BEMBA PROVERBS AND THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY
“ChiBemba” is a Bantu language spoken by the Bemba people of Zambia. It is through their language “ChiBemba” that the Bemba people teach proverbs to the younger generation. These proverbs are an important part of Bemba culture because it is through these proverbs that elders of the society pass down their norms, beliefs and way of life to the younger ones. The proverbs teach the younger ones important lessons that are vital for living in a cohesive society.
The following are some examples of Bemba proverbs:
1. “IFYAKULYA UBUSHIKU FITULIKILA KUMALUSHI”
The meaning of this proverb is “Whatever you eat in the darkness of night will be seen in your vomit”. The aim of this proverb is to teach people that whatever things you do in secret, you should always remember that they will be exposed unexpectedly at some point. It emphasizes the fact that secret deeds cannot remain hidden forever.
2. “UKUTEKE MBWA MANO”
The meaning of this proverb is “To take good care of a dog requires wisdom”. The lesson behind this proverb is that if you want to rule people well, you need to do it with wisdom and intelligence and not with force.
3. “KABUSHA TAKOLELWE UBOWA”
The meaning of this proverb is “The one who asks is the one who does not get poisoned by toxic mushroom”. It is derived from the fact it is important to ask which mushroom is edible and which one is not so that those who know can tell you. This proverb is aimed at teaching the importance of asking for advice from others so that you don’t make mistakes which could have been avoided.
4. “AKACILA KAMBUSHI KASENGULA APO KEKELE”
The meaning of this proverb is “The tail of a goat cleans where it is seated.” The teaching behind this proverb is that one has to first take care of where he/she stays, before going outside. It emphasizes that it is meaningless for one to boast that they are doing great things outside their home and yet they don’t do anything in their home.
5. “AKABOKO KAKONKA AKABOKO KABIYE”
The meaning of this proverb is “One small arm follows the other”. The aim of this proverb is to teach people to do good to others as you want them to do good to you. It teaches that people will treat you the way you treat them.
6. “AMENSHI YAKUTALI TAYASHIMYA MULILO”
The meaning of this proverb is “Water that comes from far way does not extinguish the fire”. The message behind this proverb is that the best people to find a solution for a problem are those who live nearby. It teaches people to look to people who are around them for solutions instead of looking to people who are far away.
7. “ TWENDE BABILI TEMWENSO, KUSOSHANYA.”
The meaning of this proverb is “Moving together does not bring fear, but rather creates a good relationship.” The lesson expressed in this proverb is that team work is very important. It teaches that it is through cooperation and unity that people are able to achieve great things.
8. “ICALO LIFUPA BAKOLOKOTA KOFYE WASHA”
The meaning of this proverb is “The world is a bone which you just bite around and leave it” The teaching behind this proverb is that when you have something don’t be overexcited when using it because eventually you will have to leave it for others because nothing lasts forever. The proverb teaches people to always remember to utilize things wisely.
9. “UKUPESHA LUNSHI KU NYA PATATU”
The meaning of this proverb is “If you want to challenge a fly you must defecate at three different places.” The lesson behind this proverb is that one must not put all their hopes in one place. This proverbs encourages people to make investments in more than one place so that in case something goes wrong in one place you don’t lose out completely.
10. “KOLWE UWAKOTA ASABILWA NA BANA”
The meaning of this proverb is “When a monkey is old she is fed by her children”. This proverb emphasizes the point that it is the duty of the children to take care of their parents in their old age.
11. “AKANWA KA MWEFU TAKABEPA”
The meaning of this proverb is “The bearded mouth does not lie”. The message behind this proverb is that the words of the elders in the community should be taken seriously because elders don’t tell lies. This proverb teaches young ones to respect elders.
12. “UMUKULU TAPUSA KEBO APUSA KABWE”
The meaning of this proverb is “An elder may miss his target when throwing a stone but he does not miss when it comes to wisdom.”. The lesson behind this proverb is that a young person may exceed an elder in terms of physical activities, but an elder cannot be surpassed when it comes to wisdom.”
13. “UMUNWE UMO TAUSALA NDA”
The meaning of this proverb is “One finger does not pick lice”. This proverb encourages cooperation among people. It emphasizes that the importance of working together in order to achieve a task.
14. “WINSHINSHA NSHILANYA”
The meaning of this proverb is “Do not apply the toilet tissue before i excrete”. The aim of this proverb is to put the point across that don’t condemn or judge a person before you know what they are doing.
15. “UKUBOKO BAPOTA UKUMINE”
The meaning of this proverb is “It is the stubborn arm that is twisted”. The message of this proverb is to advise that somebody cannot expect to be forgiven if he remains stubborn and unrepentant about something they did wrong.
16. “UMULILO WA MFUMU TAUCEPA”
The meaning of this proverb is “the fire of the chief is never too small”. The meaning of this proverb is that the words of a chief must always be respected. The purpose of this proverb is to encourage people to hold their chief in high esteem.
17. “AKATONDO KA BWALWA NI NSOKOLOLA TWEBO”
The meaning of this proverb is “A calabash of beer reveals a lot of hidden things”. The message in this proverb is that when one is drunk they say a lot of things which wouldn’t be said when sober. It serves as a reminder to people to regulate how much beer they drink.
18. “ABALI BABILI NA MANO YABILI”
The meaning of this proverb is “Where there are two people there is double wisdom.” This proverb teaches that when there are two or more people you can solve a problem better than when you are alone. It emphasizes the importance of cooperation.
19. “UMUCELE UKUFINA KUMFWA KUBASENDA”
The meaning of this proverb is “The weight of a bag of salt is only felt by those who carry it”. The symbolism behind this proverb is that something can only be properly understood by those who have experienced it. It highlights that the one with a problem is the one who understands the gravity of the problem.
20. “WANYA WANYA TATEKE CALO”
The meaning of this proverb is “Threats and insults never rule a country”. The lesson here is that a leader who behaves like a tyrant cannot make a good ruler.
21. “ICIKUPEMPULA, ECIKULYA”
The meaning of this proverb is “What visits you is what eats you”. The message behind this proverb is that the one who is closest to you may be your worst enemy. The lesson of this proverb is that it teaches people to be careful with some of their friends whose intentions may not be pure.
22. “AKASHI USHILALA BAKAKUMBWA UMUTENGE”
The meaning of this proverb is “The place where you don’t sleep is admired for its roofing”. The message behind this proverb is that do not admire things for their outside appearance. There is more that goes on inside that the outside appearance doesn’t show.
23. “IMITI IIKULA, EMPANGA”
The meaning of this proverb is “The young growing trees make a forest”. The message in this proverb is that the youths of today are the future of the nation.
24. “UWAKWENSHA UBUSHIKU, BAMUTASHA ILYO BWACHA”
The meaning of this proverb is “He who escorts you at night is thanked at dawn”. The lesson that this proverb gives is that help that is resisted when things are still tough is normally valued and appreciated when the task is accomplished.
25. “UBUNANG’ANI, TABULISHA KASUMA”
The meaning of this proverb is “Laziness does not enable one to eat something good”. The teaching which is at the core of this proverb is that people should work hard in order to lead good lives.
26. “UMWANA USHENDA, ATASHA NYINA UKUNAYA”
The meaning of this proverb is “A child that does not travel praises its mother as being the best cook”. The message is that a person who has not travelled thinks their home or country is the best in the world. The aim of this proverb is to encourage people to travel in order for them to gain new experiences, try new things and mingle with different people. This type of exposure helps to create a well rounded member of society.
27. “MAYO MPAPA, NAINE NKAKUPAPA”
The meaning of this proverb is “Mother, carry me on your back and i too will carry you.” The message in this proverb is that the young have an obligation to look after their parents in the same manner as their parents took care of them when they were young. This reminds young people to never abandon their parents.
28. “ICAISA ULUBILO, BACIKONKA ULUBILO”
The meaning of this proverb is “A thing that comes fast must be pursued just as fast”. The message is that an urgent thing or task must be given prompt attention and it must be done.
29. “MUMBWE UKULILA, NINSHI PALI EKO ASHINTILILE AMATAKO”
The meaning of this proverb is “For a jackal to bark, there must be something on which it has placed its buttocks.” The message in this proverb is that when some people start to act arrogantly or stubbornly, it is because they have a powerful backing nearby.
30. “AKAFUPA UTEMENWE, EKAKUSHA IMICENE”
The meaning of this proverb is “A small bone you like could leave you toothless”. The message is that excessive indulgence in a certain habit is dangerous and could land you in problems. The proverb teaches people to control certain addictive habits like beer drinking, smoking etc.
31. “UBUCENJESHI BWA NKOKO PUNGWA TASAKAMANA”
The meaning of this proverb is “The clever tricks of a chicken do not bother the eagle”. The lesson behind this proverb is that one must never try to be too clever and try to outwit people who have the upper hand on them. It teaches people to respect and accept the authority of leaders who preside over them.
32. “IMBILA YAMUSHI TABAYA SUKILA”
The meaning of this proverb is “Do not answer a general announcement in the village”. The message behind this proverb is that public statements are not to be taken personal. One must avoid responding to statements that are not directly targeted at them.
33. “ ICIKALIPA CUNFWA UMWINE”
The meaning of this proverb is “The impact of pain is felt by the victim.” The message behind this proverb is that the only person who can truly grasp the impact of a problem or crisis is the one who is going through it.
34. “UMWANA KASEMBE, NGA KAKUKOMA WABULA WAKOBEKA”
The meaning of this proverb is “A child is an axe, when it cuts you, you still pick it up and put it on your shoulder.” This proverb emphasizes the point that a parent does not forsake his child even if the child offends him greatly. Your child will always remain your child.
35. “UKUTANGILA TEKUFIKA”
The meaning of this proverb is “Being the first one to start a journey does not mean you will reach first”. The lesson that this proverb expresses is that one must always remember that when they are ahead in life it doesn’t mean they will always be ahead. This proverb teaches the importance of humility.
The above mentioned proverbs are just a small selection of the proverbs that the Bemba people use to impart life lessons to the next generation. If you know any other Bemba proverbs, feel free to write them in the comments section and give an explanation of what they mean and how they are used. It’s important to keep sharing knowledge and learning from one another.
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