by Ibrahim Nyanda
🏆 Proverb Essay Contest

"Why is it that our village is not developed compared to other villages around us? Many young people our age from other villages have studied, and some have found their meaningful jobs in the city. Although there's a school in our village, we young people aren't doing well in school. When teachers are hired, they don’t stay long, they leave. What is there here in Bombambili?” These were the questions that the young man Akilimali asked his friend Manase while they were grazing the cattle. 

After this question, Manese seemed immersed in a great wave of thoughts ,and after considering for a while, he turned to his friend, looked at him deeply and asked him, “Do you believe in witchcraft?” Akilimali answered by nodding his head in agreement and said, “I believe, because I’ve often seen people going to witch doctors, and when they go through difficulties, they believe they've been bewitched. Don’t you remember the other day when we were told that Granny Andunje was found on the roof of old man Masanja stark naked, practicing witchcraft at night. So after that, how can I not believe, my friend?”

Manase looked at Akilimali carefully and then said to him “I want to tell you a secret that you won’t believe... Do you know your mother and your sister are witches?” Akilimali remained dumbfounded like a lizard caught in a door, and then, swelling with anger, he told Manase “Woah, hey kid, don’t start bringing me this nonsense, you stop calling my mom a witch or I’ll show you something you won’t believe with your eyes, ohoooo!!” 

Manase calmed his friend Akilimali, then told him “Wait for me to return the cows to the neighbor, then I’ll tell you the whole story. I know you’ll understand, you just chill out. “

As soon as he has returned the livestock, Manase began telling Akilimali, “My friend, I want to tell you a secret that I’ve kept for a long time. Everything you see here -- even the lack of development in the village -- it’s because of witchcraft. Every day I see your mom and your sister riding a hyaena. They pass by my mom's house, going to bewitch people...”  Manase paused a little, then continued

"You can’t believe it-- even I didn’t believe it until I was anointed with a special potion and saw them. I’ll give you this potion tonight. Apply it in your eyes and you’ll give me an answer tomorrow.”

After dinner, Akilimali was warming himself by the fire with his dad, outside their mud house thatched with grass, while his mom and sister were inside. He applied the potion as directed... and after ten minutes he saw his sister and his mom riding the hyena like a motorcycle, ready to embark on their voyage to bewitch people!

“Forgive me my friend, it was just anger.” Akilimali spoke these words choking back tears. 

“I knew it. Now you see our village is not developing and even your own mom and sister are involved. Every villager who wants to bring development ends up dead. One day they'll end up like Granny Andunje."

“I’m sure even your dad doesn’t know that your mom and sister are witches, and every day they go out to bewitch people and leave you two a magic trick to make you think they’re around. Go put that potion in your dad's eyes, then you’ll give me an answer” explained Manase. 

That evening, secretly, Akilimali explained to his dad that his sister and his mom were witches, a thing which his dad vehemently denied. 

“Mom, today Dad is watching us; look how he is staring at us,” Akilimali’s sister told their mom, riding the hyena as before, as their dad and brother were outside warming themselves as they usually did.

“I don’t think he sees us; turn the hyena so it looks like we’re heading towards them,” Akilimali’s mom said.

Akilimali says that was the last day he saw his father, because after seeing the hyena carrying his wife and daughter, he bolted like he was running the hundred-meter dash. Indeed, what you don’t know is like the darkness of the night, Akilimali was left in disbelief that all this time he lived with his mom and sister not knowing they were witches.

Ndoto ambayo huwezi kuitimiza peke yako? Labda hata ambayo haiwezi kukamilika katika kizazi kimoja?

Kuna makanisa ya kigothi barani Ulaya ambayo yalichukua zaidi ya miaka 600 -- zaidi ya vizazi 20 -- ili kukamilisha ujenzi!

Ingawa Piramidi kubwa zaidi ya Giza imejengwa kwa kasi (ndani ya kizazi kimoja), ila pia ilichukua makumi ya maelfu ya watu.

Nchini Tanzania, Msikiti Mkuu wa Kilwa Kisiwani ulijengwa katika karne za 11-14, ukajengwa upya baada ya tetemeko la ardhi, na uliendelea kufanyiwa ukarabati hadi karne ya 18. Ulitajwa pia miaka ya 1300 na msafiri Ibn Battuta. (Je ulijua unaweza kuona Kilwa Kisiwani kupitia "ziara ya mtandaoni" yaani 3D Virtual Tour? Ona kiungo chini kwenye "Rasilimali")

Maajabu ya dunia, ya kisasa na ya kale, yalianza kama ndoto kubwa, ndoto ambazo zilichukua vizazi vingi kutimiza. Kila kizazi kiliendeleza kazi ya zamani na pia walitoa mchango wao kwa kubadilisha mipango ya siku zijazo. 

Hivyo bhasi, kama unajaribu kufanya jambo kubwa -- jambo ambalo hakika litabadilisha ulimwengu - usitarajie litafanyika kwa siku moja. Na usijaribu kuijenga peke yako. 

 Kiswahili:

Kifaransa:

Kichina:

Kigaelic

by Nankya Sauda 🇺🇬
🏆 Proverb Essay Contest 
🥇 First Place Winner

Ever taken time to wonder why the elderly will always live to be wiser than the young? Have you ever taken time to meditate on where your origin sprouts from? If not, it is high time you started looking for your origin because it is important for one to know their roots. 

 Over time, you take the burden to unveil the nature of famous geniuses and their personalities, you will come to realize that they are celebrated introverts.  It is important that one takes off some time their busy schedule and read about some of the top celebrated geniuses like Albert Einstein , the famous scientist from whom we derive one of the most educative quotes;

This highlights that time spent alone does not only provide one with space for self-reflection but also gives space to someone to use their mind creatively. Great talkers are great are great lawyers they say, and we have seen this happening during our daily routine where people make empty promises, make false declarations to please those around them but may never take time off to do something in a bid to realize their words. Because of that, many have ended up losing trust in these so called great talkers.

     On the other hand however, silent people have always blown our minds with their actions. Their moves are always calculated, their ambitions clear and their actions intentional. Romantic lovers in a relationship are always spicing up their relationships with new inventions to keep their love blooming. Those that have employed or stayed around introverts can justify that staying around these people has been one of the greatest achievements in their lives, for these have always worked  smarter, had critical thinking sessions in their alone time and eventually produced the best results and the biggest promotions.

     Literally, we can loosely define proverbs as traditional sayings that are particular to a particular country. They are short and wise sayings that usually offer advice as well as boost an idea in relation to the day to day life.  In fact, for one to have a clear and elaborate understanding of cultural norms and practices, it is wise that they always make a reference to proverbs since they can have an elaborate meaning beneath them.

     Historically, the proverb “STILL WATER RUNS DEEP” draws its origin from the ancient times in Latin. It became popular after Shakespeare used it in his play Henry vi in 1590. He said;

We realize that, in some instances the most dangerous people with the wickedest hearts have always calculated their moves and taken action at a time everyone least expects them to. That is why betrayals come from people we least expect them from. It is therefore crucial for someone to not only take what the eyes meet but also take caution especially from people who do not retaliate immediately after they have been provoked or confronted.
     Albert Einstein despite his introverted character, he his famously known for devising his theory of relativity which revolutionized our understanding of space, time, gravity and the universe.

     Conclusively, it is very important  not to draw conclusions just because looks are deceptive and there is always more to know and discover than the eyes can see.

Ustawi wa kiuchumi huenea na huwafikia raia wote wa nchi au eneo. Nchi haiwezi kufaidika bila raia wake wote kufaidika kwa namna moja au nyingine, kama vile baharini, maji yakijaa boti zote zitapanda, wimbi linalokuja litainua boti zote ziwe mitumbwi, jahazi, meli au mashua.

Msemo huo hutumiwa kumaanisha makundi yote yalinufaika kutokana na mabadiliko ya hali, hasa utitiri wa rasilimali, hata kama inaonekana kama zinawafikia matajiri wachache pekee. Nimesikia wafanyakazi wakiona wenzao wamepokea bonasi au kamisheni kubwa wanasema, "A rising tide lists all boats," ikimaanisha mauzo yakipanda, mapato ya kampuni yataongezeka na fursa kwa kampuni, na kwa hivyo, kwa wafanyikazi wote pia. Katika kesi hii, ni wazi wimbi halizinui boti zote kwa usawa au kiasi kilekile.

Wakosoaji wa methali hii wanaweza kulalamika kwamba methali hii inatumika pia ili kuhalalisha mpango au makubaliano yoyote hata kama yatawanufaisha wachache tu. Lakini kwa kawaida msemo huo husemwa  na viongozi kwa matumaini au kama pongezi.

Methali hiyo mara nyingi huhusishwa na John F. Kennedy rais wa Marekani, ambaye aliiitumia katika hotuba yake, mwaka wa 1963 akijitetea baada ya baada ya kukosolewa juu ya ujenzi wa bwawa ulitumia pesa nyingi sana (matumizi ya fujo). Mwandishi wa hotuba za Kennedy (aliyeitwa Ted Sorensen) alifichua kwamba Rais Kennedy alitumia methali hii baada ya kuisoma katika jarida la "New England Council."

Msemo karibu na huu ni "to grow the pie" yaani "kukuza keki" ambayo inamaanisha, kama keki ni kubwa zaidi, washiriki wote watapata keki zaidi hata kama uwiano/asilimia haibadiliki.

Je, unakubali kwamba ustawi mpana wa kiuchumi huwafikia wote?