May I this opportunity
to write down what I have collected in the form of luhya sayings and their
meanings/I get these sayings from our old folks. My purpose is to have them in
writing for the use of present and future generations. This is because they
have been in use by oral tradition and yet our very old ones are going away at
a fast rate. Yet this is noble and wise sayings in the luhya tongue which
should not just be left to disappear with our old folk.
I have part
of these sayings below. I have tried to give the sayings in luhya and their
meanings in English. They are arranged in alphabetical order;
1.
BUKHWI NI SHILEEKA; literally
it means “Dowry is a trap”. This was and still is used to mean that whatever
the case dowry must all be paid in the end as it is extendedly claimed even
from ones children or grand children.
2.
BUKHUNGU NABWO BUMWIRI; he/she died of old age/
3.
BASUSUMI BABUNA MWIKHO; when two or more wandering hungry (needy) persons meet where there is
food or what they need they start scrambling for it even before waiting to be
given.
4.BUKUNDU
BWENYA BEENE; this
is a saying which advises us to remain ever united in order to assist each
other particularly in time of grief.
5.ISAAKHULA
ILIA MATERE; this one tells us that if you did not see somebody in his/her
early days you cannot know what he/she was .you can think what he is now is
what she/he was.
6.
INYENDE INDALA IKUNDITSA BWOBA. Literally it means if there is one larva in mushrooms then all the
mushrooms will rot. The saying urges the removal of that one larva as early as
possible to save the mushrooms.
7.INGOKHO
YIYECHELA MUNWA;
this one encourages to use whatever
means we have to solve our problems just as hen uses its beak to eat ,to
scratch itself and so on.
8. INGOKHO ILITSA MALA KIYINDI.
These saying cautions on what we say about others .what we say about others may
also are affecting us. So take care think before you say
9.
KHUREKA MAROYI.
This means “to be attentive”
10.
KHUSHINDA SHIA MATSI MUNYUNGU. This means “this means to be very quiet”
11.
KHUMENACHILA (MUNDU) SHISAALA. This means to pardon or excuse pending another offence (when no other
excuse will be offered)
12.
KHURIKALA SHILOONZO;
is to be very thin due to disease
13.
KHULIA SHIKHOTO. Is
to thrash a cow, person using sticks or whips.
14.
KHUKHAABA TSINYENDE MUBWOBA; is to scrutinize or examine for the purpose of exposing or finding
mistakes (at least)
15.
LIKHANGA CHECHERI NUMWANA CHECHERI; like parent like child
16.
LINDA BISHINDI BIALILWA NABACHENI. This saying urges us to do something once and for all never to wait and
it may involve or lure other inconveniencing people.
17.
LIKOBI LIKHULU LIKHESHITSA MUSUMBA. This reminds us a debt is a saving for dry
season. It advises us never to regret when someone owes you something as it
will be paid in the end and it may be at a time you very much need it.
18.
MURECHI YANIA MWITILI. This saying advises us to be careful wherever we are not to mess there
and leave thinking we shall never again go back. Chances of returning are very
wide.
19.
MUSOKA KWA MBINDI.
This refers to a teenager
20.
MUKUSA NA MUKHOOLO;
both “mukusa” and “mukhoolo” are strings though the former is stronger than the
latter. However they are both used for the same purpose of tying therefore
refers to people of the same root or aims.
21.
MWICHENDA NYAMA. Refers
to the wilderness.
22. NUNU
NU NUNU. Literally
it means (today is today) it is used by a person who is ready to beat or
revenge
23.
NZUYUKHANE YAHIA MINO. Means hurry hurry has no blessing
24.
SHIAKHAYA WIKHULUNGU NG’ANG’AA BU NAMILA. This saying tells us that what one person has
completely failed to accomplish the other cannot do it very easily
successfully, shortcomings are always there.
25.
SHIKHULUMA SHIKHULURA INJILA. This is advisory it says “it that wants to bite you first know your
position”. Likewise he that wants to attack/hurt you must always know your
strategies e.t.c
26.
SHIYUNDI SHIYEKULULA MUMUNYENYI. This saying tells us to remain wherever you are you may leave this
place or employment to the other hoping for the best when it is the dawn of the
contrary to you.
27.
TSILALALAI TSIAKUNDITSA IKHONDO MAKHONO. This saying tells us not to delay or hesitate when
you want to do something. Do it once and for all (C.F16 LINDA BISHINDI
BIALILWA NABACHENI)
28.
TSIMBOBA NYISHI SHITSIYEBA BWIINA. This means the same as “many cooks spoiled the broth”
29.
TSINZIKA TSIKHALISHI. This saying refers to inability to continue doing something.
30.UTSIA
IHALE WATUKHA; this
saying emphasizes perserverance.it is even better to take a long time to get
riches which will also last longer than to take a short time to accumulate
riches which will also be short lived.
31.
WAKHALOLA NYINA BUKHAANA. (C.F 5) this means the same as ISAAKHULA ILIA MATERE
