Kiswahili Proverb of the Day-gctid25969

[alvasakima]

Damu zito kuliko maji

(Damoo zee-to ku-leeko ma-gee)

translates to: Blood is thicker than water.

[alvasakima]

Ada ya mja hunena mungwana ni kitendoí

(adduh ya mj-uh who-nen-uh, moon-gwan-uh knee-key-tendo)

translates to: Public opinion maintains, a gentleman is judged by his actions.

Or, Handsome is as handsome does

[alvasakima]

Mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka

translates to: The child of a snake is a snake

[alvasakima]

Today's proverb is a Kanga Writing. See the post on Kanga for a description of what they are.

Akufukuzae hakwambii toka

translates to: A person who wants you out of her/his place will not tell you, 'Get out!'

The actual Swahili proverb doesn't stop there, it continues with: "... you will just learn that from her/his actions."

This proverb (which is used a lot in the Swahili world) is just a reminder that people's inner feelings are mostly communicated through actions, attitude and behaviour, and much less through words.

Literally, the proverb tells people not to wait until they are verbally notified that they are no longer welcome at a particular place, instead, they should try to take note of the attitude, actions, and behaviour of their hosts, to know that they have stayed long enough and it was time to leave.

[alvasakima]

Fadhila ya punda ni mateke

translate to: The gratitude of a donkey is a kick

[alvasakima]

Mwacha asili ni mtumwa

translate to: He who renounces his ancestry is like a slave

[alvasakima]

Chombo cha kuzama hakina usukani

translates to: A sinking vessel needs no navigation

[alvasakima]

Mwangaza mbili moja humponyoka

translates to: He who is after two things at the same time, one will surely escape him

[alvasakima]

Jina jema hungara gizani

translates to: A good name shines in the dark

[alvasakima]

Bendera hufuata upepo

A flag follows the direction of the wind

[alvasakima]

Mwana simba ni simba

translates to: The child of lion is a lion

[alvasakima]

Sikio halilali na njaa

translates to: An ear does not go to bed hungry

(i.e. There's always plenty of gossip)

This is one of my personal favorites.

[alvasakima]

Mjinga akierevuka mwerevu yupo mashakani

translates to: When a fool becomes enlightened, the wise man is in trouble

[alvasakima]

Tajiri na maliye, maskini na mwanawe

Katika kiingereza: A rich man and his money (are like) a poor man and his son

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Alva Sakima wrote: Tajiri na maliye, maskini na mwanawe

Katika kiingereza: A rich man and his money (are like) a poor man and his son

Karibu!

Hongera! Ahsante sana!

/me