Kikuyu proverbs: A

A

1. Agĩkũyũ moĩ kũhitha ndĩa, matiũĩ kũhitha ũhoro

• • Literal translation: The Kikuyu know how to conceal their quiver, but do not know how to conceal their secrets.
  • Contextual note: The Kikuyu, though very clever in concealing their arms, cannot keep secrets from the members of their tribe.

2. Ageni erĩ matirĩ ũtugĩre

• • Literal translation: Two guests (at the same time) have no welcome.

3. Ageni erĩ na karirũĩ kao.

• • Literal translation: Two guests love a different song.
  • Contextual note: When you receive two visitors at the same time, you cannot treat them in the same manner because they have different tastes.
  • English equivalent: Every man has his hobby horse.

4. Aikaragia mbia ta njũũ ngigĩ

• • Literal translation: He is a man that looks after money as ‘njũũ’ looks after locusts.
  • Contextual note: ‘Njũũ’ is a bird which accompanies migrating locusts to feed on them.
  • English equivalent: Much wants more.

5. Aka erĩ nĩ nyũngũ igĩrĩ cia ũrogi

• • Literal translation: Two wives are two pots full of poison.
  • Contextual note: The more women you have in your house, the more troubles you must expect.
  • English equivalent: Women’s jars breed men’s wars.

6. Aka matirĩ cia ndiiro no cia nyinĩko

• • Literal translation: Women have no upright words, but only crooked ones.
  • Contextual note: The Kikuyu use the proverb to say that women keep no secrets and seldom tell the truth.
  • English equivalent: Women conceal all that they know not.

7. Aka na ng’ombe itirĩ ndũgũ

• • Literal translation: Wives and oxen have no friends.
  • Contextual note: There are things which are not to be given to friends.
  • English equivalent: A woman is to be from her house three times: when she is christened, married, and buried.

8. Andũ maiganaine magĩthiĩ na magĩceera

• • Literal translation: Men are equal when they are going and walking.
  • Contextual note: One can tell a difference between two men's character when they are commanding or working, but not when walking down the road.

9.Andũ matarĩ ndundu mahũragwo na njũgũma ĩmwe

• • Literal translation: People who have not secret agreement are beaten by a single club.
  • Contextual note: A group of men not bound by a secret will be easily beaten by a single man.
  • English equivalent: Lack of union is weakness.

10. Andũ matiũĩ ngamini

• • Literal translation: Men do not know liberality.
  • Contextual note: One does not give without hope of return.

11. Andũ matiũĩ ngũ, moĩ ithendũ

• • Literal translation: Me do not know hard firewood, but only lops.
  • Contextual note: People put aside hard tasks and devote themselves only to easy ones.

12. Andũ me muoyo matiagaga wĩra

• • Literal translation: Live men do not lack work.
  • English equivalent: Life would be too smooth if it had no rubs in it.

13. Angĩmĩtuĩria na ũmĩrĩte ndangĩmĩona rikiĩ

• • Literal translation: He who seeks his goat with the man who ate it, is certain not to find it.
  • Contextual note: Do not look for stolen goods in the robber's house.

14. Arũme marĩ rwamba

• • Literal translation: Men have got quills.
  • Contextual note: Do not annoy others because they will respond by hurting.
  • English equivalent: What goes around comes around; Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.