Gikuyu Proverbs C

C

16. Cia athuri inyuagĩra thutha

• • Literal translation: The elders drink afterwards (i.e after the others).
  • Contextual note: Elderly people are not in such a hurry as young ones.

17. Ciakorire wacũ mũgũnda

• • Literal translation: The food found Wacũ in the field.
  • Contextual note: The proverb originates in the legend of Wacũ, the most despised amongst the wives of a rich man who never gave her any presents. One day, when a banquet was being held at home, she went to work in the field, since she knew there would be nothing for her at home. In the middle of the banquet a raven swooped down in the courtyard where the meat was being roasted, snatched a big piece and brought it to Wacũ. The Kikuyu use the proverb to say that God takes care of His poor.

18. Cia kĩonje itigayagwo gĩtanakua

• • Literal translation: The property of a helpless man must not be divided before his death.
  • Contextual note: The reason is that he is unable to get anything more than he already possesses.

19. Cia mũciĩ irĩ gacũgũma gacio gatathukagio nĩ mũthuri ũngĩ tiga mweneguo

• • Literal translation: Home affairs have their staff, which cannot be brandished by anyone but the head of the house.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means either that private matters must not be spoken of to strangers or that in each house there must be only one in authority.

20. Cia mũciĩ itiumaga ndĩra

• • Literal translation: Home affairs must not go into the open.
  • English equivalent: Do not wash dirty linen in public.

21. Cia mũciĩ ti como

• • Literal translation: Home affairs cannot be told in public.
  • English equivalent: Do not wash dirty linen in public.

22. Ciana cia ndigwa itirĩ maithori

• • Literal translation: The widow’s sons have not tears.
  • Contextual note: It means that they have been accustomed to suffer very early.

23. Ciathanaga ikĩgũa, itiathanaga ikĩũmbũka

• • Literal translation: Birds agree when flying down, but do not agree when flying up.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that it is easy for a swarm of birds to alight together, while it is difficult to get up together since after eating their fill they will fly up separately. Morally the proverb means that men easily agree when deciding on an enterprise, but will probably quarrel as soon as they have obtained what they want.

24. Cia thũgũrĩ itiyũraga ikũmbĩ

• • Literal translation: Bought things do not fill the granary.
  • Contextual note: Do not hope to become rich without cultivating your fields.

25. Ciatura ngũyũ irĩaga ng’umo

• • Literal translation: When there is shortage of figs, birds eat the fruits of the ‘mũgumo’.
  • Contextual note: The tree called ‘mũgumo’ by the natives bears little fruits that are not eaten by birds when there is plenty of other food.
  • English equivalent: If thou hast not a capon, feed on an onion; Beggars can't be choosers.

26. Cia ũthoni ciambaga nguhĩ

• • Literal translation: The buying of a wife begins from a little thing.
  • English equivalent: Great events have small beginnings.

27. Ciĩgwatagĩrĩra mareru

• • Literal translation: Goats fall that take hold of lichens.
  • Contextual note: Lichens are not strong enough to prevent a goat from falling. The proverb means that unsatisfactory excuses are insufficient defence.

28. Cionje ikũmi irũgĩtwo nĩ ũmwe ũrĩ na hinya

• • Literal translation: Ten helpless people were surpassed by a single strong person.
  • Contextual note: One strong person is better than ten helpless ones.
  • English equivalent: One grain of pepper is worth a cartload of hail.

29. Cira mũnene nĩ ũkĩa

• • Literal translation: A long lawsuit breeds poverty.
  • English equivalent: Fools and obstinate men make lawyers rich.

30. Cira mũnene nĩ wa ũthoni ũgĩkua

• • Literal translation: The breaking of a betrothal is no small matter.
  • Contextual note: Marrying a girls means giving a large number of goats or cattle to her family. Starting from the day of the betrothal the price is paid gradually. Evidently it is no simple matter if the would-be husband breaks his contract and demands the return of the marriage price.

31. Cira wa kĩrimũ ũtindaga kĩharo

• • Literal translation: The lawsuit of a fool keeps the court (sitting) all day.
  • English equivalent: The lawsuit of a fool never comes to an end.

32. Cira wa mũciĩ ndumagĩrio kĩharo

• • Literal translation: Home affairs are not to be carried on in the public squuare.
  • English equivalent: Do not wash dirty linen in public.

33. Cira wothe wambagĩrĩrio na nda

• • Literal translation: Every case begins from the stomach.
  • Contextual note: The Kikuyu have an ox or a goat killed, roasted and distributed to judges at the beginning of every case. Familiarly they use the proverb to say that one of the most important jobs of life is to provide something to eat.
  • English equivalent: An empty belly hears nobody.

34. Ciunagwo rũkomo, kimenyi akamenya ikiunwo.

• • Literal translation: We speak by proverbs: he who is intelligent will understand.
  • English equivalent: Intelligenti pauca.