DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0342
326
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
Well meaning people often get into trouble! This refers to a story of a man who had
a great friend in another village who died. Hearing he was dead, he went to the village
and found all the relatives mourning the dead man. To show his friendship, he commenced
wailing and went into the house and lay down by the corpse among the chief mourners,
though not one of them; later, he fell asleep. While asleep, evil spirits (msawi) came and
cut open the corpse and removing the liver, they took out the entrails and hung them
about the sleeping man’s neck, and smeared his hands with blood. In the morning, the
mourners found the man in this condition and to avenge what they supposed to be his
desecration of their dead, they killed him. The interpretation put upon this story and
the meaning of the saying is that “ however well intentioned you may be, you should not
transgress custom.”
35. Nguku ja chilendo uleu chikuni!
The fowl of strangeness long tail!
A newcomer in the fowl-yard is pecked at by the other fowls and if it had a long tail,
this would be noticed. In the same way, “ If you are a stranger in a place, anything you
do will be remarked; therefore your conduct should be exemplary.”
36. Nkambaka manyi ga Chikolo!
Do not smear me with the excrement of Chikolo!
This is a woman’s saying, meaning, “ I don’t want to be dragged into your quarrel! ”
Chikolo is an interesting word. It is a girl’s name used as Polly is used in English in speak-
ing to any girl child whose name you do not know: “ Come here, Polly, and show me the
parson’s house.” For Tommy used in the same way, the Yao says Manganya.
37. Nakoma akupinda anasi!
The beer basket he deals in a neighbor!
Nakoma is a small flat basket with ornamented rim. The meaning of the phrase is:
11 one’s neighbors are not always disinterested.”
38. Ajiwile mandanda!
He has stolen eggs!
This is an expression used of anyone who has hiccough. It is said that he is so surprised
at being thus accused that the hiccough stops.
39. Amwali, ichimugwaga apile ndundi ku nyuma!
You girl, (with) expectation he burnt blistering to the back!
In a native house, the man and woman lie side by side on a mat between the fire and
hut wall, the man next the fire, facing it when sleeping. When he wishes to enjoy marital
relations, he turns towards the woman and lies on his side with his back to the fire. The
saying refers to the uxorious husband whose advances are refused by his wife, but he per-
sists until his back is blistered by the heat of the fire. The saying intimates that it is no
good going on wanting a thing refused you; you only suffer for it.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
Well meaning people often get into trouble! This refers to a story of a man who had
a great friend in another village who died. Hearing he was dead, he went to the village
and found all the relatives mourning the dead man. To show his friendship, he commenced
wailing and went into the house and lay down by the corpse among the chief mourners,
though not one of them; later, he fell asleep. While asleep, evil spirits (msawi) came and
cut open the corpse and removing the liver, they took out the entrails and hung them
about the sleeping man’s neck, and smeared his hands with blood. In the morning, the
mourners found the man in this condition and to avenge what they supposed to be his
desecration of their dead, they killed him. The interpretation put upon this story and
the meaning of the saying is that “ however well intentioned you may be, you should not
transgress custom.”
35. Nguku ja chilendo uleu chikuni!
The fowl of strangeness long tail!
A newcomer in the fowl-yard is pecked at by the other fowls and if it had a long tail,
this would be noticed. In the same way, “ If you are a stranger in a place, anything you
do will be remarked; therefore your conduct should be exemplary.”
36. Nkambaka manyi ga Chikolo!
Do not smear me with the excrement of Chikolo!
This is a woman’s saying, meaning, “ I don’t want to be dragged into your quarrel! ”
Chikolo is an interesting word. It is a girl’s name used as Polly is used in English in speak-
ing to any girl child whose name you do not know: “ Come here, Polly, and show me the
parson’s house.” For Tommy used in the same way, the Yao says Manganya.
37. Nakoma akupinda anasi!
The beer basket he deals in a neighbor!
Nakoma is a small flat basket with ornamented rim. The meaning of the phrase is:
11 one’s neighbors are not always disinterested.”
38. Ajiwile mandanda!
He has stolen eggs!
This is an expression used of anyone who has hiccough. It is said that he is so surprised
at being thus accused that the hiccough stops.
39. Amwali, ichimugwaga apile ndundi ku nyuma!
You girl, (with) expectation he burnt blistering to the back!
In a native house, the man and woman lie side by side on a mat between the fire and
hut wall, the man next the fire, facing it when sleeping. When he wishes to enjoy marital
relations, he turns towards the woman and lies on his side with his back to the fire. The
saying refers to the uxorious husband whose advances are refused by his wife, but he per-
sists until his back is blistered by the heat of the fire. The saying intimates that it is no
good going on wanting a thing refused you; you only suffer for it.