A champion bull starts from birth.
A child points out to you the direction and then you find your way.
A messenger cannot be beaten.
Bad dancing does not break an engagement.
Beer that will spoil ferments unequally.
Competition exhausted the lungs.
Even an expert swimmer drowns.
Hurry hurry has no blessings. (Ndetekhane yayia ameno)
Only someone else can scratch your back.
Suppression of hunger leads to death.
The blame of the antelope is on the hunter.
The devil turns against its friend.
The eyes of the in-law belittle what they have seen.
The fire burns the fire maker.
Think before you act. (Andakonya yalikha obukhaya)
You suffer from smoke produced by the firewood you fetched yourself.
You only make a bridge where there is a river.
Previous Comments From Old ATK Site:
Khisa Kwa Simiyu Omusaba we Sichei said:
1. Nandakambilwa kakona khumwanda kwenjoli – English?
2. Wakhaleka rarao, nikho khakonia mao – Even if you despise your father, he is the one who sleeps with your mother!
3. Omukesi sekebekanga ta – the wise never cuts his own hair!
4. Burerere sebuli ne omwami ta – sleepiness has no king
kennedy wawire bukhakunga said: okucheka oubi olekha kwacheka nikutira kukhuwa?
Were wa Bulinji said: 1.Obuliba bwomukofu shibushira obwaya bweing’ombe ta 2.Omukhasi omukara mbu “omwini kwewefu”
Zacharia Sindani said: I have 1 more; Chingekhanga yebusia (He who has made a mistake is always quick to difend himself)
ENG. FREDERICK PETER OUMA MUKETI said:
1. Chenda kahala yoola Ebunyolo (A slow but steady walker reached Luoland)
2. Oria omululu washio wayindira (Respect a fellow strong man to live longer)
3. Nowulira mbu omukhana wa lebe, nokhulia (If you hear the fame of somebody’s daughter, it is from the diet)
4. Eshibishe neshilie (A saving will be useful one day – Food that is stored will be eaten when needed most)
5. Omulosi alokanga yenyene, ne yamanyikha busa mulukongo (A night runner does it alone, but every villager knows him)
6. Eshienyu neshienyu, or: Amalasire kashila amatsi (Blood is thicker than water)
7. Omwana wuchenda ashila nyina amachesi ( A child who travels is wiser and more knowledgeable than the mother)
8. Owashio ni shikumba sha’fire (A fellow wrestler is a skunk’s bone, you never when you can break it or when it will break you – Advice to respect a competitor)
9. Mwangu wakhulia aranjirira okhusaaba (A fast eater washes his hands ahead of others)
10. Omulayi we’Buwanga ashinanga mumuse lulala ( A gentleman in Wangaland dances on the stage/floor only once – also meant to signify that a good point is made only once)
11. Wetsa-khulia (The one who came to eat – nickname for younger wives who marry when the man has acquired wealth)
12. Linda linda, yalia nabacheni (The one who kept waiting when food was at table, ate with visitors)
13. Eliani lilekwa nelimalanga obusuma (The relish that is looked upon, is the one that ends up helping finish the pap – also extended to fellows who are looked upon before a competition)
14. Omwoyo omulayi kuchira walia eshifisirwe (A good heart will make you eat a hidden thing)
15. Awomwana yeyere olwoba, akalukhangaho (If a child uproots a mushroom, he will go back the next day)
16. Abasebe banyekana tsimbati (Nomads laughed at one another’s bald head – Similar to remove the log in your eye, before you critize the speck in another’s)
17. Amashino amabi shikeera obwitsa tawe (Poor dancing does not destroy love)
18. Amatsi kobulo shikeeranga tawe (Water drank to clear thirst does not kill)
WANGA
MOSES MAKARI OMUKITANGA KIMUNGUI said: Olukhwi lworenya nilwo lukhusamba
the firewood you fetch is the one that burns you
MOSES MAKARI said: they are good and pumping i like them
OMUCHENI NAMAI said: THANKS A LOT THE BRAINS BEHIND THIS WALL.PROVERBS ARE LIKE PUMPKIN IN THE OLD HOMESTEAD WHICH SHOULD NOT BE UPROOTED.BY DOCUMENTING THEM,WE PRESERVE THEM.I HAVE AT LEAST TWO TO ADD IN STALK:a)Omwana we inzokha shiyechesibungwa okhuluma ta.b)Omwana we inzokha ne inzokha
Anonymous said: Nandachenda yakhwa mungo (he who does look further pays dowry in his own home/marries own relative-Wanga)
Chrispinus Muya said: Okania kevilila, oswala niye okhevilila ta-(bukusu)
Nancy Mukasia said: Omusukuni kuweela khu matayi (Kabras)- It is the first born who bears all the beatings.
wakania yebilila, wakasenamo siyebilila tawe. Never do anything bad or mistreat somebody because you might forget but he/she cannot forget in his life.
Wilhard Murunga said: …I would like them to appear in their Luhya forms first then translated in English in brackets)
1.Anavulekwa yirha imbongo…(Tiriki proverb that him that was despised killed a bufallo)
2.Shiri shinale shirecherwa mukhola..(Tiriki proverb that never undermine small things, they can embarass you…mukhola is a dried back of a banana stem)
All Things Kenyan (mod) said: Rosemary, thank you for adding two more proverbs. They will be added to the page above.
If anyone has proverbs to add to this page or any of the other proverbs pages, please feelfree to make a comment.
Rosemary Ayako Amianda said: It is a great idea to have a section of Luhya proverbs on Internet. I have trully benefitted from this. I have two more to add on the list:
1. Think before you act = Andakonya yalikha obukhaya
2. Hurry hurry has no blessings = Ndetekhane yayia ameno
Correct them where necessary. Thanks.
These proverbs are really great.they teach a lot….
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Thanks to be my fellow for great en cougement proverbs that would build us current wicked generation.
1.Engila sebolela okenda- The road does not tell the traveler what lies ahead.
2.Bali mbakara kalia bibisi – Hurry makes one eat raw food.
3. Emonyo likhua – A whisper is a spoken word.
4. Kumuliungo kukhuila mubusiku- Greed will take you where you should not be
5. Ekhasi yaula esecha. – Femininity conquers masculinity.
6. Omukhasi okenda arera enjala – A woman who is always walking brings hunger to a homestead
7. Chikhu chisala likokhe – Firewood begets ash.
8. kamakhino kamalayi kakhunyola nolisichula. – A good dance always gets one unprepared.
9. Efumbukha musimiyu yesika chimbilo – He who starts running in dry times, must be ready to run.
Keep the fire burning..this Is awesome..proud to see my culture being preserved