Text repertoires in Zambia: proverbs
Text repertoires in Zambia: proverbs. The term used for sayings and proverbs is nsoselo, derived from the verb -sosa: to speak, -sosela: to speak about.
It is common to use them in everyday conversation. Their form is not entirely carved in stone: small variations continue to be made.
There are many nsoselo. In the first part of the 20th century, Doke collected more than 2000 proverbs in the Lamba region1Published in Doke (1927).. “The importance of the proverbs in Lamba life can not be over-estimated.”2Doke (1934: 360f).
Proverb 179
Ni we fulwe amano ulibikile mu cikwambulwa
It is you, the tortoise, you have stored the wisdom in your shell
The wisdom may be transferable but it is hard to crack and not given lightly.
Also in Doke (1927: proverb 229). He gives another interpretation: One’s wisdom is not all on the surface: a seemingly ignorant man may prove to be very wise.
Proverbial and secret language
Text repertoires in Zambia: proverbs. In Chibale, it can be a challenge to follow what people are talking about, not only for an outsider. Besides proverbs, ordinary language includes onomatopoeic words with a wide range of meanings, as well as unreferenced quotations. In addition, it uses words or sentences specific to a family, clan, or other group that the speaker belongs to. The term for proverbial language is mu mapinda and for secret language -nkama. Mu mapinda means with obstacles/dead ends and -kama means squeeze.
Mu mapinda (proverbial language) does not only contain proverbs. The term refers to the fact that it is hard to interpret. Nkama refers to the specific words and constructions used by certain groupings.
Song 131
An ilimbalakata accompanied by the set of three ciwaya, Sitifini Nunda and the people from Milombwe, 1981.
Text of Song 131 ∵ Wisdom is in my blood
Abena buko ndabapela/ ndabanaila
Kabalya kabalya malyambepa
Sombi baka bwesheko
Mumbona buluya ndicikuku
Mano mano ilelile mano alimunshingo
Mano – buluya
My in-laws, I give to them/ I provide for their cooking
They only let me eat the left-overs
But I expect something in return
Do not regard me as a fool for being quiet
Wisdom, wisdom, ilelile, wisdom is in my blood
Wisdom – madness
Opposition against the system by the son-in-law who lives with his in-laws the first years after the marriage.
Of course, this ‘system’ has an ideological flavour. The access to the correct interpretation of the text can be restricted to ‘those with mano’, mostly the initiated: hunters, possessed, initiatrices, and certain elders.
In addition, families and clans could use certain words in songs with other than the usual meaning.
Only those who knew could follow and thus partake in the conversation. Not all the elders could do this. They even could sing songs about people present, while those didn’t understand and sang merrily along.
There was a clear relation between knowledge of nkama (secrets), mano (wisdom, including nsoselo) and maka (strength).
BanaNshimbi ∵ personal communication, 1987.
Today, it is less prevalent than it used to be, but it is certainly still around.
Kufunda is the word for the process of teaching and learning nsoselo and nkama, gradually obtaining mano.3Kufunda: teach, kufundwa: being taught.
Song 132
Amano mambulwa – Building wisdom through a digital book
Text repertoires in Zambia: proverbs. Basil Chisonta and Jan IJzermans have compiled a digital book entitled Amano mambulwa to help in the teaching of sayings and proverbs for all.
It contains 234 sayings and proverbs from the Lala region with explanations in ciLala (the Lala language) and in English. It also contains 66 sayings and proverbs often used in Europe with explanations in English and in ciLala. The European proverbs have been added to show what constitutes ‘European wisdom’. They are applied to normal situations in the Lala region. So, people can assess whether they could be useful for them.
The book consists of three booklets each containing 100 sayings and proverbs. The first booklet contains the proverbs that are easily grasped (suitable for grades 5 and 6). Then, the second booklet contains proverbs that are a bit more challenging (grades 7 and 8). And, the third booklet contains the deeper proverbs (grades 9 and 10).
As all sayings and proverbs from the Lala region, the sayings and proverbs in the three booklets
- tell us what to expect in certain circumstances,
- provide insight into how things work,
- teach us how to behave in order to avoid problems, and
- help us figure out how to solve problems once they arise.
This division4Compare with the purposes of stories and myths. is used to organise the sayings and proverbs.
The three booklets can be downloaded from this site in the first half of 2025.
Here are a few examples of the proverbs in the booklets.
Proverb 76 – An example from the first booklet of Amano mambulwa.5Photo 161.
Umunwe umo tautola nda
Ukuba wekafye tapapo ico wingacita. Incito mu bwinji taikosapo pantu muli benji. Umuntu kuti apwa ukwimaka icimbusu nokubangila akamutenge panshi elo kwashala ukukabika pamulu. Iyi ncito tekuicitapo weka kano nabambi bakwafwako uku kemya pa kubika pa mulu. Ne mililmo iba pa cililo, bengi baya mukwimbe’ manda, napakutwala mbokoshi napo pene ukuba ukwafwana ukupinta.
One finger can’t pick lice
Being alone you can not succeed. When you are many, it is easy to undertake any work. A person can easily construct a toilet building and prepare the roof on the ground. But then remains the task of taking it up on the toilet building. This needs a lot of people to help him. Another example is that of a funeral, many people go to dig the grave. And they also help in carrying the corpse. Alone this would be impossible.6Also in Marks (2020, 47). Munwe umo tausala nda – One finger will not pinch a louse. He adds: The proverb summarily emphasizes the importance of human integration as a group, rather than individually, to accomplish goals. The proverb can also be read variously as “A person never stands alone,” “One person never knows everything,” or “A single person alone is incapable of doing anything.’
Proverb 172 – An example from the second booklet of Amano mambulwa.7Photo 127.
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
When you hear a good sound coming from the waterfalls, this is because the water drops on to the stones. So, some things can’t be separated. 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 250 – An example from the third booklet of Amano mambulwa.8Photo 163.
Abo ndoka ndabebelapo limo
Icintu conse caliba nefimwenako lintu cena tacilafika nangu ukucitika.
Mu nshita ya mainsa, amakumbi ngayamoneka, tuleshiba ati imfula yalaloka, eico twalinga twaipekanya pakuti tatusanshilwe/tatulokelwe.
I rain upon those I warned before
This is said by the rain. Once you have made the mistake of being surprised by the rain, you start using the signs of rain coming as a warning.
When we use the signs of what is ahead, we are better prepared for it.
European proverb – An example from the first booklet of Amano mambulwa.
Necessity is the mother of invention
When you’re really in need, you will find creative solutions to your problems. Need is the ultimate motivation. Difficult situations encourage inventive solutions.
Kaluba: I need an excavator to dig a trench for my garden.
Munsele: Can’t you find another solution?
Kaluba: No.
Munsele: Then your need may not be big enough, necessity is the mother of invention.
When the fan belt on Chisenga’s car broke in the middle of nowhere, she used her stockings as a replacement. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Ukukabilisha kulenga ukupangilisha
Ngo kofwaisha icintu, ukatontonkanyapo ifyo wingapwisha nga mafya.
Ukufwaya ekampingu wakulekelesha. Amafya yakosa yafwilisha ukusanga apatali ifyakucita.
Kaluba: Nkofwaya ci masembe cakwimba icilindi mwibala lyandi.
Munsele: Tapapo inshila imbi?
Kaluba: Iyo.
Munsele: Ubufwayo bobe tabukulile ukulingana, ukukabilisha kulenga ukupangilisha.
Ulo intambo ya mwela ku motoka yakwa Chisenga yaputwike pa pakati kanshila, abomfeshe ama shitokeni yakumolo. Ukukabilisha kulenga ukupangilisha.
Footnotes
- 1Published in Doke (1927).
- 2Doke (1934: 360f).
- 3Kufunda: teach, kufundwa: being taught.
- 4Compare with the purposes of stories and myths.
- 5Photo 161.
- 6Also in Marks (2020, 47). Munwe umo tausala nda – One finger will not pinch a louse. He adds: The proverb summarily emphasizes the importance of human integration as a group, rather than individually, to accomplish goals. The proverb can also be read variously as “A person never stands alone,” “One person never knows everything,” or “A single person alone is incapable of doing anything.’
- 7Photo 127.
- 8Photo 163.