenge fibili filefyanya

Amabumba alekene kuti akwata ulupato ku inankwe. Amabumba abili tayakwata amalangulushi amo ene.
Ngamwali belela uku kumana nabantu bamo bene mwibumba limo pa ncende imo ine yakutushishapo, tekuti ukwate kususha kwabula umwenso kufyo bacita nokukonka ifya mwi bumba apo bakumanina libili libili mu ncende shimbi.
Ico bakonka ca bantu ukupanga utubungwe ututafwaya kufwailisha ifilenga tumbi utubungwe ukusela.

Two groups despise one another

Separate groups may dislike one another. Two camps often do not have the same views.
When you are used to meeting with the same group of people in one resting place, you may not be open to the practices and considerations of another group meeting regularly in a different resting place.
The tendency is for people to form groups that are reluctant to explore what moves other groups.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 363), with different explanation:
Ifitenge fibili filefyanya ∵ Two meetings slander one another.
In one village there should be only one gathering for talk; if there are two they will only work in opposition.

Proverb 148

Mwenda mainsa taceba kwiulu

Tulingile ukuba abaipekanya mu ncito ili yonse twaibimbamo nokwishibati nshita ikapingula ifya kucita.
Inshita amainsa aisa, tuleshiba ati ni mfula nomba. Kanshi twalinga ukuipekanya ifyakufwala fya iyi nshita. Na mu mainsa tulokubomba nga lyonse.
Katulabile ati ulabombela umuntu. Nomba, lyonse bwaka alakupela ifya kucita, napo ungaisosha ati aliba nensambu shakucita ifyo?

When traveling in the rainy season, one does not look at the sky

We must be prepared in any work we involve ourselves in, but circumstances dictate what to do.
During the rainy season, we know that it will be raining, so we have to prepare ourselves with the type of clothing during that period. We should continue working normally though it is raining a lot.
Say you work for someone. Now, every time he gives an assignment, are you going to dispute whether he is authorised to do so?

Proverb 149

Nkalamo ukukalipa itampila pabo

Ubukali bwa nkalamo butampila cabe ilyo yafyalwa, ico icaba cimo ceka no muntu umunkalwe ufyalwa.
Kwaliba abantu bamo abatafwayapo ukulengululwa, kano ico basosa ecekeco. Nangu mweshe shani, kano ifyo asosa efyo mucite. Limbi babetati, bamunshololwa.

The fierceness of the lion starts at its home

The lion’s behaviour of being vicious starts when it is born. The same holds for a bad-hearted man.
There are certain people who never want to be corrected, only want others to follow what they say. Even if you try hard to convince them, they will only ask you to do what they want. Sometimes they are known as the intractables.

A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 994):
Nkalamu ukufwemba, alafumya pabo ∵ Lion derives his raging from his home.
A bad-tempered man is born so, even as a lion-cub is born vicious.

Proverb 150

Ubukulu bwa nkoko, masako

Inkoko ipimwa ulo ikolola ukubikapo na masako. Nomba cilya cipimo tecopo pantu fimbi ifilinga amasako tatulyapo!
Ulo tukoshitisha inkoko tupimina kumo na masako, takwabapo uko bafukula elo bashitisha iyoo. Kanshi ubucindami bwa nkoko masako.

The size of a chicken: its feathers

Though it is true that you can only judge something on its appearance, you should be aware of the downside of judging by outward appearance.
When we want to sell a chicken, we consider its size with feathers. So, the appeal of the chicken are its feathers. But that is not good because feathers are not eaten.

Proverb 151

Tabwakwete munkumbi kabumena?

Icintu conse calikwata intampilo.
Kuti wapusanya shani icintu libe taulatampako ukubombelapo?
Mubwikashi bwesu muno calo, umuntu onse alakwata ico atemwisha pakuti akese ba bwino kuntanshi. Ulo tuya ku sukulu tulafwaya ukusambilila pakuti nafwe twise tubeko ifyo tukofwaya.

If it had no stem, would it grow?

¢Everything we do is based on things that we’ve done or prepared before.
How can you achieve something if you do not start working on it?
In this world we all have future plans we want to achieve. When we go to school, we want to learn so that we become what we want. We prepare for a long journey. We raise our children to make sure they do well.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1057), with different explanation:
Tabwakwete munkumbi kabumena? ∵ Had it no stem, would it grow?
Everything must proceed from something; there must be a stem from which the mushrooms grow.

Proverb 152

Akoni kacenjele kalala pa nsansu

Ba uwapamulola.
Akoni kalishiba ukuti kalafwaikwa ku bantu. Emulandu wine icinsa cakako cibela pancende mpo patangafika na bantu nokuba akaibukila nga kwaumfwika icongo ca nsansu sha fiti ishumine mupepi ne cinsa.
We muntu wewapatwa, walinga ukoibaka ukwishiba myendele yobe, nefintu mulokulanshanya nabantu bambi.

The smart little bird sleeps where there are small dry pieces of woods

Be on your guard.
A little bird knows that people want it as relish for their food. That is why it makes its nest at a place not reachable by people and takes care that it be notified by the noise they make while walking on the dry pieces of wood near the nest.
When you are hated by people, you must be very careful in the way you move around and how you communicate with others.

Proverb 153

Apali umunwe epali ne bala

Ico wimininepo eci citika.
Mwaliba imilimo iingi nomba cila umo alikwata uko camutwala nokukoselela eko abikisha amano pakuti imoneke.

Wherever your finger points, there will be a field for you

The intentions of people differ like people differ.
There are many types of talents in the world but each one of us goes for what is good to her so that fruits are seen at the end.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 112), with different explanation:
Apali umunwe epali ing’anda/ibala ∵ Where the finger is there is the house/garden.
If a person passes a certain spot, repeatedly points to it and remarks what a nice spot it is, he will be sure to build or have his garden there later on.

Proverb 154

Uwa kalema takaleka

Ndeta misoka taleka.
Uwabelela ukwiba ifyabene mu mabala nangu mu mayanda naena eko fyamutwala. Kanshi lyonse bwaka wakusangwa mu fifungo.

A bad habit is hard to break

Once you live like that, you can not stop.
Someone who is used to stealing from the fields or from homes because he has become dependent on stealing will only stop when he ends up in prison.

Proverb 155

Akalyo akanini kalaleta umulyolyo

Ngawapelwa utunini, epa kufwaya nafimbi.
Nji nsoselo ilabilwa patwa bwalwa utunini namu makwebo afyakulya. Balapela dyonko pakuti wishibe ubune bulimo. Bukulu bwa cipimfya wapelwa ebulenga ukushitilapo nafimbi.

A little food makes you want more

When you get little, you want more.
This proverb is applied by small beer and food businesses. They give you a small foretaste, so you know what the quality is. It is the small size of the portion given that draws you to buy more.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 22), with different explanation:
Akalyo kanini kalaletela umulyolyo ∵ A snatch of food brims on the desire to eat.
Give them an inch, they take all.

Proverb 156

Akanwa kamufungo kene kailetelele

Nga ulipo nacimo mu mano, kuti wailetelela nga taucenjele mukusosa.
Ilyashi lisoswa mucalo lingi, eico umuntu uuli no mulandu, ala supa lyonse eukososa pakuti abantu bamumfwe. Nomba mukulabila labila nangu tewepo bepwishe, bonse baleshiba ati niwe umulandu ukumine.

The mouth of the guilty one will betray him

Even though your guilt is not yet clear, your reckless language indicates that you are connected.
Topics of discussion are many in this world, so for one who is guilty it is not smart to take up the leading role so that people listen to him. Because of this continuous talking, though you were not asked, they will conclude that you must be connected!

Proverb 157

Nalilile mu mpanga, tamuli icamwine

Ifyasangwa fyonse fya bonse, takupo umwine.
Mu mpanga ba Lesa babikamo ifintu ifya pusana pusana pakuti fyafwe abantunse. Kanshi takwabapo umwine fya bonse uwabalilapo ku fibona.

I ate it while in the wild, so it belongs to no one

Everything found in the wild is for all, there is no ownership.
In order to help mankind, Lesa put so many different things in the wild. You cannot claim them as your own!

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 830):
Nalilile mu mpanga, tamuli camwine ∵ I ate it out in the veld, it belongs to no one there.
The veld is commonage, no one can prevent you from cutting down a tree to get at honey when you are in the bush.

Proverb 158

Akalilile nyina, ni mwisaana kafumine

Ifya fiseme fikasokoloka ku ntanshi.
Abana banono balafyengwa ilyo abafyashi babo babepaya, nomba ico balingile ukwishiba cakuti aba bana bakesa ishiba nowacitile filya mpaka nabo bakacite icilandushi icabipa.

The thing that cried for its mother came out of the egg

Eventually, what’s hidden will come out.
For instance, small children who have not been treated fairly, when they’ve grown up, will understand and will come to bring trouble to the wrongdoer.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 10), with different explanation:
Akalilile nyina ni mwisana kafumine ∵ The little thing that mourned for its mother, it is out of an egg that it came.
An accusation of foolishness against anyone who, when killing the mother and father, wants to let the little baby live as being harmless. It will grow and hear how its parents were treated and then bring trouble on the murderer. A Macchiavellian maxim: If you kill the parents, kill the child as well.

Proverb 159

Ubushiku bwaluba umukote ne cimbwi canye mfwi

Apa calola mukwebati, ificitika fyaba nenshila/nangu impela iyakubwenako.
Mu nganda mwikala, abana ilinji balaya mukwangala kubanabo. Kulya kwine ulo bafyashi babanabo bapekanya icakulya, nabalya bana bambi balalyako. Ulo babwelela kunanda yabo, abafyashi tyabeshibapo ati abana babo nabalya. Ngabapekanya icakulya, nabalya balile ku mulandu wa mwenso pantu balibakanya balaya mukulya. Ico besa mukubwenako mikutile! Uli apa nebo naikuta, libe inshima icily ikulu. Epo beshibila ati balililepo kumbi. Nokulingana ne nsoselo, ulo umukote aluba, nakonse uko bakosanga apa nyelele icimbwi pakuboneka mfwi mfwi, bakatontonkanyati cimbwi calile bakuti nabakuti.

An old man goes missing and the hyena excretes grey hair

We always must look at the relation of things and the hints about this relation that are given to us.
When an old person with grey hair goes missing, the faeces of a hyena can tell the story of that missing grey-haired person.
In a home, children go out to play with friends. Where they are, the parents prepare food for all, so for them as well. But when they return home, their parents also will have prepared food, not knowing that they have already eaten. Because they have been warned never to eat at other homes, the children will still take part in the eating at their home but will not eat much or will not eat for a longer period. Then the parents will know that the children took food somewhere else.

Proverb 160

Akalimba ka kwashima takapwa misango

Icakwashima tacilipo cobe. Tontonkanya pa kashita ka kubomba.
Umuntu nga aashima icipe, alinga ukucibomfya bwangu bwangu pantu abane kuti baisa mukupoka panshita ateneke.
Tatulingile ukucisunga pa nshita itali kubati cesu.

A borrowed musical instrument won’t give you time to play all types of music

A borrowed thing is not yours. Think of the time factor.
When you borrow any item, be it a bicycle or a banjo, you should start using it for the intended purpose because the owner may come in when you are not ready yet.
Do not keep it for too long as if it is your own.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 11), with different explanation:
Akalimba ka kwapula takashila misango ∵ A borrowed kalimba doesn’t finish a tune.
The owner is so accustomed to walking about with his instrument that he cannot lend it out long enough to play a tune through.

Proverb 161

Mwaice kulumbula akabondo kansha, ninshi alikabwene

Abaice taba bepapo mu fintu fimo. Ifyo umwana umwaice asosa ninshi alikabwene, tekuti asosepo ifyo atabwene.
Pa nanda kati abalume baipayapo akanama (ubuswete) ngabana bena liba elyashi uko baya mu kwangala naba nabo. Necilenga ninci: tabeshibapo ati ili lyashi lingaleta ulupato kubakulu bambi pantu tababa peleko ifyo abana bakolabila..

A child who mentions a duiker’s leg has seen one

Children do not lie about certain things. This type of thing cannot be made up by a child, so it must have been seen recently.
When a man kills an animal and brings it home, his children may make it an important news item for other children. They do not know that those stories might end in families differing because the meat wasn’t shared.

A similar proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1401):
Umwanice tashimbula kabondo kansha, kani akashimbula, alakalyapo ∵ A youngster doesn’t mention the foot of a duiker: if he mentions it, he eats it.
A child is guileless. It is no good denying, you have incriminated yourself by dropping out the word, and then retracting it. There is some reason for your having said it.

Proverb 162

Imfula pakuya epo yonaula ifisabo

Ilapwa nga yapwililila.
Imilimo iyingi isa mukonaika lilya line yaya mukupwa.
Shimbi nshita ifilyo fya mwibala filonaika ku mfula pa kulekelesha, nokukula fyalikula kale. Icipupu ca mfula cilenga amataba esu ukuwa panshi ilyo nenshita ya mfula ukupwa ili mupepi, elo teti mu abushe yonse mwibala, elo yonse yacili abishi!

It is only when the rainy season is almost ending, that crops are spoiled

It is only finished when it is really finished.
Most work runs the risk of being spoiled especially when almost finished.
Sometimes, crops in the fields that are already ready to be eaten get spoiled when rains are almost ending. Rains that come with strong wind push the maize stalks down at the end of the season, and you can not raise them all as they are still fresh!

Proverb 163

Uwashingwana oonta nobuta bwakwe

Ngataukwete cimbi icakubomfya, kubomfya conse icilipo.
Ba cibinda ilyo baya mumpanga, mwaliba muncende shino umutaba nkuni, nomba acashupa balabula ubuta nokukonawila pa mulilo pakuti onteko.

When stranded one even uses the bow as firewood

When there are no other options, one must use what is available.
In the past when hunters went out hunting, there were areas where you could not get firewood and when necessitated the hunters would have to use their bows to make fire for warmth.

Proverb 164

Ubucushi bupa amano

Ngatapali icilekokushupa, tatukwata ukutontonkanya ukucilile palya pantu fyonse fili bwino.
Icalo ca Zambia caba pakati kafyalo ifingi elyo nobukwebo bwafintu tukabila sana bupita muli ifi fyalo. Kununa uku ifipe fyesu fyalikupita mu Southern Rhodesia (lelo Zimbabwe) mpaka Ian Smith aishile poka icalo ku maka. Apa pene nokumfwana kwalipwile, kanshi nomba Zambia atontonkenye inshila shimbi ishakubomfya pakuti ifipe filokufika muno calo. Pa nshita imo ine Zambia alikwafwako nokulwila ubuntungwa bwa calo ca Southern Rhodesia.
Kanshi ukucula kwa Zambia kwalengele ukukwata umupaipi wakuleta amafuta ukufuma ku Tanzania, babikapo ne njanji Tazara.

Poverty gives wisdom

When there is nothing troubling you, you do not need to use your wits that much because everything is alright.
Zambia is a land-locked country, and all its cargoes/essentials have to pass through the surrounding countries. Now, all our imports passed through Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) until Ian Smith declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence of that country. From then, the relationship became bad. Because Zambia suffered a lot, a plan for the oil pipeline from Tanzania and a Tanzania Zambia Railway was put in place.

Proverb 165

Ubwalwa tabunwa mwipi

Ubukali bwa bwalwa bukalenga walabila nefi kucilile cimo.
Icakonkapo cilangililo cimo pa nsoselo nji pamulu ngoli necikokushupa mu mano. Nga waya mukunwa bwalwa kulaba inshita ulo wakolwa, watampa lyashi likuucusha pancende apatalingile, mumano ati yangula banga ngafwako ababyanji.

Worried people shouldn’t drink beer

The strength of the beer will make you say things you shouldn’t.
The proverb applies to everyone who has something troubling on their mind. When he/she goes out to drink and gets drunk, the issues troubling him/her are brought to the wrong place, thinking friends will help them.

Proverb 166

Ubunga bupelele noko tabalyamo

Tekuti ucetekele uli onse ukucila ulupwa lobe angula ifibusa ifinga kusunga.
Umufyashi umwanakashi abaka abana bakwe pakubalilapo. Iwe kati teba noko tabaka kupe icakulya bapekenye.

Mealie meal prepared by the mother will not be shared to others

You can not expect anyone other than your family and close friends to take care of you.
A mother feeds her children first. So, if she’s not your mother, she won’t feed you.

Proverb 167

Cungulo alapeteka/alanasha

Epa kunaka nomba. Icintu conse caliba nakashita apo cikesa kupwila. Akasuba kalafuma akacelo nokuwa icungulo.
Tulingile ukwishiba ukuti nangu twingacita icilishani, kuntanshi cili nokupwa. Kwaliba abana bashumfwapo kubafyashi babo. Mukasanga atumpa nokubutuka ukufuma pananda. Abafyashi tabasakamana, beba fye ati akobwela. Nomba ulo kawa akasuba, yakwana inshita yakulala, ulya uwabutwike amano esamo kubwelela ku nanda, apa nomba anaka. Nomba ninshita ya mufyashi ukumufundako panono kuka bwembya pakuti eshibe ati ifyo acitile filubo.

The evening makes humble

Time will tell. Everything takes its time to come to an end. The sun rises and at one time it will set down.
With whatever we do, we should remember that one time it will come to an end. There are children who are very naughty with parents. They tend to run away from home thinking that it is over. Parents do not worry because they know that time will come when the child comes back. When the sun sets down, the guilty child comes back humbled, and the parents treat him by a few strokes so that he realises the wrong thing he did.

Proverb 168

Mfunda buteshi e uwa

Tulokucenjelela pafyo tukocenjeshako abanensu.
Utushila tuya ku nika twaba utunini ukulinga amolu. Nelingi amwapalamina ku nika utu tushila tuba utwa telela sana. Icisa mukuboneka cakuti ulya uko cenjeshako banakwe ukuti babe abaibukila ati kuno kutelele ewisa mukuwa panshi nabonse eko babwena ati cacine kutelele.
Cibafye nakuli mbo abakopepesha, mukosanga abakofunda muma caliki ebakolufyanya pafyo bakufunda, bafilwa ukucita ifyo bakososa.

The one who is always warning for slipperiness is the one to fall

Let us be prudent when we warn others.
Little paths leading to the riverbanks are usually too small for two people walking abreast and these paths are usually slippery. What is observed is that the one who warns others about the ‘slippery’ spot drops off on that spot. This confirms to others that the area is slippery.
It is also the same to leaders in the church: they warn for all kinds of misbehaviour and are not rarely found to show this misbehaviour.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 239), with different explanation:
Funda-buteshi e uwa ∵ The one who warns against slipping is the one who falls.
Practise what you preach.

Proverb 169

Ako tutalya tukalila mukanakwe

Nangu wingayumfwa kukwata maka pa fintu fimbi, telyonse wingafikwatila.
Ifyo ‘tatulya’ limbi tungalila kupitila mu fyakulya fyaibela.
Ifishimu, kwati nina munsungwe nsungwe, fyakulya libe fitula ku fipempele ifyo tutafwaya ukulya. Nakambi tatulyapo imyambo nomba isabi ilyotulya lyena lilalya.
Nangu tungaseka abantu abalya imyambo yangula ifipempele, kuku lekekesha bonse tulalya imyambo ne fipempele.

“We don’t eat that” but we might do so through other forms of food

No matter how much control you think you have over things, you don’t always have it.
What “we don’t eat” we may eat in other foods. Some caterpillars are food but they come from larvae which we don’t want to eat. Also, we don’t eat worms, but the fish we eat do.
Even though we can laugh at people who eat worms or larvae, in the end we all eat worms and larvae.

Proverb 170

Kalulu tapusuka mpya shibili

Nci cila labilwa umo casangwa nokupwisha bwafya pantu usangilwemo talikukwata ishuko ilya kutekatwa.
Tekutipo akalulu kapusuke amwakateya imiku ibili mu ncende shibili ishipusene. Mu mpanga amwapita umulilo, kulaba ukuteya utululu pakukwatako umunani. Nga mwateya pamo apendela akalulu, elyo mwaya kuteya nakumbi, nangu acabashani, pambi kakoisa kwikatwa.
Ecimo cine nangu kati ulu mung’o, bumbi bushiku ukekatwa.

A hare will not escape from the traps in two areas

This is said of a situation which will eventually be solved because the one involved will not always be lucky enough not to get caught.
A hare will one day get trapped by one of the traps prepared in two different areas. When forest is burnt, people usually put animal traps especially for hares as relish. When you put traps in two different areas, under any circumstance one trap will kill.
The same goes to a thief, one day he will be caught.

Proverb 171

Musekela nama emulya cifupa

Ukuba uwaipelesha mukubomba imilimo kuntanshi kuti twalambulwa.
Ulo bacibinda baya mu mpanga, bambi abantu balaipelesha ukuya nabo pakuti baya bafwako ukusenda inama pakubwela. Aba ebo na cibinda alambula pa mulimo babombela. Nomba ulya uushala mu mushi pakuti ese alyeko bwaka tapali ico asangamo, tei nao asubile ukukwatako icipinswa.

Helping to pick up the meat ends in eating a bone

When you volunteer to help, at the end you are likely to be rewarded.
When hunters go out hunting, some people volunteer to go out with them so that they go and help in carrying meat after the hunt. These are the people the hunter rewards on the work done. But those who remain in the village waiting to partake in the eating, should not expect a good share.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 767), with different translation:
Musekela-nama e mulaya-cifupa ∵ He who greets the animal is the one to eat the bone.
Ready help is rewarded. He who goes out readily to help the hunters carry in the dead animal, is the one who gets a tit-bit for a reward

Proverb 172¹

Akanika kupota bwino nipa mabwe

Ifintu fyaikatana tafilekanapo.
Tulomfwa uko utunika tupota bwino nico panshi apa ponena amenshi paliba amabwe.
Nangu bafyashi abakwata abana balamoneka bwino pantu balaba tangata mukubafwailako ifyakufwala ne ndalama shakubomfya ku milimo iyalekana lekana kwati bulimi.
Imfumu nayo pakuti baite ati mfumu kano ili nabantu mu calo.
Ne mfumu ilingile ukusunga abantu baiko bwino.

The waterfall in a river sounds nice because of the stones

Some things cannot be separated.
When you hear a good sound coming from the waterfalls, this is because the water drops on to the stones. When something is the result of two or more things, we can not just choose one of these to call it the cause.
Parents do not only take care of their children: once the parents become old, they will depend on their children to support them in providing decent clothes and money to use on various projects like farming.
A chief to be called a chief must fulfil the duty to look after the people in his chiefdom.

Proverb 173

Sontwa minwe mwana takula

Umwana ncita fibi balamusontaula, teti abe neshuko.
Abantu balatasha iciweme mukwita amashina nayambi abacitile. Nomba nduno kati bakusonta lelo na mailo weka we, tawakakwate ishuko mu bumi bobe. Umwana kati lyonse nincita fibi lyonse kusontwa nangu wakula ukaba umuntu umubi.
Umwana pakukula, abafyashi bakwe eba mubona imisango yakwe no kwishiba kati akaba bwino yangula iyoo. Nga wacumfwila balamutemwa sana, nomba ngatomfwapo yonse nshita kusontwa iminwe, imikulile yakwe taiba bwino pambi alemana mukutangalapo bwino ngali temenwe ukulwa naba nankwe.

The child who has fingers continuously pointing at him does not grow well

A bad child who is always pointed at may not be blessed.
People praise what is good by calling the names of the ones who did it. But now if today you are pointed at and tomorrow the same, you may not be lucky in your life. When a child is often doing bad things and therefore it is pointed at often, it will also as an adult be a bad person.
During a child’s growth, parents see all the behaviour and know into what type of person he will grow. If well-mannered, parents love him so much but if bad mannered with fingers always pointing at him, his growth become not stable, he may get lame because of fighting with friends.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1048), with different explanation:
Sontwa-minwe mwana takula ∵ The child who has the fingers continually pointed at him does not grow up.
A Lamba belief: that pointing at a child causes his early death.

Proverb 174

Mutuka bakulu tashuka

Ngata wakwata imisango ibipile, bonse tabakakutemwepo elo teti ukwate ne shuko.
Mu mikalile ya lutambi, abaice baling ukucindika abakulu epakuti bakwate ishuko. Abaice kano bakwata ukubomfya amashiwi aya mucinshi kubakulu, eku basalula iyo. Ng aba kutuma ukubomba akamulimo walinga ukubomba, wasanga abakulu nabapita icipe kano upoke ubafweko ukupinta.

Slandering an elder will not make one prosper

If you are bad-mannered, all will be against you, and you will have no luck.
In our culture children should respect the elders for them to have blessings. The children should watch out what language they use when talking to the elders and not be abusive. When asked to do some work, you must do it. When you find an elderly person with a load, try to help him carry it.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 779):
Mutuka-bakulu tashuka ∵ The reviler of an elder does not prosper.

Proverb 175

Imfinshi tailya, icilya cintu cenda mumfinshi

Abantu ababi bomfwa bwino ukucita ifibi kwabula ukubabona, mumfinshi.
Kanshi kano lyonse mwaba abakucenjela kufyo musosa palwelele, pantu abantu babi bakakwata apakwingilila nokucita nco cilubo kunuma yobe. Bonse abaumfwileko kufyo walabile bakesa kweba bwaka ati niwe.
Icilangililo nipa buloshi. Awa eba muntu ati nkakulowa! Bancita fibi ebakacita nabonse bakalanguluka ati niwe wacitile. Mukwipifya, ifintu fibi ficitwa mu mfinshi.

Darkness does not hurt but what hurts is what moves in the dark

Bad people feel it’s always good to do their actions, unseen, in the dark.
So, you need to be careful to what you say openly, as bad people may take advantage of it and act behind your back. Everybody who heard you say will conclude that you are the one.
An example is that of witchcraft. If you said to a person: I shall bewitch you! The bad people will do it, and all will think of you as the one who did it. In short, bad actions are done in darkness.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 397), with different explanation:
Imfinshi tailya, icilya cintu icenda mumfinshi ∵ Darkness doesn’t eat (one), what eats is the thing that travels in the darkness.
Said to a person afraid to go out in the dark. In itself the darkness is harmless, the danger is with the wild-beasts that lurk in the dark.

Proverb 176

Umungu wambuto ni Lesa wabika

Fimbi fintu, tatwalinga nokwipusha ifyo fyatampile, kufisenda ngefyo fili.
Lesa ewapangile fyonse fintu. Nokuta twishika alibikilemo ne mbuto.
Kubana kufyalwa, abakulu balalondololapo utwamalyashi utwakale pantu bali pitilemo nokubona. Tapali nshila iyo mba banakufyalwa benga shininkishishamo muli nga malyashi kati acine. Ubwasuko nimbu: Tamwaliko, fisendeni fye.

The seed for this pumpkin, Lesa put it there

With certain things we don’t have to ask ourselves how they came to be, we can take them as they are.
Lesa created all things. This obviously included seeds for plants.
To the young, elders tell stories of the past just because they experienced what was there. There is no way for the young to verify this information. The answer is: You weren’t there, just take it.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 1357), with different explanation:
Umungu wambuto ni Lesa abika ∵ The calabash for seed, it is God who puts it away.
It is God who prompts us to save some seed for sowing, and not to eat it all.

Proverb 177

Amenso abwene ing’ombe, lelo ese atambe imbushi?

Ukwishiba nokukwata ifyaliko e kafundisha wacine pantu alelula ifyaliko. Kati walibwenepo ing’ombe ku ncende imo, tekutipo ikucimfye kwebati ni mbushi wabwene. Kuti baesha kukwesha, elo ungabomfya nji nsoselo.
Abantu balafwa, nge cilangililo, kumulandu wakuteshiba imiti. Ulo njimiti yabwangu (‘mbushi’) yatampile ukubomfiwa, abantu balikwete nshila (‘ngombe’) yakucimfishishamo amalwele. Lesa eka ewaishibe ifyo yakobomba nokubomba bwino. Lisambililo kubana kufyalwa ukupokelela nokubomfya amano akale mukuyasumina nokwesha ukuyabomfya.

Eyes that once saw cattle now see goats?

First-hand experience is the best teacher, because it reveals what was there.
If you saw cattle somewhere, they will not convince you that you saw goats. But they might try, and then you can use this proverb.
People die, for example, due to lack of knowledge of herbs. Before scientific drugs (‘goats’) were introduced, people had a way (‘cattle’) to overcome illnesses. Only Lesa knows how it worked but it worked nicely. It’s a lesson to the young sometimes to take ‘old’ advice with full belief that it is worth trying.

The same proverb was recorded for the Lamba region at the beginning of the last century, see Doke (1927, proverb 104), with different explanation:
Amenso abwene ing’ombe, lelo ese atambe imbushi? ∵ Eyes that have looked on cattle, are they today to come and look at a goat?
A man who has travelled far and seen much, refuses to be interested in anything his companions may shew him at home.

Proverb 178

Uwaingila mu mushitu tomfwapo inswaswa

Ukuba uwashipa ne ncito twasenda.
Kwaba incito ishipusene pusene nomba cili ukuipima fwebene ukusala incito tukofwaya ukubomba.
Muli bucibinda balaya, mu mpanga umwaba ifiswango ifyo ifinga twipaya. Kanshi tulingile ukushipa ukukana ba no mwenso. Incito yabu malukula, yakusunge fitumbi fyabantu abakofwa ku malwashi nangu mu masanso apa musebo. Nomba ngataushipile tekuti uyi bombe ilya ncito.

Who enters a thicket in the wild should not fear the rustling of dry leaves

In for a penny, in for a pound.
Before joining any type of work or activity, you must ask yourself if you are ready to do the whole work.
In hunting, one goes out into the wild where we know that there are beasts that may kill us if not careful, so we must be courageous, not to be afraid. The work also of being a mortuary attendant, checking and keeping dead bodies resulting from illnesses or from road accidents. If one is not courageous, one cannot do that work.

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Footnotes

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Photo 127.

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