Gikuyu Proverbs Y

Y

992. Ya gwĩthurĩra ndĩrĩ gĩthegenywa

• • Literal translation: The ox one has chosen has no imperfection.

993. Ya gwĩthurĩra ndĩrĩ ihĩndĩ

• • Literal translation: The meat one has chosen has no bone.

994. Ya kũhĩa ĩhĩaga na ma mbere

• • Literal translation: The food which cooks well is cooked with the first water.
  • Contextual note: The Kikuyu believe that the food which is not cooked in the first water, would not be cooked even if new water should be added, and it is therefore to be thrown away.
  • English equivalent: Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

995. Ya matharara ĩgwatagia ya nyeki

• • Literal translation: The hut thatched only with bad grass sets fire to the one covered with good thatching grass.
  • English equivalent: A rotten sheep infects the whole flock.

996. Ya mwene ndĩrĩ njereri

• • Literal translation: One's own ox has no cast in the eye.

(See also No. 992 and No. 993.)

• • English equivalent: Every man thinks his own geese swans.

997. Ya rika rĩngĩ ĩrĩaga ĩkĩhurunjaga

• • Literal translation: The goat which is of another age group eats scattering the fodder.
  • Contextual note: The proverb originates in the fact of the distinction which is kept among people of different age-grade, and means that if a member of an age group is admitted to eat food with people of another, he grows proud and shows no respect toward them.
  • English equivalent: Familiarity breeds contempt.

998. Ya rika ĩthĩnjaga na mweri

• • Literal translation: People of the same age group slaughter the beast to be eaten even by night time.
  • Contextual note: The proverb refers to a Kikuyu custom. Young men of the same age group used to go round from village to village until they found a rich man who gave an ox or a goat for them to eat. And when the animal was found, they killed and broiled it even if the night had already come. The proverb means that one must finish what one has begun.
  • English equivalent: Do nothing by halves.

999. Yaciara mathathatũ yongithagio nĩ mwene

• • Literal translation: The she-goat that gives birth to six kids feeds them too.

1000. Yaikio ĩikagia ĩngĩ

• • Literal translation: The goat that is pushed forward pushes forward the other.
  • English equivalent: One fool makes many.