SWAHILI PROVERBS

Courtesy of SWAHILI PROVERBS: METHALI ZA KISWAHILI

Master - servant

3281. Afadhali kufa vitani kuliko kufa mtumwa. NGU.
It's better to die in the war than to die as a slave.

3282. Akikalia kigoda mtii. EM.9.5.
The one who sits on the stool must be obeyed.

3283. Akosapo mkubwa, mdogo huadhibiwa. EM.10.7.
When a great person blunders, a junior person is punished.
A scapegoat.

3291. Asimamao haendi mbio hayafukuzwa. JKP.
The one who stands will not start running before he is chased away.
"It is not easy to dislodge a dignity once he is in power." JKP.

3292. Atangazaye mirimo, si mwana wa ruwari. F.5.43.
The one who allocates the tasks is not [necessarily] the son of the headman.

3293. Dagaa pia humtuma papa. REK.
The sardine also employs the shark.

Dua la kuku halimshiki mwewe. REK.
The prayer of the chicken does not seize the hawk.

3298. Hata mtumwa alipata kuwa mtoto wa mtu. EM h15.
Even a slave has once been somebody's child.

3300. Hivyo ndivyo ilivyo sivyo? (p.243; 3 Sec.School Students. Edwin Mellon Press.)
That's the way it is, isn't it?

3301. Ipunguzwayo ni iliyojaa. MARA 2.
What is full will be diminished.

3308. Jumbe akikuumiza (akikuudhi) tabasamu. EM j19.
If the headman hurts (offends) you, smile.
The jumbe has authority. If you take offense you may be hurt.

3309. Juu ya mwalimu kutoa ruhusa. JKP.
It is up to the [school] master to give permission.

3312. Kidole cha mkubwa kilimpatia mbuzi mimba. AL 1480.
The finger of the headman has made the goat pregnant,
The experience of a superior proves to be effective. AL.

3313. Kifaranga hawezi kujaa chungu. AL 1588.
A young chicken cannot fill the pot.

3327. Koti kwake ni mgongoni. NGU.
The place of one's coat is on one's back.
Everything has its place.

3328. Kuagiza ni kuweza? TS 35/31.
Is giving orders the same as enabling?

3329. Kuku hali anakwenda akila ameisha hukumiwa afe. AL 1616.
Although the chicken is going on eating, it is already condemned to die.
Little people don't know what the ruling power has in mind for them.

3330. Kuku hashindani na kisu. KB.125. MP.226.1.
The chicken is no match for the knife.
It is the earthen pot against the iron pot. MP.

Kuku ataweza kushindana na kisu? KB.125.
Can a fowl fight a knife? Cf. #1424.

3331. Kuna chuma cha suwezi, hushindana na sukuo? T.183.
Is there iron from Suez, that can fight the grindstone?
Of useless resistance against superior forces.

3332. Kwa kukaukani, maji visimani, hata mfalume, kiu kimuume. JKP
When the water in the wells dries up, even the king suffers from thirst.
"In time of dearth even the king loses his rights." JKP.

3333. Kwa simba fisi huinama: ya simba fisi hula nyama. RSP.74.
For the lion the hyena bows [and so] the lion's food it eats.

3334. Kwenye vipofu mwenye chongo hutawala. REK.
Among the blind one-eye rules.

Kwa vipofu, mwenye chongo huwa [ni] mfalme. NGU.
Among the blind one-eye is king.

3335. Macho ya vyura hayamzuii mteka maji kuteka. EM m1.
The toad's eyes don't stop a water-drawer from drawing water.
Words and warnings of small people don't stop big people to do their things. Cf. # 1417a.

3336. Mafurika hutengeneza mkirizi wake wenyewe. NGU.
The floods make their own path.

3337. Mali ya mjomba si ya mpwa. AL 1115.
The property of the (maternal) uncle is not going to the nephew/niece.
Don't count on help from others.

3338. Mamlaka yanamsahau mfalme anayekufa. NGU.
The dying king forgets his authority.
Mamlaka: authority, right to ownership; property.

3339. Mbiu ya mgambo ikilia ina jambo. F.23.27; T.252; H.59; J., mbiu; SACL.527; KS, mbiu.
When the buffalo-horn sounds, there is something of importance. [and often something is wrong].
Mbiu ya mgambo: formerly a buffalo-horn was blown to call people to hear a proclamation or announcement. J.

3340. Mbwa anakufa, kengele inabaki. AL 1470.
The dog dies, but its bell remains.
Power is transferred to the successor, another hunting dog will carry the bell. AL.

3341. Mbwa hushikwa mdomo na mwenyewe. REK.
The mouth of a dog is held tight by the owner.
A dog does what its owner wants.

3342. Mbwa wa jumbe ni jumbe. AL 1533.
The dog of the chief is also a chief.
Receives the honor of a chief: respect, food.
Jumbe, or mwami: chief.

3343. Meno yasipite midomo. AL 691; AL, mdomo/shinda.
Teeth should not exceed the lips.
One should stay within one's rank. AL.

3344. Mfalme akifanya biashara, raia watakuwa maskini. NGU.
If the king goes into business the citizens will become poor.

3345. Mfalme hasifiwi kwao. NGU.
A king is not honored in his own country.
Mfalme: king, chief

3346. Mgomba mfupi ndio ukatwako majani. KB.182.
From a short banana tree one cuts the leaves.
It is usually the little and meek person who carries the burden.

3347. Milio ya vyura haiwazuii ng'ombe kunywa maji. REK.
The cries of the frogs do not stop the cows from drinking water.
Who is bothered by the cries of a frog?
Mindful of a Native American proverb: A frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives. Cf.#3355.

3348. Mja kwako akusikilize. REK.
A person who is with you should listen to you.

3349. Mjumbe hauawi. F.26.64; T.267; A.73; KB.184; AL 1513; MARA 3.
A messenger must not be slain.
The messenger is innocent and must be respected. KB; AL.

3350. Mkizima moto mtaota nini? AL 1464; AL zima.
If you extinguish the fire, what will warm you?
Undermining authority is always harmful.

Mnyonge hupata haki na mwenye nguvu kutaka. NS.9.
A poor person usually receives rights as a gift, but the powerful just takes them.
Power is stronger than right and money is all-powerful. NS.

3357. Moto ni mtumishi mwema, lakini bwana mbaya. NGU.
Fire is a good servant, but a bad master.

3358. Mpishe mwenye nguvu apite. NGU.
Let the strong man pass by.

3359. Mti wa kimo chako hauwezi kukupa kivuli. EM m31.
A tree of your height cannot shade you.
A person with the same ability as yourself cannot help you in matters which require greater ability than you have. EM.

3366. Mungu tusalimu kodi, mayumba hayana vitu. JKP.
May God preserve us from taxes; even the big houses [the rich families] have nothing left.

3367. Mwamba ukitoka nyumba, makombamoyo yanasambaa. AL 1457.
If the ridge pole leaves the roof, the other poles fall aside.
Without a chief there is disorder and failures. AL.
Kombamoyo or mwamba: roof pole.

3368. Mwenye kutawala hawezi kulala. RSP.102.
A ruler cannot sleep.

3369. Mwinda [naye] huwindwa. NGU.
The hunter also is hunted.

3370. Mwungwana hasukumwi. NGU.
A gentleman is not pushed.
He moves freely.

3371. Mwungwana hatupi nguo chakavu. AL 7.
A free person does not abandon an old piece of clothing.
One does not easily discard an object one is used to. It is hard to abandon customs, habits, pleasures.

3372. Nazi haishindani na jiwe. MARA.58; EM N1.
A coconut cannot compete with a stone.
"A junior cannot beat a senior." EM.
Jiwe: stone; here, a person in authority. Cf. #1413, #1441, #1442.

3373. Ndege tele katika mti, mwenye midomo mekundu ndiye mkubwa. AL 679.
There are many birds in the tree, but the chief is the one with a red beak.

3374. Nikiwa kwangu mfalme. NGU.
If I were at home, I would be a king.

3375. Nyumba kwa kuwa na nguvu, lazima iwe na mwamba. KB.254.
A house in order to be solid needs a ridge pole. In order to keep a family or a society strong it needs a head.

3376. Nywele huchukuliwa na kichwa. MARA 2.
Hair is carried by the head.
Hair on the head is hair. Hair needs the head in order to be hair.
Used for people, who depend on others being in order to exist or to do a job. Dependency.
Malaika: eyelashes, hair on arm or hand.
Masharubu: mustache.
Ndevu: beard
Nywele: hair on the head. Hair on other parts of the body is not called nywele.

3377. Nywele ziliheshimu uso, uso ukaziheshimu nywele. AL 1185.
Hair respects the face, and the face respects the hair.
Superior and inferior respect each other, etc.

3378. Nywele ziliota zikaogopa uso. AL 1569.
The hair has grown and was afraid of the face.
The inferior must stay within certain limits.

3379. Nzige hawana mfalme. NGU.
Locusts have no chief.
Nobody controls them from doing harm.

3380. Ogopa anayekutuma, usiogope mpokea ujumbe. EM o2.
Fear the one who sends you and not the one who receives the message.
The one who sends you has more authority over you.

3381. Pa mndewa usishindane napo. EM p2.
In the headman's domain you should not be a challenge.
You should observe the regulations of that place.
Mndewa: headman or clan leader.

3382. Pa shoka hapaingii kisu. KA; MARA 2.
At the place of an axe, a knife does not enter.
If an axe is needed, a knife is useless [to split a coconut, to cut a tree}.
Use adequate tools or means.

3383. Paa akitoka shimoni, haya ya mchimbaji. AL 391.
If the antelope escapes from the hole, blame is the digger's. Imperfect work is offensive to the headman in charge. AL
The workman is responsible for his work.

3384. Pahali pa mtu kufawa ni mtu aliye juu yake. T.447; SACL.212.
The place for a person to get good is [with] the boss. T.
Where can help for you come from, if not from above you? SACL.
Stand by your boss and you'll profit.

3385. Paka akiondoka, panya hutawala. F.41.4; H.93; J., panya; T.448; V.3; A.139; L.84; B.2.17; RECH. 428; CM.53; KB.257; SWA.57; MARA 3.
When the cat goes away, mice reign.

Paka akitoka, panya wakaruka. RSP.110.
If the cat leaves, the rats jump.
A cruel ruler is better than no ruler. RSP.

Paka wakiondokea, panya tatumilikia. RSP.50.
When the cats are gone, the rats will rule us.
Young ambitious leaders are no better than the old traditional chiefs and elders. RSP.
Tatumilikia for watatumilikia or watatumaliki. MM.

3386. Safari ya mabwana, arusi ya maboi. KB.271.
The journey of the masters is like a wedding feast for the servants.

3387. Samaki anaogelea majini nayo maji yatamla. AL 1573.
The fish that swims in water will be eaten by the water.
A flatterer risks being exploited. AL.

3388. Samaki huanza kuoza kichwani. JK.122.
A fish begins to rot at its head.
When leaders are corrupt, the whole community will become corrupt. JK., MP.

Samaki inaoza kichwani. MP.226. 12.
The fish rots at the head.

3389. Serikali ina mkono mreful. RECH.471.
The government has a long arm.
There is no running away from it. Cf. #1411.

3390. Sheria haijui nguvu. NGU.
The law does not know force.
The law is impartial.

3391. Sheria haina kwao. KS, sheria; NGU.
The law has no home.
The law does not belong to any special group of people.

3392. Sheria iishapo dhuluma huanza. NGU.
Where law ends, violence starts,
Dhuluma: injustice, fraud, oppression, violence

3393. Sheria na chuma hazina huruma. RSP.57.
The law and iron [weapons] have no mercy. RSP.

3394. Sheria ni msumeno hukata huku na huku. KS, msumeno.
The law is like a saw, it cuts everywhere. Cf. #1431.

3397. Sikio halipitii kichwa. F.44.8; SWA.p.93; KB. 278; F., halipwani; AL 1564.
The ear does not surpass the head.
One ought to know one's place.
But also : Use your head, do not believe all you hear. The egg is not more clever than the hen. V.83.
The inferior does not surpass his superior. KB.


3399. Simba mla watu akiliwa, huwani? T.488; KA.
When a man-eating lion is devoured, what matters it?
Why be amazed if an evil person falls down.


3401. Sungura, bakia pembeni; tembo mwenye shindo apite. AL 698.
Hare, stay in the corner, let the elephant in heavy stride, pass by.
Wise people let the ambitious people pass.

3402. Tarumbeta ni mwenyewe. REK.
The trumpet is the master.
The trumpet is dominating and listened to.

3403. Toa amri, nawe upokee amri. EM t13.
Give orders and receive orders.
What you do to others, you should be ready to accept it, when it is done to you.

3404. Tunda lililokatazwa [linalokatazwa] ni tamu. NGU.
The forbidden fruit is sweet.

3405. Ubeberu - kama shetani. NGU.
Exploitation is work of the devil.
Ubeberu or ubepari: the state of exploitation

3406. Ubepari ni unyama. KS.
Exploitation is beastly.

3407. Ukiipata itumie: ukikosa ijutie. NS.15.
If you get it, use it; if you miss it, regret it.
This is said of people who become arrogant when in power; when they lose their power they'll get their due.

Ukipata kitumie, ukikosa jishukurie. SAM.24.5.
If you get it, use it; if you lack it, be patient in it.
Take the good with the evil.

3408. Ukitaka kusafiri, bwana-mwitu umkiri. RSP.135.
If you want to travel, pay due respect to the master o£ the wilderness. RSP.

3409. Ukiwa mkubwa jisahihisha mwenyewe. NGU.
If you are an important person, scrutinize your own behavior.

3410. Ukubwa ni jaa. MARA.71.
Greatness is like a rubbish hole.

Uongozi ni jalala. EM u23.
Leadership is like a rubbish pit.
Leadership is the place where rubbish is thrown; that is, all blames, insults and evils concerning an organization or business are levelled against its leader. EM.

3411. Ukuu si pembe kama mtu ataota. AL 687.
Greatness is not a horn that grows on the head of somebody.
It must be earned.

3412. Usigombeze upepo; njiwa aliyetandika vibaya. AL 1559.
Don't quarrel with the wind; it's the pigeon that landed badly.
It is dangerous to contest people in authority. AL.

3413. Usile kwa sahani ukasahau bunguu. KA.
Don't eat from a plate, and forgetting [that you were eating from] the earthen bowl. Cf. #925; #1661; #1438

3414. Usiogope mkubwa, ogopa ukubwa. NGU.
Don't be afraid of the person in charge, but fear to be in charge.
Ukubwa: greatness, power, grandeur, celebrity, renown.

3415. Usione simba kapigwa na mvua. KA.
Don't ignore a lion that has been caught in the rain.
The lion might shiver and look like a wet old dog, but it is still very dangerous. Don't look down on people who seemingly lost their power. Cf. #1721; #1719.

3416. Usisahau ubaharia kwa sababu ya unahodha. F.49. 39; SWA.28; H.107; JK.140.

Usisahau ubaharia kwa kupata unahodha. FSM.195.
Do not forget the lot of the seaman because [you are now] a captain.
Do not despise those who are beneath you. Cf.925.

3417. Utakwenda utarudi. AL 1551.
You'll go, [but] you'll come back.
Independence has a catch.

3418. Utii ni bora kuliko kafara. NGU.
Obedience is better than a sacrifice.

3419. Viovu vya bwana si vyema vya juma kitwana. SAM. 26.1; MS.190.
The bad things of the master are not the good things of Juma, the servant.

3420. Wakubwa humeza wadogo. KB.341.
The big ones eat the small ones.

3421. Wakubwa wadogo wana taabu. EM w10.
Big little people have difficult times.
If a small or little persons are put in charge they will have difficulties.

3422. Wali unaifokea sahani. AL 696.
The cooked rice is angry with the plate.
The subordinate is always angry in vain with his superior.
Foka: blurt out a rush of words, as in anger.


3425. Wewe jiwe mimi nazi. L.107; V.107.
You are the stone, I am the coconut.
I am helpless, you have the power to crush me. Cf. #1421, #1442.

3426. Wewe kisu, mimi nyama. NS.ll; WIKON.227i SWA.35; V.107, sisi nyama; SACL.404.
You are the knife, I am the meat. [Or: we are the meat]
It is your pleasure, I am at your mercy. Complaining is useless, you are too powerful.


3427. Yai litakuwa juu, la mamaye kuku kuu. RSP.36.
The egg will be on top of its mother, the big hen.
The next generation will try and teach their elders. RSP.

Yai lina[m]shauria kuku. AL, yai.
The egg advising the hen.
An inferior giving advice to a superior.

3428. Yenu hunuka, yetu hainuki. REK.
Yours smells bad, ours does not smell evil.