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African Proverbs... and their meanings
Rank: Elder Joined: 7/11/2012 Posts: 5,222
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Because the farm-owner is slow to catch the thief, the thief calls the farm-owner thief.Youruba, Nigeria The proverb as appears in Ola Rotimi's 'The god's are not to blame'. Odewale having bought the land at issue, one day finds an old man and others occupying the land and digging up crop. As they challenge one another Odewale cites the proverb as handed down by their elders. The irony here is that the proverb could apply in both ways to both men. Odewale asserts a prior claim to the land on grounds of a purchase while the old man cherishes most the notion that is founded on the mingling of his sweat, of himself and the land. In digging up Odewale's sweat, they are planting their own... claiming the land belongs to 'mother of our masters' Queen Elizabeth(colonial masters)? Tragically this end by Odewale, unable to use his hoe to till his land, using it as a weapon to kill the old man. They had began getting the better of Odewale, most probably because of his brash way of articulating his grievances. If I was to interpret it Biblically, God 'owns' everything. We have been put here for His glory. But on earth is the devil and his witchdoctors. They know their fate, but claim that in the meantime 'its their time to eat' and are hell bent to destroy lives, causing mayhem in their wake. If you take a passive stance(are slow to catch the thief), he and his witchdoctors will turn on you, when you finally decide do so, and call you the thief. And they might win because of oratory skills. Question asked is, Will you relent?
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/9/2011 Posts: 786 Location: Mashinani
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Good one. Peace in our Homeland.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 7/11/2012 Posts: 5,222
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Thank you. Give us your favorite 'deep' one
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Muungwana hanuni mashavu, hununa moyoni
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Rich men's fart is odourless
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Rank: Elder Joined: 10/4/2006 Posts: 13,821 Location: Nairobi
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before swallowing a mango seed whole measure the diameter of your anus. maana bayana.... since humans cannot digest mango seeds - one should ensure that there is passage for the same when it comes out whole. maana ya ndani... people should think things to the end and size up themselves to the task at hand before starting them else they will look like the ICC... swallowing a big case without capacity that will rupture their anus. All Mushrooms are edible! Some Mushroom are only edible ONCE!
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Rank: Elder Joined: 10/28/2008 Posts: 2,276 Location: Kibish
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Kínya kírí iTiNA níkío kí igaga!!! Nadondosha meli kubwa seuze ngalawa!
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Rank: Elder Joined: 6/8/2013 Posts: 2,517
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"usidharau nazi maembe ni ya msimu" Ukitokea Mwembe Tayari teremka na hiyo njia panda kisha tapata duka la Mali ya Abdalla. Methali na Misemo kajaa kwenye khanga tele ===> Pia karibu Bongo katika Kabati la khanga rinki hii hapanamna hii  "😖😡KQ makes money for everyone except the shareholder 😏😏 " overheard in Wazua
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Rank: Elder Joined: 7/1/2011 Posts: 8,804 Location: Nairobi
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'When you follow your father's path, you learn to walk like him'.
The lesson comes out better when you imagine the consequence of not following our father's path.
At whichever level of meaning, you can see the beauty and goodness of 'Nyayo philosophy'.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 6/8/2013 Posts: 2,517
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1. Kalenjin come ===>2. 1000 Thimo cia gîkûyû
3. Kisii"😖😡KQ makes money for everyone except the shareholder 😏😏 " overheard in Wazua
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Rank: New-farer Joined: 5/30/2013 Posts: 25
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Rank: Elder Joined: 1/17/2013 Posts: 4,693 Location: Earth
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upatapo chungu kipya usitupe cha zamani-do not despise the days of small beginnings,
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Rank: Elder Joined: 7/11/2012 Posts: 5,222
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Boss, I admire your resourcefulness. A wealth of knowledge.  Asanti
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Rank: Elder Joined: 7/11/2012 Posts: 5,222
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Weka wega niwe weika, na weka uuru nowe weika. Kikuyu Loosely translated it say 'If you do good, you do it unto yourself and in equal measure, if you do bad, you do it unto yourself' An example is, if you go about abusing people in due time you'll start complaining that people are abusing you. And in equal measure, if you are good to people, you might wonder why people are so good to you.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 5/21/2013 Posts: 2,841 Location: Here
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Mukiri wrote:Weka wega niwe weika, na weka uuru nowe weika. Kikuyu
Loosely translated it say 'If you do good, you do it unto yourself and in equal measure, if you do bad, you do it unto yourself'
An example is, if you go about abusing people in due time you'll start complaining that people are abusing you. And in equal measure, if you are good to people, you might wonder why people are so good to you. Reminds me of a song we sang back in Sunday School along those lines. Something like "...weka wega úmenye níwe weíka, weka úúru úmenye níwe weíka, úgaketha kíría wahandire, na múcara ní Yesú úkaheana..." Memories are made of this.  Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Mukiri wrote:Weka wega niwe weika, na weka uuru nowe weika. Kikuyu
Loosely translated it say 'If you do good, you do it unto yourself and in equal measure, if you do bad, you do it unto yourself'
An example is, if you go about abusing people in due time you'll start complaining that people are abusing you. And in equal measure, if you are good to people, you might wonder why people are so good to you. you need to apply this proverb!
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Muiritu muthaka ahitukagira thome-ini wa ngia(A beautiful girl passes near the homestead of a poor man)...the cute girl will pass by a poor man's homestead. The poor man can't afford bride price. The man may want her but wont get her. Happens in life when you see pieces of land, investments etc but can't get the funds!
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Rank: Elder Joined: 7/11/2012 Posts: 5,222
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Lolest! wrote:Mukiri wrote:Weka wega niwe weika, na weka uuru nowe weika. Kikuyu
Loosely translated it say 'If you do good, you do it unto yourself and in equal measure, if you do bad, you do it unto yourself'
An example is, if you go about abusing people in due time you'll start complaining that people are abusing you. And in equal measure, if you are good to people, you might wonder why people are so good to you. you need to apply this proverb! I try. Especially when I share the Gospel. You too might want to give it a try instead of behaving like a toilet house fly and following someone to antagonize them. I said it before, if you expect perfection, try Jesus Christ. Following me with a microscope only gains my pity.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Ciakorire Wacu mugunda. Looosely, Wacu found luck in the farming field. A story is told of a man who had 2 wives one of them being Wacu. The man didn't love Wacu and on one ocassion held a bash where Wacu wasn't invited. She went to the farm. A hawk swooped on the choma and picked a choice chunk. On reaching the farm, it dropped it. Wachu akaangukia! Moral: hustle, go work, try out stuff. Luck will find you there!
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Rank: Member Joined: 2/12/2010 Posts: 474 Location: Nairobi
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Mwaki uhoyagwo kuria wakanite -kikuyu Translation: One asks for fire where its lit. (Kikuyus used to live near forests and thus fire was preserved in one of the huge burning pieces. If it got put off for whatever reason, one was to look for it in a homestead where its already lit.) Interpretation: Get help/advise from those who have already accomplished. E.g. You can only get lessons about riches/family from someone who has been though the path. Keep it simple
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African Proverbs... and their meanings
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