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Karibuni kwenye Maktaba ya Elimu Yetu! Naitwa Brighid. Ujisikie huru kuwasiliana nami kama una maswali yoyote kuhusiana na tovuti hii. Pia ningependa kusikia maoni yako na ushauri. Nakutakia masomo ya thamani, mpendwa msomaji. Welcome to the Elimu Yetu Library! My name is Brighid. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this website. Also I would love to hear your opinions and advice. I wish you valuable lessons, dear reader!
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Once upon a time long ago, there was a beautiful, intelligent and kind young woman named Portia. Many men wanted to marry her and came to woo her. Portia’s father had died and left behind a will instructing that any suitor of Portia would have to choose among three caskets, one of gold, one of silver and one of lead. Only the suitor who chose correctly would be allowed to marry Portia and inherit all her father’s wealth. One day, the Prince of Morocco came to woo Portia.

The Merchant of Venice

Watch ▶️ on YouTube 

Portia: Go draw aside the curtains and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.
Now make your choice.

Prince of Morocco: The first, of gold, who this inscription bears,
'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;'
 The second, silver, which this promise carries,
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;'
 This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt,
 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
How shall I know if I do choose the right?

Portia: The one of them contains my picture, prince:
 If you choose that, then I am yours withal.

Prince of Morocco: Some god direct my judgment! Let me see;
 I will survey the inscriptions back again.
 What says this leaden casket?
 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
 Must give: for what? for lead? hazard for lead?
 This casket threatens. Men that hazard all
 Do it in hope of fair advantages:
 A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross;
 I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead.
 What says the silver with her virgin hue?
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
 As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco,
 And weigh thy value with an even hand:
 If thou be'st rated by thy estimation,
 Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough
 May not extend so far as to the lady:
 And yet to be afeard of my deserving
 Were but a weak disabling of myself.
 As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady:
 I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,
 In graces and in qualities of breeding;
 But more than these, in love I do deserve.
 What if I stray'd no further, but chose here?
 Let's see once more this saying graved in gold
 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
 Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her;
 From the four corners of the earth they come,
 To kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint:
 The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds
 Of wide Arabia are as thoroughfares now
 For princes to come view fair Portia:
 The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head
 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
 To stop the foreign spirits, but they come,
 As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.
 One of these three contains her heavenly picture.
 Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere damnation
 To think so base a thought: it were too gross
 To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.
 Or shall I think in silver she's immured,
 Being ten times undervalued to tried gold?
 O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem
 Was set in worse than gold. They have in England
 A coin that bears the figure of an angel
 Stamped in gold, but that's insculp'd upon;
 But here an angel in a golden bed
 Lies all within. Deliver me the key:
 Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

Portia: There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there,
 Then I am yours.

[He unlocks the golden casket]
Prince of Morocco: O hell! what have we here?
 A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
 There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
 [Reads]
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
 Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
 Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!
 Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
 To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.
 [Exit with his train.

- From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Act II Scene 7
...
Sources
Watch ▶️
The Merchant of Venice, Act II Scene 7 on YouTube
Ken Nwosu as the Prince of Morocco and Patsy Ferran as Portia, Directed by Polly Findlay, 2015 RSC
https://youtu.be/J9q7h9b-KWs?t=40m25s
Start time: 40m 25s
End time: 44m 37s

Old version:
Joan Plowright as Portia, Stephen Greif as the Prince of Morocco, Directed by Laurence Olivier, 1973
https://youtu.be/fJDg4ITyJIc?t=35m13s

Image: made with AI, CC-BY Maktaba.org 
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Compare this simple, humble basket of fruit with a bag of lollipops. The fruit is ripe, juicy, packed full of vitamins -- it just sells itself. The lollipops, on the other hand, scream for our attention with explosive slogans and neon colors. But underneath the shiny packaging, it's really just plain sugar with some food coloring and artificial flavors.

Like other primates, humans find fruit attractive because it gives us energy and nutrition. Candy gives us energy, but it doesn't give us real nutrition. It just does a very clever job pretending to be fruit. Don't fall for it!

A good thing doesn't need to advertise, because quality speaks for itself. As the economists would say, demand exceeds supply.  Many advertisements seems to promise us happiness, beauty, love, wealth or respect. But ask yourself, does the ad promise more than the product can really deliver? Coca-Cola isn't a love potion.

This proverb reminds us of the enduring value of true quality and competence over flashy appearances. It's often used to express skepticism about a person who brags or praises themselves excessively.

We should all strive to be more like the basket of fruit: simple, authentic and good. These qualities will draw other people to you — at least the kind of people who understand that “chema chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza

Related proverbs:
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Appearances are deceiving.
All that glitters is not gold 
 高嶺の花  Hana yori dango - Dumplings over flowers

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na Mélanie N. 
Mama, mama, mama! 
     Nuru ya mtu ni mama. Ukimkosa mama imezima nuru. Aheshimiwe mama, katika dunia hakuna kitu cha kumwakilisha. 
     Angeweza kutoa mimba yako akabaki kuwa kijana.Ila alivumilia mpaka miezi tisa ya kujifungua akakuweka ulimwenguni. Husaidia Mungu kumuumba mtu. Hakujali maumivu ya kujifungua, umbo lake, sura yake, umri wake, vyote vyake mwilini mwake vilibadirika ili upate uhai. Mama hufanya chini-juu ili upate afya njema. Alifanya kila liwezekanalo ili upate elimu ya kutosha. Huacha kile ambacho kingemfurahisha ili uwe mtu. Hushinda shambani ili upate cha kutia mdomoni. Mheshimu mama aliyekutunza hadi hapo ulipofika. 
     Kwa hiyo unatoa wapi ujasili wa kumtukana mama yako unamdharau mama yako ili umheshimu nani? Eti ungetangulia mbele yake ungemzaa. Kweli? Usijiidanganye. Atukae mama yake hujikosesha baraka. Kuwa makini vijana wa leo, msijitafutie mikosi na hasara visivyo na msingi ambavyo havitomalizika. Hata kama unamzidi elimu, mama anabaki kuwa mama. Hapo ulipo ndie kasababisha upafike. Kwa hiyo fanya uwezavyo ili umtoe hapo alipo. 
     Ulibarikiwa mama, umewazidi wote mama. Hakuna cha kukulipa mama isipokuwa tu kukutakia maisha mema tena marefu.
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Imagine you woke up late for a job interview. What would you do? Would you scramble to get dressed and make it to the meeting as quickly as possible? Or would you think "Forget it, it's not worth going at all now"? Next time you think "It's too late" try telling yourself "Better late than never." For example, this Proverb of the Day was posted late, but at least you're reading it now - Thanks!

One day a renown businessman wanted to hire an assistant. He received many resumes, but only two candidates met his high standards: Alice and Bob. To help him decide, he called both, and they each agreed to come in for an interview the following morning. "9 AM. Look sharp and don't be late." The manager warned.

The next morning Alice woke up early, donned her best suit and got to the village bus station at 8:00am. "Better safe than sorry," she thought.  On the way to town, the front of the minibus began to smoke. The driver pulled over in the bush and told all the passengers to get out. Just then it started to rain. Alice tried to wave down each bus that passed, but they were all full, so she had to walk on foot. 9am came and went, but Alice was still miles from town and the rain was getting harder. "I must keep going." she thought, "Better late than never."

Meanwhile in town, Bob woke up in his apartment, and saw the sun was high in the sky. He sat up suddenly. "Oh no! Why did my alarm fail?" He looked at the clock on his wall: 9:00 am. "Forget it. Even if I leave right now, I'll still be late, and they'll never hire someone who is late." So Bob, feeling depressed, went back to sleep.

At 10:30, Alice finally made it to the office and knocked on the door, her neatly pressed suit now dripping and muddy. The businessman answered.
"I warned you to be on time, yet you are over an hour late, how can you expect me to give you this job?"
Then Alice explained all that had happened.
"I have learned a lot about you from this story, Alice. When you have a purpose in mind, you persist despite and obstacles and don't give up, even when it seems too late. In fact, you are the first to arrive today. The other candidate did not show up at all. The job is yours."

Great achievements and inventions often begin with a lot of failures, but in the long run, persistence and learning are rewarded.  People make a lot of mistakes (to err is human), but life is very patient with us, giving us lots of chances to learn from them and try again, as long as we don't give up.

Some say the proverb "Better late than never" comes from The Canterbury Tales, written by Chaucer around the 1390s.
Better than never is late -  The Canon's Yeoman's Tale  
Others trace the proverb to an even earlier origin, in Livy's History of Rome, written around 20 BC:
There was no end to it; tribunes of the commons and patricians could not subsist in the same state; either the one order or the other office must be abolished; and that a stop should be put to presumption and temerity rather late than never. - Livy, History of Rome, Book 4

A similar saying in English is "It's never too late." 
Here's a proverb that relates to the same principle in Hindi:
जब जाति तब सवेरे
Whenever you wake up, that’s your morning

And here's an English proverb that often means the opposite of this one:
Don't close the stable door after the horse has bolted

...
Sources
The Canterbury Tales, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
History of Rome, Book 4

Better late than never (Wiktionary)
Close the stable door after the horse has bolted (Wiktionary)  
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na Alfred N. 
Hapo zamani za kale katika Kijiji cha NYAMAGOMA ,kulitokea binti moja anayeitwa SUDI Aneti ambaye katika maisha yao ya kila siku alikuwa akitamaani maisha ya raha tu. Alikuwa na  Tabia ya kuwachuna wanaume kwa kuwaomba pesa nyingi.Alipoona hayo hayatoshi aliamua kujiunga na ushirikina na kuenda kwa waganga wa kienyeji kwa lengo la kuzitafuta pesa nyingi kwa muda mfupi. Ni ukweli pesa aliipata tena ya kutosha Ila ikawa ni ya masharti .wazazi wake walijaribu kumshauri aachane na ushirikina huo bali aanzishe miradi yake huku akianzia kwa vinavyolingana na uwezo wake hakuwasikiliza.Alieendelea kuyaishi maisha hayo,huku matatizo yakawa yanamkuta kila wakati,ilifika kiasi mizimu ikamuomba uhai wa mama yake kama kafara naye akakataa kata kwa ubadaye Mali zote zilipoptea akafikia hatua ya kujuta akiukumbuka ushauli alioupewa na wazazi wake.angelikubali kulidhika na mali zinazokuja taratibu yasingelimkuta hayo yote kwa ukweli CHURURU SI NDONDONDO

Chururu /mchiriziko/myiririko
Kitenzi: kuchurura nyiririka

Ndondondo:malipo yanayokuja kila baada ya mwezi au mwaka kutokana na makubaliano ya watu wawili( mfanyakazi na bosi wake)

Malejeleo : kamusi kuu  
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Fikiria kama umechelewa Mahojiano ya Ajira. Ungefanyaje? Next time unapofikiri "Nimeshachelewa" jiambie "Bora kuchelewa kuliko kukosa kabisa." Kwa mfano makala hii ya Methali ya Siku ilichelewa, lakini sasa unaisoma - Asante!

Siku moja, mfanyabiashara mashuhuri alitafuta msaidizi. Alipokea maombi na CV za watu wengi sana, lakini wawili tu walikidhi vigezo: Amina na Baraka. Ili kuamua kati yao, aliwaita wote wawili, na akawaalika waje kwaajili ya mahojiano ya ajira, kesho yake asubuhi. "Saa tatu kamili -- vaa mavazi ya kazi, na usichelewe!" Akawaonya.

Kesho yake Ali aliwahi kuamka, akavaa suti yake nzuri, na alipanda basi kijijini kwake saa 2. "Bora kinga kuliko tiba" alifikiria. Njiani kuelekea mjini, basi ilianza kutoa moshi. Abira wote walishuka na waliachwa porini. Hapo hapo mvua ilianza kunyesha. Kila basi lililompita, Ali akaomba nafasi, lakini, kutokana na hali ya hewa, mabasi yote yalikuwa yameshajaa. Kwa hivyo ikabidi atembee kwa miguu. Ilipotimia saa tatu, bado Ali alikuwa mbali na mji, na mvua ikawa kali zaidi na zaidi. "Lazima niendelee" akajiambia, "Bora kuchelewa kuliko kukosa kabisa."

Wakati huohuo mjini, Baraka aliamka ghorofani kwake, na akashtuka ghafla akiona jua lilikuwa limeshafika mbali angani. "Aisee! Niliweka alarm! Simu yangu ina shida gani sasa?" Alitazama saa ukutani: Saa tatu kamili. "Bora niache tu. Hata nikiondoka saivi, bado nitachelewa kufika. Si alisema usichelewe? Hatamwajiri aliyechelewa." Kwa hivyo Baraka, akiwa na huzuni, akalala tena.

Saa nne na nusu, hatimaye, Ali alifika ofisini kwa mfanyabiashara na kugonga mlango, suti yake ikichuruzika maji na matope sakafuni. Mfanyabiashara akajibu. "Si nilikwambia vaa mavazi yanayofaa na usichelewe? Sasa umechelewa zaidi ya saa limoja na mavazi yako yamechafuka. Niambie nitawezaje kukuajiri baada ya hapo?" Kisha Ali akaeleza yote yaliyomtokea. Mfanyabishara akamjibu "Nimejifunza mengi kuhusu wewe kutoka kwa hadithi yako Ali. Ukiwa na kusudi kichwani, utafanya kazi kwa bidii, na pale unapokutana na vikwazo hukati tamaa, hata kama umechelewa. Nakwambia, wewe ndiye wa kwanza kufika leo. Mwingine alikosa kabisa. Nitakuajiri wewe."

Mafanikio makubwa huanza na makosa mengi, lakini baada ya muda, uvumilivu na ustahilimilu huleta matunda. Kukosa ni uanadamu, lakini Mungu ni mvumilivu sana kwetu. Anatupa nafasi nyingi za kujifunza na kujaribu tena, ilimradi tusikate tamaa.

Wengine wanasema methali ya "Better late than never never" inatoka kwa kitabu cha The Canterbury Tales, kilichoandikwa na Chaucer miaka ya 1390.
Better than never is late
“Bora kuliko kamwe ni kuchelewa
-The Canterbury Tales, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Wengine wanasema chimbuko la kweli ni kitabu cha Historia ya Roma, kilichoandikwa na Livy takriban mwaka wa 20 KK.
Lilatini: potiusque sero quam numquam
Bora kuchelewa kuliko kukosa kabisa
- History of Rome, Book 4

Methali ya Kiingereza inayoendana ni:
It's never too late
Hakuna kuchelewa
 Methali ya Kiingereza inayopinga:
Don't close the gate after the horse has bolted.
Usifunge mlango baada ya farasi kukimbia

Methali ya Kihindi: 
जब जाति तब सवेरे
Wakati wowote unapoamka, ndo asubuhi yako

...
Sources
The Canterbury Tales, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
History of Rome, Book 4

Better late than never (Wiktionary)
Close the stable door after the horse has bolted (Wiktionary
Updated 3mo ago
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Celebrate World Swahili Day by voting in our Proverb Essay Contest and learning Swahili!

➡️ Read the Essays here ⬅️

Click ❤️ to Cast your Vote  


We are so excited about the amazing essays we've gotten from you all in English and Swahili!  To all the participants, we say THANK YOU and congratulations on your great work! 
Read the essays and vote for your favorites now - the 3 essays with the most ❤️s will receive cash prizes!

We've published all the essays submitted so far here : www.maktaba.org/contest/essay
Share this link with your friends. Anyone can create a free account in seconds and cast their vote by clicking ❤️. You can vote for as many essays as you like!

To enable both Swahili and English speakers to participate, I've added a comment to each essay with a rough translation. Click on an essay from this page and scroll down to see the translation. (You must be logged in to see comments)

Today is the deadline to send your submission for our Proverb Essay Contest! If you haven't yet, please e-mail your essay about any proverb to tuzo@maktaba.org today! (English or Kiswahili accepted.) 


Learn Swahili on World Swahili Day! (Free Resources)

In Tanzania, today is also Saba Saba, celebrating 69 years since Julius K. Nyerere founded the Tanganyika African National Union to advocate for independence.

Happy World Swahili Day from Maktaba.org!
...
Sources
Today is the deadline to send your submission for our Proverb Essay Contest! If you haven't yet, please e-mail your essay about any proverb to tuzo@maktaba.org today! (English or Kiswahili accepted.) 

Proverb Essay Contest 🡺 Read the Essays here 🡸 Click 🤍 to Cast your Vote ❤️

Updated 3mo ago
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Heri ya sikukuu ya Saba Saba! Sherehekea kwa kupiga kura katika shindano la insha ya methali

➡️ Soma insha zote hapa ⬅️

Bongeza ❤️ ili kupiga kura  


Tumefurahi sana sana kusoma insha zote tulizopokea kutoka kwenu. Kwa wote walioshiriki tunasema Asanteni na hongereni kwa kazi nzuri!
Zisome na upige kura kwa insha zozote unazozipenda. Insha tatu zitakazopata ❤️ nyingi zaidi kabla ya tarehe 15/7/23 zitapokea zawadi za pesa!

Insha zote zilizowasilishwa zinaonekana sasa hapa: www.maktaba.org/shindano/insha
Karibuni mshirki link hii (kiungo) na marafiki zako na wengine. Mtu yeyote anaweza kufungua akaunti haraka bila malipo ili aweze kupiga kura kwa kubongeza ❤️. Unaweza kupigia kura kwa insha zozote unazozipenda!

Leo ndio tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha insha yako kwa Shindano la Insha ya Methali! Tafadhali wasilisha insha yako juu ya methali yoyote kwa tuzo@maktaba.org leo! (Kiingereza au Kiswahili).

Jifunze Kiswahili leo Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani (Rasilimali bila malipo)


Leo Saba Saba tunasherehekea miaka 69 years tangu Julius K. Nyerere Alipoanzisha TANU ili kupigania uhuru. 

Heri ya Sikukuu ya Saba Saba na Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani kutoka kwa Maktaba.org! 
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Sources

Shindano la insha ya methali

➡️ Soma insha zote hapa ⬅️

Bongeza ❤️ ili kupiga kura


Leo ndio tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha insha yako kwa Shindano la Insha ya Methali! Tafadhali wasilisha insha yako juu ya methali yoyote kwa tuzo@maktaba.org leo! (Kiingereza au Kiswahili).
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Swali: Je, umejifunza zaidi kutoka kwa wazazi wako ama kupitia uzoefu wako ulimwenguni?


Methali hii hutumika wakati mtu amekosa na kupata madhara, haswa kama ameonywa... kama vile dereva wa lori katika picha hii (kutoka Oxfordshire, Uingereza). Bila kujali kama ulifunzwa na wazazi, hatimaye lazima ukabiliane na ukweli wa maisha halisi. Ona pia: Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe

Kuna shairi lililotungwa na Akilimali Snow-White juu ya methali hii:

ASOFUNZWA NA WAZAZI, HUFUNZWA NA ULIMWENGU
na Akilimali Snow-White

Zama walinipumbaza, wazee kwa kunilea,
Nikashindwa kujifunza, myendo mipya ya dunia,
Leo najipendekeza, kwa walimwengu sikia,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Kazi zote singeweza, bila kuwanyenyekea,
Kutii kuwembeleza, kisha kuwatumikia,
Hata nikawapendeza, wakanifunza kwa nia,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Sasa kusema naweza, Kizungu bila udhia,
Kama vile Kingereza, na lugha zingine pia,
Kwa juhudi najifunza, hata zimenielea,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Naweza kuzungumza, pasipo kutia doa,
Na paovu kuongoza, doa nikaliondoa,
Mwishowe pakapendeza, lingano moja hatua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Sina nilipopasaza, pasina kupachungua,
Pande zote hachunguza, marifa nikachukuwa,
Hata najua kuuza, bidhaa na kununua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Kiasi nilo jifunza, si haba kwa kubabia,
Nitokapo napendeza, kazi njema natumia,
Ni vigumu kuibeza, jinsi inanielea,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Haifai kupuuza, kwa kitu usicho jua,
Jaribu kupeleleza, na kisha ukichungua,
Nia unap,o ikaza, hushindwi kitu kujua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Kazi nilizojifunza, babangu hakuzijua,
Hakujua Kingereza, kuuza na kununua,
Bali kujipendekeza, ndipo mwana nikajua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Nawatilia nyongeza, mlio nisaidia,
Nyote mlionifunza, Rabi awape afia,
Mungu heri tawajaza, mema kuwarudishia,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

- Diwani ya Akilimali

Fikeni E. M. K. Senkoro (1988) aliandika juu ya shairi hili:
[M]tu hawezi kupata uzoefu wa mambo yote yahusuyo maisha kutoka kwa wazazi wake: lazima awe tayari kufunzwa na ulimwengu, yaani kujifunza kutoka kwa wengine zaidi ya baba na mama yake. 

Nimejitahidi kutafsiri shairi hili kwa Kiingereza, na nitashukuru sana sana kupata feedback zenu, ndugu wajuaji wa Kiswahili na Kiingereza. (Someni hapa.)

Mnafikiriaje? Shairi hili lina maana gani kwako? 
...
Sources
Picha ni kweli, inaonyesha ajali iliyotokea Uingereza, mkoa wa Oxfordshire, (Pich kutoka mitandao ya kijamii) - Soma pia Makala hii ya BBC

Shairi lilitoka Diwani ya Akilimali

Nukuu ya mwisho inatoka kitabu cha "Ushairi - Nadharia na Tahakiki" na F.E.M.K. Senkoro, Sura ya 7 (Dar Es Salaam University Press, 1988, ISBN 9976 60 0224)  
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na Lolly F. 
🅽🅾 🅿🅰🅸🅽😔 🅽🅾 🅶🅰🅸🅽✊
No pain no gain is a proverb mostly used by many of us since we all believe in working hard and hustling alot so as we can all live a good life.
This proverb was first used by one of the famous poet in 1648 named 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 in the little poem named "no pain no gain". Some of the quoted verses of the poem include the verse that stated "man's fortunes are according to his pains".

In one of the streets in makamba village lived a poor man with his wife and two daughters. The man had a lung cancer that made him weak for couple of days and since the family had no money to pay for the hospital bills then the man was forced to stay at home without getting any treatment despite the fact that his wife worked hard but the little money she got was used for food. The two daughters had two different personalities since the older one was too proud and lazy but the Young one was kind and hard-working so the father decided to give them a test and he told them"my daughter's as u see my health is not good and despite the fact that your mother is working hard the money she gets isn't enough for treatment so I want all of you to find a good way of getting money" and so the daughters agreed and everyone went to do so. The lazy daughter spent all day sleeping but the hardworking daughter went and hustled and got alot of money and helped her family since she believed that "no pain no gain" and everyone was proud of her.

I too believe in the proverb since I have always worked hard at school and I can now see the fruits of my hardworking skills.

Similar proverb that goes along with no pain no gain is "No sweat,No sweet" and the proverb that goes contra to that is "Beauty is pain".

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 ,Do we all believe that in order to achieve worthwhile goals we need to suffer or work hard?

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: poemhunter.com No Pains, No Gains Poem by Robert Herrick
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na Angelica A. 
Methali ya "mpanda ngazi hushuka" ina maana kwamba watu wanaopanda ngazi za mafanikio au mamlaka wanaweza kushuka haraka kutoka kwenye nafasi yao ya juu. Inatukumbusha kwamba hali ya mafanikio au umaarufu haijithibitishi kuwa ya kudumu au salama. Mambo yafuatayo yanathibitisha ukweli kuhusu methali hii;

 Hali ya Majivuno; Methali hii inaweza kutumika kuonyesha hatari ya kujivunia sana mafanikio au kuwa na kiburi. Inatuambia kwamba hali ya juu inaweza kubadilika ghafla, na mtu anaweza kupoteza kile alichokuwa nacho ikiwa hatakuwa makini au asipoweza kudumisha kiwango chake cha juu cha kazi au tabia nzuri.

 Kupandishwa cheo; Methali hii pia inaweza kutumika kuwahimiza watu wawe waangalifu na waangalie mbali zaidi, wasijiridhishe na mafanikio yaliyopatikana hadi wakati huo, na badala yake wajitahidi kuendelea kufanya kazi kwa bidii na kudumisha maadili yao ili kuepuka kuanguka. Methali hii inatufundisha baada ya kupandishwa cheo tusijisahau katika uwajibikaji wetu wa kila siku kwani kuna uwezekano pia wa kushushwa cheo au kupoteza cheo hicho tulichopata.

 Hali ya kuwa na Kiburi;  Katika maisha, methali hii  imekuwa ikitumiwa kwa muda mrefu sasa. "Mpanda ngazi hushuka." Methali hii inatufundisha somo muhimu kuhusu hatari ya kiburi na jinsi inavyoweza kusababisha kushuka kwa haraka kutoka kwenye nafasi ya juu. Hakika, methali hii ina umuhimu wake katika jamii yetu ya leo inatuhimiza tuwe watii kazini na kuwaheshimu wafanyakazi wenzetu. Katika jamii yetu ya leo, tunaona mifano mingi ya watu ambao wamepanda ngazi za mafanikio lakini wameanguka kutokana na kiburi chao. Kwa mfano, kuna watu maarufu na wenye mamlaka ambao wamejikuta katika matatizo makubwa baada ya kujisahau na kudharau wengine. Wamevurugwa na kiburi chao na wamesahau kuwa mafanikio yao yanategemea juhudi za wengine na msaada wa jamii yao. Kiburi kinaweza kusababisha mzunguko wa chuki na uhasama. Watu wenye kiburi hawataki kushirikiana na wengine au kusikiliza maoni na ushauri wanaopewa. Wanajiona kuwa juu ya wengine na hawana haja ya kujifunza au kuboresha. Kwa sababu hiyo, wao hujikuta wakitengwa na kupoteza ushirikiano na msaada wa watu wanaowazunguka.

Kupata Kazi; Watu wengi wanatafuta kazi kwa bidii ili wapate na baada ya kupata wanajisahau na kutowajibika wakiwa katika maeneo yao ya kazi na kusahau watu walio wasaidia wakati wanapotafuta kazi hali hiyo hupelekea wapoteze kazi walizo nazo na kufukuzwa kazini kama methali isemavyo "Mpanda ngazi hushuka" hivyo methali hii inahimiza watu wanapopata kazi wawe na heshima kwa jamii na wale wote walio wasaidia kupata kazi hiyo kwani wanapo kwenda kinyume na hivyo kunawapelekea kufukuzwa kazi na hali yao ya maisha kushuka  na kuwa katika hali ngumu ya maisha. 

 Hali nzuri ya kiuchumi;  Watu wenye uwezo mzuri wa kimaisha mara nyingi wanatumia hela na mali walizo nazo kwaajili ya kustarehe na kusahau kufanya vitu vya msingi kama kuwekeza hela walizo nazo kwenye biashara ili kupata faida zaidi na kuwadharau wengine wenye hali ya chini ya kimaisha. Wakati mwingine wanatumia hela walizo nazo kuponda raha kwa kuhonga na kuendekeza starehe  na kuwa na idadi ya wapenzi wengi wakiamini hela walizonazo zitawasaidia kupata watu wanao wahitaji matokeo yake wanaangukia kupata magonjwa ya zinaa. Matokeo yake baada ya kupata magonjwa wanaishia kujitibu magonjwa yasiyopona na kujikuta wanapoteza hela nyingi na kufilisika kila mara  wanabadilisha hospitali, wengine wanaenda kwa waganga wa kienyeji ili wapate dawa  za kuwatibu huku watu waliowathamini wakati wakiwa na afya njema wanawakimbia na kuhitaji msaada kutoka kwa wale waliowadharau wakati wakiwa na hali nzuri ya kiuchumi wakati mwanzoni waliwadharau na kuona hawana maana siyo hadhi yao. Methali hii ya  "Mpanda ngazi hushuka" inatufundisha tusiwadharau watu wengine hata kama tuna hali nzuri ya kiuchumi kwani ipo siku tajiri anaweza kufilisika na yule aliyedharauliwa maisha yake kubadilika na kuwa na hali nzuri kimaisha na kuwasaidia hata wale watu walikuwa wakimdharau kipindi hakiwa hana hali nzuri ya kimaisha.

Methali ya "mpanda ngazi hushuka" inahimiza watu kuwa waangalifu na waangalie mbali zaidi. Tunapaswa kudumisha unyenyekevu na kujifunza kutoka kwa wengine. Kupata mafanikio kunahitaji kazi kubwa, uvumilivu, na kujitolea.
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"na Ibrahim Nyanda
🏆 Shindano la Insha ya Methali
“Ni kwa nini kijiji chetu hakina maendeleo ukilinganisha na vijiji vingine vinavyotuzunguka? Vijana wengi kutoka vijiji vingine wa umri wetu wamesoma na wengine wana kazi zao za maana huko mjini. Pamoja na kwamba kuna shule kijijini kwetu lakini vijana hatufanyi vizuri shuleni na hata walimu wanapoajiriwa hawakai muda mrefu wanahama. Kuna nini hapa Bombambili?" Haya ni maswali ambayo kijana Akilimali alimwuliza rafiki yake Manase wakiwa machungani wakilisha ng’ombe. 

Mara baada ya swali hili Manase alionekana amezama katika wimbi kubwa la mawazo na mara baada ya kufikiri kwa muda alimgeukia rafiki yake Akilimali na kumtazama kwa kina kiaha akamwuliza, “Unaamini kuhusu ushirikina” Akilimali alijibu kwa kutikisa kichwa kuashiria kukubaliana na swali aliloulizwa na kisha akasema “Naamini kwani mara kadhaa nimekua nikiona watu wakienda kwa waganga na wengine wanapopitia magumu huamini wamerogwa, si unakumbuka juzi bibi Andunje tulivyoambiwa kuwa amekutwa juu ya paa la mzee Masanja uchi wa mnyama akiwanga, sasa mpaka hapo naachaje kuamini mshikaji wangu” 

Manase alimwangalia Akilimali kwa makini kisha akamwambia, "Nataka nikueleze siri moja ambayo huwezi amini……. hivi unajua kama mama yako na dada yako ni wachawi?” Akilimali alibaki ameduwaa mithili ya mjusi aloyebanwa na mlango halafu akiwa amefura kwa hasira akamwambia Manase “Aisee mwanangu usianze kuniletea habari zako za udwanzi hapa, tena koma kabisa kumwambia mama yangu mchawi vinginevyo ntakuja kukufanyia kitu mbaya hutokuja kuamini macho yako, ohoooo!!” 

Manase alimtuliza rafiki ake Akilimali halafu akamwambia, “Ngoja niwarudishe ng’ombe jirani afu nikupe mchapo mzima ulivyo, najua utanielewa we punguza jaziba kwanza” 

Mara baada ya kurudisha mifugo jirani Manase akaanza kumweleza Akilimali, “Rafiki angu nataka nikupe siri hii ambayo nimekaa nayo kwa muda mrefu, chochote unachokiona hapa hata kutokuwepo kwa naendeleo kijijini ni kwa sababu ya ushirikina, kila siku mama yako na dada yako huwa ninawaona wakija nyumbani wamepanda fisi wakimpitia mama kwenda kuwanga…..” Manase alitulia kidogo halafu akaendelea 

“Huwezi kuamini kwani hata mimj nilikua siamini mpaka nilipopakwa dawa na kuwaona, nitakupa hiyo dawa utapaka machoni na utakuja kunipa majibu kesho.” 

Mara baada ya mlo wa usiku Akilimali alikua ameketi akiota moto nje ya nyumba yao ya udongo iliyoezekwa kwa nyasi wakati huo mama yake na dada yake wakiwa ndani na yeye akiwa na baba yake pale nje. Alipaka ile dawa kama alivyoelekezwa na baada ya dakika kumi alimwona dada yake na mama yake wamepanda juu ya fisi mithili ya pikipiki tayari kwa safari ya kwenda kuwanga. 

“Nisamehe sana rafiki angu, ilikua ni hasira tu” aliongea maneno haya Akilimali huku akilengwa na machozi, 

“Mimi nilijua, sasa unavyoona kijijj chetu hakiendelei hata mama yako pia na dada yako wanahusika, inaumiza sana kila mwanakijiji anayetaka kuleta maendeleo anaishia kufa, lazima kuna siku watakuja kuumbuka kama ilivyokua kwa bibi Andunje” 

“Nina uhakika hata baba yako hajui kama mama yako na dada yako ni wachawi na kila siku huwa wanaenda kuwanga na ninyi kuwaachia mauzauza mkijua wapo, nenda kampake baba yako hiyo dawa alafu utanipa majibu” alieleza Manase 

Jioni kwa siri Akilimali alimweleza baba yake kuwa dada yake na mama yake ni wachawi kitu ambacho alipinga vikali. 

“Mama leo baba anatuona, angalia anvyotutumbulia macho” dada yake na Akilimali alimwabia mama yake wakiwa juu ya fisi kama ilivyo ada wakati baba yake na kaka yake wakiwa nje wanaota moto kama ilivyo kawaida yao. 

“Sidhani kama anatuona, hebu geuza fisi tuwe kama tunawaelekea wao” ailisema mana yake na Akilimali.

Akilimali anasema hiyo ndiyo ilikua siku ya mwisho kumwona baba yake kwani baada ya kuona fisi aliyewabeba mke wake na binti yake alitimua mbio kama anashundana mashindano ya mbio za mita mia. Ama kweli usilolijua ni kama usiku wa giza, Akilimali alibaki haamini kama kwa muda wote huo ameishi na mama yake na dada yake bila kujua kuwa ni wachawi. 
...
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Chimbuko:

Methali ya kiswahili kutoka kitabu cha “METHALI ZETU” cha Oxford inayosema “USILOLIJUA NI KAMA USIKU WA GIZA.”  

Juu ya Insha hii

Insha hii ilishika nafasi ya nne katika Shindano la Methali ya Insha la Maktaba.org 🏆 7/7/2023
Ibrahim Methusela Nyanda ni Mtanzania 🇹🇿 

Hakimiliki

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
na Ibrahim Nyanda
Ilichapishwa na Maktaba.org
Mchoro/Image: CC BY Maktaba.org
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Mchoro huu umetengenezwa kwa kutumia Akili Bandia (AI). Unafikiriaje?

Methali yetu ya leo inasemwa pia kama:
Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame
Methali hii hutumika kuwahimiza watu kufanya kazi kwa bidii na kujitahidi. Hatupaswi kutarajia kupata vitu tunavyotafuta isipokuwa tumekubali kuvitafuta katika mahali ambapo ni vigumu kupafikia.

Hapa kuna hadithi fupi inayoeleza methali hii, juu ya Mulla Nasreddin, mhusika mcheshi katika ngano za Kisufi.
Mulla [Nasreddin] alikuwa amepoteza pete yake sebuleni. Aliitafuta kwa muda, lakini kwa kuwa hakuipata, alitoka nje hadi uani na kuanza kuchungulia pale. Mkewe, ambaye aliona alichokifanya, akamwuliza: “Mulla, umepoteza pete yako sebuleni , kwa nini unaitafuta uani?” Mulla alishika ndevu zake akisema: “Chumbani kuna giza na sioni vizuri. Nilitoka nje kwenda uani ili kutafuta pete yangu kwa sababu kuna mwanga mwingi zaidi hapa.
- Usimulizi wa Houman Farzad. Imetafsiriwa kwa Kiingereza kutoka lugha ya Kiajemi na Diane L. Wilcox (1989), halafu nimeitafsiri kwa Kiswahili.

Kwa Kiingereza, kuna hadithi inayosimuliwa juu ya mlevi anayetafuta pesa (au funguo) karibu na taa. Hili ni toleo liliochapishwa katika gazeti ya Boston Herald (mwaka wa 1924): 
[Afisa wa polisi alikutana na mwanamume akipapasa-papasa akipiga magoti] “Nilipoteza noti ya $2 kwenye barabara ya Atlantic,” kasema mwanamume huyo. "Nini kile?" aliuliza afisa aliyeshangaa. "Umepoteza notiya $2 kwenye barabara ya Atlantic? Kwa nini basi unaitafuta hapa Copley Square?" “Kwa sababu,” akasema akiendelea na utafutaji wake, “mwanga ni bora hapa."

Hadithi hii imekuja kujulikana kama "Streetlight effect" katika sayansi.

Asante kwa mshiriki mwenzetu kwa kupendekeza methali hii! Je, una methali ya kupendekeza? Shiriki hapa!
...
Sources
Streetlight Effect (Wikipedia)
A short story (Insha) about the essay in Kiswahili - https://middemb.com/insha-ya-mtaka-cha-mvunguni-sharti-ainame/
Nasreddin (Wikipedia)
History of the Streetlight Principle story on Quote Investigator
1989, Classic Tales of Mulla Nasreddin, Retold by Houman Farzad, Translated from Persian by Diane L. Wilcox, Looking for the Missing Ring, Quote Page 26, Mazda Publishers, Costa Mesa, California. (Verified with scans by Quote Investigator; thanks to Stephen Goranson and Duke University library system) 

1924 May 24, Boston Herald, Whiting’s Column: Tammany Has Learned That This Is No Time for Political Bosses, Quote Page
2, Column 1, Boston, Massachusetts. 
Updated 3mo ago
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Today we are very happy to announce the winners of Maktaba.org's first Proverb Essay Contest! Most importantly, we want to express our sincere thanks to all who participated in this competition. You have taught us a lot, thank you! 

➡️ All essays ⬅️


🏆 Announcement of the Winners

And now, without further ado, let's congratulate the winners of the first Proverb Essay Contest...

🥇 First place winner:
Nankya Sauda 🇺🇬 Uganda
 for her essay on the proverb
➜“Still waters run deep

🥈 Second place winner:
Rose Mwanri 🇹🇿 Tanzania
for her essay on the proverb
➜“Akiba haiozi” (Savings doesn't rot)

🥉 Third place winner:
Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿 Tanzania
for her essay on the proverb
➜“Mchumia juani hulia kivulini” (He who toils in sun eats in the shade)

Congratulations to everyone who participated!

   The three winners have already received their prizes, and all writers were given certificates of recognition for their contributions. (If you have not received your certificate yet, please contact us.)
   This competition was held in honor of World Swahili Day (Saba Saba). This is the first contest we've sponsored online. We ask for your advice, please comment below, should it be done again? Due to the great response we've had from participants in various East African countries, we are already starting to plan.
   If you didn't submit your essay the time, don't miss the next contest. Join Maktaba and confirm your email to make sure you'll be notified!
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na Rose Mwanri 🇹🇿 
🏆 Shindano la Insha ya Methali 
🥈 Mshindi wa Pili 

Akiba Haiozi

Methali ni usemi wa kimafumbo unaotumika katika jamii. Maneno katika methali huwa na maana ya ziada na methali huwa na pande mbili. Upande wa kwanza hutoa wazo na upande wa pili humalizia wazo. Akiba haiozi ni miongoni mwa methali za kiswahili inayotumika sana katika jamii za kiafrika na kwa watumiaji wa lugha ya kiswahili duniani, ikiwa na lengo la kuwaasa watu juu ya umuhimu wa kujiwekea akiba.

 Dhima ya methali hii ni kutusisitiza sisi wanajamii kujianda vema na maisha ya leo pamoja na kesho huku tukiwa tayari kuzikabili changamoto mbalimbali za maisha.

 Methali hii hutuonyesha ni kawaida mwanadamu kupatwa na dharura mbalimbali katika maisha ya kila siku. Mfano kupatwa na maradhi, ajali, au hata kifo. Pale unapokuwa na akiba uliyojiwekea itakusaidia wakati umepatwa na changamoto ya ghafla ambayo hukuitarajia.

 Faida nyingine ya kuweka akiba ni kuboresha maisha. Cha kwanza nashauri tuwe na utaratibu wa kuweka akiba mara kwa mara ili kuweza kuboresha maisha yetu kwa ujumla. Tunavyozidi kuweka akiba ndivyo ambavyo akiba hiyo inaweza kutusaidia kuboresha makazi yetu na miundombinu kwa ujumla ndani ya jamii zetu. Mfano mzuri ni wazazi ambao akiba wanazoziweka huwasaidia kulipa karo za shule pamoja na kununua vifa mbalimbali vya shulena hata gharama zingine zinazojitokeza kwa wakati huo.

 Methali hii pia inatukumbusha kuwa kadri tunavyozidi kuweka akiba ndivyo tunavyokuza hazina yetu. Swa na ile methali inayosema “ Haba na haba hujaza kibaba” ukichambua methali hizi zinaendana maana na utagundua ni ukumbusho mkubwa kwetu kuhusu ujenzi wa hatma njema ya jamii yetu ya sasa na baadae. Kwa kuwa zinatuhimiza kuwekeza kwa kila chumo tulipatalo. Tunakuza hazina kwa kuwa kile tunachoweka akiba kipo kwaajili yetu.

 Chukua nafasi kujiuliza, ni mara ngapi umepatwa na changamoto na akiba ndiyo ikaokoa jahazi, ni mambo mangapi yametokea bila taarifa na akiba ndiyo imetumika kuweka mambo sawa. Naamini sote tunapaswa kuweka akiba bila kujali kipato ni kikubwa au kidogo. Mfano unaweza kuanza kuweka akiba kidogo kidogo kutokana na kile unachokipata na kufikia muda Fulani utakuwa na akiba kubwa.

 Vilevile methali hii inasaidia kukuza maarifa kwa mtu mmoja mmoja na jamii hasa pale ambapo pamekuwepo na tofauti ya uhifadhi wa akiba kutoka kizazi kimoja kwenda kingine. Hapo zamani tunaambiwa watu walikuwa wanahifadhi akiba zao kwa kuchimba chini ya ardhi, kuweka chini ya kitanda au hata sehemu zingine ambazo wao waliamini ni salama. Leo hii watu hawatumii sana njia za kienyeji kuweka akiba zao. Ukija kwenye fedha zipo benki zenye mifumo thabiti na salama katika kuhifadhi fedha. Kwa upande wa akiba ya mazao pia zipo njia salama za kuhifadhi tena hata kwa muda mrefu bila kuharibika. Kwa hakika akiba haiozi.

 Waswahili tunasema “akiba haiozi”, “haba na haba hujaza kibaba” ikimaanisha kwamba akiba yaweza kuonekana ndogo ila kadri inavyoongezeka ndivyo inavyokuwa kubwa. Kinyume chake tunaambiwa “Chovya chovya humaliza buyu la asali”, “Bandu bandu humaliza gogo”. Tukikumbushwa kuwa vile tunavyochukua akiba zetu kidogo kidogo bila sababu ya msingi ndivyo ambavyo iko siku tutahamaki na kuona akiba imeisha bila kuona kitu cha maana kilichofanyika. Tukumbuke “mali bila daftari huisha bila habari”, tuangalie mfano wa shairi hili linalotusisitiza kuhusu kuweka akiba.

Akiba kweli hazina, haijawahi saliti,
Kwetu ni muhimu sana, hutubeba kwa nyakati,
Kipindi kweli hatuna, inasimama kwa dhati,
Sote tuweke akiba, akiba ni mkombozi.

 Kwa hakika ni dhahiri yatupasa kutunza vitu vyetu vizuri na rasilimali tulizonazo kwa kuweka akiba ili tuweze kujinusuru pale ambapo tunapokumbwa na changamoto za kushtukiza kwa ajili ya maisha yetu ya sasa na ya baadae.

...
Sources

Juu ya Insha hii

Insha hii ilishinda nafasi ya pili 🥈 katika Shindano la Methali ya Insha la Maktaba.org 🏆 7/7/2023
Rose Mwanri ni mwalimu Mtanzania 🇹🇿 

Hakimiliki

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
na Rose Mwanri
Ilichapishwa na Maktaba.org
Mchoro/Image: CC BY Maktaba.org

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by Rose Mwanri 🇹🇿 
🏆 Proverb Essay Contest 
🥈 Second Place Winner
A proverb is a metaphorical expression used in a community. Words in proverbs have additional meanings and proverbs have two sides. The first side gives an idea and the second side completes the idea. Akiba haiozi (Savings do not decay) is one of the Swahili proverbs that is widely used in African communities and by Kiswahili speakers globally, with the aim of reminding people about the importance of saving.

The purpose of this proverb is to encourage us as members of the community to prepare well for today's life as well as tomorrow so we are ready to face the various challenges of life.

This proverb shows us that it is normal for a human being to experience various emergencies in everyday life. For example, an illness, accident, or even death. When you have the savings that you have set aside, it will help you when you are faced with a sudden challenge that you did not expect.

Another benefit of saving is improving life. First of all, I advise we all have a regular savings plan to be able to improve our lives in general. The more we save, the more that savings can help us improve our housing and infrastructure within our communities. A good example is parents whose savings enable them to pay for school fees, supplies and even other expenses that may arise at the same time.

This proverb also reminds us that the more we save, the more we grow our treasury. As with the proverb that says "Haba and haba hujaza kibaba" (little by little fills up the measure). If you analyze these proverbs, they have the same meaning, and you will find that it is a great reminder about building a good fate for our community, now and later. [These proverbs] encourage us to invest every penny we get. We grow our treasury, because what we save is there for us.

Take the opportunity to ask yourself, how many times have you faced challenges and your savings kept the ship afloat? How many issues have arisen without notice that you used your savings to put things right? I believe we should all save regardless of whether our income is big or small. For example, you can start saving little by little from what you earn and in time your savings will add up to be big.

Also, this proverb helps to develop knowledge for individuals and communities, especially where there has been a difference in savings from one generation to another. In the past we are told that people used to store their savings by digging underground, putting under the bed or even other places that they believed were safe. Today, people do not use traditional methods to save their savings. When it comes to money, there are banks with stable and safe systems for storing money. In terms of crop saving, there are also safe ways to store crops, even for a long time, without spoiling. In fact, savings do not decay.

In Swahili, we say “Akiba haizoi” ("Savings don't rot"), “Haba na haba hujaza kibaba” (“Little by little fills up the measure") meaning that the savings may seem small but the more they increase, the bigger they become. On the contrary, we are told “Chovya chovya humaliza buyu la asali” (“Dip [by] dip finishes the jar of honey”), “Bandu bandu humaliza gogo” (“Chop [by] chop finishes the log.”) If we take from our savings little by little without a good reason, the day will come when we’re infuriated to see all the savings are gone without anything meaningful getting done. Let's remember “mali bila daftari huisha bila habari” ("Wealth without a notebook disappears without notice"). Let's look at an example of this poem that stresses us about saving.

  Savings are truly a treasure, they never betray,
  For us it’s very important, they carries us through times
  When we really have nothing, they stand sincerely,
  Let's all save, savings is a savior.

Truly, it’s clear that we should take care of the good things and the resources we have by saving, so that we can save ourselves when we are faced with surprising challenges in our present and future lives.
...
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About this Essay

This essay won second place 🥈 in Maktaba.org's Proverb Essay Contest 🏆 July 2023
Rose Mwanri is a teacher from Tanzania 🇹🇿

Copyright 

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
Essay by Rose Mwanri
Published by Maktaba.org
English translation by Brighid McCarthy
Image: CC BY Maktaba.org

Related on Maktaba.org 


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na Nankya Sauda 🇺🇬
Shindano la Insha ya Methali 🏆
Mshindi wa Kwanza 🥇

Maji yaliyotulia ndiyo yenye kina kirefu

Umewahi kuchukua muda na kujiuliza kwa nini wazee huwa wana busara zaidi kuliko vijana? Je, umewahi kuchukua muda wa kutafakari asili yako ulipochipuka? Ikiwa sivyo, [sasa] ni wakati mzuri wa kuanza kutafuta asili yako kwa sababu ni muhimu mtu ajue mizizi yake.
   Baada ya muda, unachukua mzigo wa kufunua asili ya watu mashuhuri wenye akili na haiba zao, utakuja kutambua kwamba wao ni introverts (yaani wakimya, wanaopenda kukaa peke yao/kujitenga) lakini ni mashuhuri. Ni muhimu uchukue muda wako, hata ukiwa bize, ujifunze kuhusu wasomi mashuhuri kama Albert Einstein, mwanasayansi mashuhuri ambaye alisema nukuu inayotuelimisha:
"Maisha tulivu ya upweke yasiobadilikaa huchochea akili na fikra bunifu."

Hii inamaanisha kwamba wakati ukiwa peke yako ni nafasi ya kujitafakari, lakini pia ni nafasi ya kutumia akili yako bunifu. Wanasema wazungumzaji wakubwa ni wanasheria wazuri, na tumeona hayo katika maisha yetu ya kila siku ambapo watu hutoa ahadi tupu, hutoa matamko ya uwongo ili kuwapendeza waliomzunguka bila kuchukua muda wa kufanya kitu kwa nia ya kutekeleza maneno yao. Kwa sababu hiyo, wengi wamepoteza imani na hawa wanaoitwa “wazungumzaji wakubwa.”
   Kwa upande mwingine, wakimya hutushangaza kwa matendo yao. Hatua zao hupangiliwa kila mara, matamanio yao ni wazi na vitendo vyao hufanyika kwa kusudi. Wapenzi wakimya hukuza mahusiano yao ya kimapenzi kwa ubunifu mpya ili kudumisha mahusiano. Waliowaajiri [wakimya] na waliokaa karibu na introverts husema kuwafahamu ni moja ya mafanikio makubwa katika maisha yao, ndo maana hawa wamefanya kazi nadhifu zaidi, wakawa na vipindi vyao vya kutafakari peke yao, na hatimaye walitoa kazi bora na kupata cheo kikubwa.
   Tunaweza kufafanua methali kama misemo inatumika katika nchi au utamaduni fulani. Ni maneno mafupi yenye busara na hutoa ushauri na vile vile kuongeza wazo kuhusiana na maisha ya kila siku. Kwa kweli, ili kufahamu kwa kina mila na desturi za kitamaduni, ni vizuri warejelee methali kwani zinaweza kuwa na maana pana ndani. 
Kihistoria, methali "Still waters run deep" (Maji yalotulia ndo yenye kina kirefu/Usicheze maji yanayosimama) inatoka Kilatini cha kale. Ilipata umaarufu baada ya Shakespeare kuitumia katika tamthilia yake ya Henry VI mwaka 1590. Alisema:
"Maji hutulia pale ambapo mto una kina kirefu."

Tunatambua kwamba, mara nyingi watu hatari zaidi walio na roho mbaya hupanga hatua zao na kuchukua hatua kwa wakati ambao wengine hatarajii. Ndio maana usaliti hutoka kwa watu ambao hatutarajii [kitu kama hicho] kutoka kwao. Kwa hiyo ni muhimu kwa mtu kuchukua si tu yale yanayokutana na macho bali pia kuchukua tahadhari hasa kutoka kwa watu ambao hawalipizi kisasi mara tu baada ya kukasirishwa au kukabiliwa.
   Albert Einstein licha ya tabia yake ya kujittenga, yeye anajulikana sana kwa kubuni nadharia yake ya relativity ambayo ilileta mapinduzi katika uelewa wetu wa nafasi ya nje, wakati, na kanimvutano (gravity).
   Kwa kumalizia, ni muhimu sana kutofikia hitimisho [haraka] kwa sababu sura hudanganya na kuna mengi ya kujua na kugundua kuliko macho yanavyoweza kuona.
...
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Kuhusu Insha Hii

Insha hii ilishinda nafasi ya kwanza 🥇 katika Shindano la Insha ya Methali 🏆 July 2023
NANKYA SAUDA ni MWUGANDA  🇺🇬  anaye MIAKA 21 
Insha iliandikwa kwa Kiingereza juu ya methali "Still waters run deep."
Methali za Kiswahili ambazo ni karibu na hii ni:
Usicheze maji yanayosimama, na Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkuu.  

Hakimiliki

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
Inaruhusiwa kunakili, kutafsiri, kubadilisha na kuchapisha bila malipo ukitaja tu m/watunzi.
Insha iliandikwa na Nankya Sauda
Ilitafsiriwa na Brighid McCarthy
Ilichapishwa na Maktaba.org
Mchoro/Image: CC BY Maktaba.org
Created from "Weeping Willows by Akerselven" by Thorolf Holmboe, Public Domain 1907 

Vitabu - Related Books on Maktaba.org 

Vitabu hivi vilivyotajwa kwenye insha vinapatikana bure:
Henry VI: Part II na William Shakespeare
Relativity: The Special and General Theory na Albert Einstein 
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na Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿
🏆 Shindano la Insha ya Methali 
🥉 Mshindi wa Tatu
Ni mara ngapi umesikia Mchumia juani hulia kivulini? Hii ni methali ya kiswahili (kibantu) yenye maana ya kuwatia moyo watu katika shughuli mbalimbali wanazozifanya Kila siku wawe na Imani kuwa ipo siku watayafurahia matunda ya kazi yao. 

Methali hii huwapa watu nguvu, bidii, moyo, ujasiri, tumaini na weledi katika kufanya kazi. Mfanyakazi huamini kuwa baada ya kazi ngumu zenye surubu basi huleta mavuno mazuri yenye kumfanya astareheke kivulini akila matunda ya kazi yake. Shairi lifuatalo linaonesha kwa namna gani mchumia juani huwa katika majukumu ya Kila siku.

Siogopi jua wala mvua, nikiitengeneza kesho yangu
Siogopi maumivu Wala majeraha, maana yote ni ya muda
Jua kali na kazi ndiyo desturi yangu, ili kheri kuja maishani
Machinga,mkulima, makuli na mvuvi wao na jua, Ili kuitafuta kesho
Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini bado nakitafuta kivuli.
Ni mchana jua la utosi, kichwani nina mavuno, jasho linatiririka
Jua limezama Sasa kasia ufukweni, hoi kitandani, nyavu zi baharini
Nyumbani mtaa wa nne, nahodha wa familia surubu nivute  kheri
Jua Sasa la chomoza, Kiguu na njia kulitafuta tonge
Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini bado nakitafuta kivuli.

Bwana mmoja alikuwa mkulima. Maisha yake yote alitumia katika kilimo. Hivyo kupendeza kwake kulikuwa mara chache. Watu kijijini kwake walimuita mkulima stadi. Alijenga nyumba kwa kuuza sehemu ya mazao yake, alisomesha wanae kwa kilimo.

Bwana huyu alikuwa mtu mwenye bidii alijifunza siku zote kanuni za mkulima bora, hivyo kadri muda unavyokwenda mashamba yake alivuna mazao mengi. Watu wengi walistaajabu sana kuona mabadiliko makubwa ndani ya familia yake. Aliwekeza vitu vingi kijijini kwake, mashamba, nyumba, maduka na mifugo mingi vilitoka shambani.

Watu wengi walikuja kujichukulia hekima kwa mkulima stadi. Siku zote aliwaambia "Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini. Jembe limeniheshimisha kijijini Mimi na familia yangu. Maisha yangu sasa yanakwenda barabara kwa hakika niko kivulini nafurahia matunda ya kazi yangu ya juani. Mimi leo kijana wa mkulima huyo stadi najivunia malezi, uwajibikaji wake kwa sababu kazi za juani leo zimetufanya tupumzike na kula kivulini. Kwa hakika maana ya mchumia juani inaonekana kwa vitendo. Bidii yako ndilo jua lako na kivuli ndiyo matunda ya bidii yako.

Hadithi hii inashibishwa na hadithi ilee ya "Mabala the Farmer" yaani Mabala Mkulima iliyoandikwa na Richard S. Mabala(1989). 

Mabala alikuwa mfanyakazi bandarini Kisha akapunguzwa hivyo akachagua kurudi kijijini Morogoro. Mabala alikuwa mzembe,mlevi na mbishi. Mabala alikwenda shambani na galoni ya pombe alikunywa na kulala, alipoamka alimwongelesha mkewe lakni hakujibiwa zaidi ya  sauti ya jembe tik-tok, tik-tok .

Mabala alikuwa mbishi, alimwagilia sukari shambani alifikiri ni mbolea, lakni mwisho alibadilika na kuwa mkulima stadi akawa mchumia juani ili familia yake ije kulia kivulini. Je wewe unahisi Mabala ni mchumia juani? Ndani ya familia au kwenye jamii mkulima stadi anakupa picha gani?

Mwisho hadithi hii kutoka katika methali ya mchumia juani hulia kivulini hutuonyesha dira njema katika kila tunachokifanya katika maisha ya kila siku. Huku methali kama Subira yavuta kheri, Mgaa na Upwa hali wali mkavu zote hufanana kimaudhui, zipo katika kuipa jamii nguvu na matumaini kwa kila jambo lifanyikalo katika malengo.
...
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Juu ya Insha hii

Insha hii ilishinda nafasi ya tatu 🥉 katika Shindano la Methali ya Insha la Maktaba.org 🏆 7/7/2023
Magreth Lazaro Mafie ni mwanafunzi Mtanzania 🇹🇿 

Hakimiliki

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
na Magreth Lazaro Mafie
Ilichapishwa na Maktaba.org
Mchoro/Image: CC BY Maktaba.org

The original essay included the following image, which is not included in the Creative Commons license.
Mchoro huu na / This image from: Honey Bee Arts - YouTube


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

Still waters run deep

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;
The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”

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;
“Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep”

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.
...
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About this Essay

This essay won first place 🥇 in Maktaba.org's Proverb Essay Contest 🏆 July 2023
NANKYA SAUDA is from Uganda 🇺🇬 age 21 

Copyright 

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
Essay by Nankya Sauda
Published by Maktaba.org
Image: CC BY Maktaba.org
Image created from "Weeping Willows by Akerselven" by Thorolf Holmboe, Public Domain 1907 

Related Books available free on Maktaba.org 

Henry VI: Part II na William Shakespeare
Relativity: The Special and General Theory na Albert Einstein 
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by Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿
🏆 Proverb Essay Contest 
🥉 Third Place Winner
(English translation from Kiswahili)
How many times have you heard “Mchumia juani hulia kivulini” (One who works in the sun, eats in the shade). This is a Swahili (Bantu) proverb meant to encourage people in their everyday activities, to have faith that there will be a day when they will enjoy the fruits of their work.

This proverb gives people strength, diligence, heart, courage, hope and skill in working. The worker believes that hard work brings a good harvest that will allow him to relax in the shade as he eats the fruits of his labor. 

The following poem shows “One who works in the sun” in their daily responsibilities.
I fear neither sun nor rain, making my tomorrow
I fear neither injuries nor pain, because all are temporary
Scorching sun and work are my custom, so that happiness comes in life
The street vendor, the farmer, the [port boys] and their fisherman and the sun, in search of tomorrow
One who works in the sun, eats in the shade, I am still searching for shade.

It's noon, the sun overhead, in my head I have the harvest, sweat is dripping,
The sun has set now, the oar on the beach, exhausted in bed, nets in the sea,
At home on fourth street, captain of the family, may I pull happiness from hard labor
Now the sun is rising, walking the path to look for a bite,
One who works in the sun, eats in the shade, I am still searching for shade.

Once there was a farmer. He spent his whole life in agriculture. Thus his times for pleasure were few. People in his village called him a skilled farmer. He built a house by selling part of his crops, he educated his children through farming.

This farmer was a diligent man, he always learned the principles of being a good farmer, so as time went by, he harvested many crops from his fields. Many people were really amazed to see the big changes in his family. He made many investments in his village, the farms, houses, and shops, and many livestock came from his farm.

Many people came to take wisdom from the skilled farmer. He always told them "One who works in the sun, eats in the shade. The hoe has given me respect in the village, me and my family. My life now is going on a path of certainty, I am in the shade, enjoying the fruits of my labor in the sun. I, the son of that skilled farmer, am proud of my upbringing, and his responsibility, because work in the sun today has made us rest and eat in the shade. The true meaning of “he who works in the sun” can be seen in actions. Your diligence is your sun and the shade is the fruit of your diligence.

This story is complemented by the story of "Mabala the Farmer" by Richard S. Mabala (1989). Mabala was a port worker then he was demoted, so he chose to return to the village of Morogoro. Mabala was careless, drunk and obstinate. Mabala went to the farm with a gallon of booze, he drank it and went to sleep, when he woke up, he called out to his wife but there was no answer except the sound of the hoe tik-tok, tik-tok.

Mabala was obstinate, he watered the fields with sugar, thinking it was fertilizer, but in the end he changed to become a skilled farmer, becoming “one who works” in the sun so that his family could eat in the shade. Do you feel that Mabala is “one who works in the sun”? In the family or in the community, what’s your image of a skilled farmer?

In conclusion, this story on the proverb "Work in the sun, eat in the shade" shows us a good vision in everything we do in our daily lives. Also proverbs like "Subira yavuta kheri” (Patience brings blessings), "Mgaa na Upwa hali wali mkavu” (He who combs the beach at low tide doesn’t eat dry rice) all have similar themes; they exist to give the community strength and hope each task undertaken to pursue their goals.

...
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About this Essay

This essay won third place 🥉 in Maktaba.org's Proverb Essay Contest 🏆 July 2023
Magreth Lazaro Mafie is a student from Tanzania 🇹🇿  

Copyright 

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
Essay by Magreth Lazaro Mafie
English translation by Brighid McCarthy
Published by Maktaba.org
Image: CC BY Maktaba.org
Image created from "Peasant with a Hoe" by Georges Seurat, c. 1882, Public Domain

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Translator's note:

Translating proverbs and poetry is not easy-- Please give feedback and suggest improvements in the comments!  

The original proverb in Swahili is “Mchumia juani hulia kivulini.” Let’s break it down piece by piece: 
M    -    chumia                   -                  jua   -   ni - hu   -    lia  - kivuli   -  ni
One who - earns/toils/labors/saves/economizes/works - the sun - in - usually - eats - the shade - in
Here are a few alternative translations:
He who earns his living in the sun, eats in the shade
The one who saves up in the sun eats in the shade
Work in the sun, eat in the shade
He/She who toils in the sun will eat in the shade
The laborer in the sun eats in the shade
The worker in the sun eats in the shade

Extra Image: The original essay included the following image from another source, which is not included in the Creative Commons license.
Image from: Honey Bee Arts - YouTube


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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.
...
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Citations:

Source: This is a Swahili proverb from the book “METHALI ZETU” (Our Proverbs, Oxford) which says, “USILOLIJUA NI KAMA USIKU WA GIZA” (What you don't know is like a dark night.)

About this Essay

This essay won second place 🥈 in Maktaba.org's Proverb Essay Contest 🏆 July 2023
Ibrahim Methusela Nyanda is from Tanzania 🇹🇿

Copyright 

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
Essay by Ibrahim Nyanda 
Published by Maktaba.org
English translation by Brighid McCarthy
Image: CC BY Maktaba.org
Updated 3mo ago
by

Leo tuna furaha kubwa kutangaza washindi wa Shindano la kwanza la Insha za Methali la Maktaba.org. Kwanza kabisa tunataka kutoa shukrani zetu za dhati kwa wote walioshikiri katika shindano hili. Mmetufundisha vingi, asanteni!

➡️ Insha zote ⬅️


🏆 Tangazo la Washindi

Sasa bila kupoteza muda, tuwapongeze Washindi wa Shindano la kwanza la Insha ya Methali:

🥇 Mshindi wa nafasi ya kwanza:
Nankya Sauda 🇺🇬 Uganda
kwa insha yake juu ya methali
➜“Still waters run deep

🥈 Mshindi wa nafasi ya pili:
Rose Mwanri 🇹🇿 Tanzania
kwa insha yake juu ya methali
➜“Akiba haiozi

🥉 Mshindi wa nafasi ya tatu:
Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿 Tanzania
kwa insha yake juu ya methali
➜“Mchumia juani hulia kivulini

Pongezi kwa wote walioshiriki!

   Washindi hawa watatu wameshapokea zawadi zao, na wandishi wote walipewa vyeti vya kutambua michango yao. (Kama haujapokea cheti chako, tafadhali wasiliana nasi.)
   Shindano hili lilifanyika kwajili ya Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani (Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Saba Saba). Hili ndilo shindano la kwanza tulilofadhili mtandaoni. Tunaomba shauri zenu, toeni maoni hapo chini, lifanyike tena? Kutokana na mwitikio mkubwa wa watu katika nchi mbalimbali za Afrika Mashariki, tayari tunaanza kupanga.
   Kama ulikosa kuwashilisha insha yako, usikose kushiriki shindano lijalo. Jiunge nasi, thibitisha email yako na utajulishwa.
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Image: Elimu Yetu teachers visit to Shanga Foundation, Arusha, Tanzania

Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work? Or maybe an artisan shaping hot glass? It's pretty incredible to watch, right? (If not, visit Shanga Foundation in Arusha or check out video links below)
In our everyday experience, glass is hard, brittle and breakable, but glass is actually made by melting sand and shaping it like liquid.

Some things in life seem unchangeable; they just will not bend. If we use all our strength, they only shatter in our hands and hurt us. But a skillful craftsman can make brittle things soft and malleable by preparing them appropriately, and taking decisive action at the right moment.

This proverb is often used to mean that you should take action quickly when an opportunity arises, so that you don't miss it. See also: There is a tide
 There is a tide in the affairs of men,
 Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
 Omitted, all the voyage of their life
 Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
- Brutus in Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3 by William Shakespeare
However, it's worth noting that in the play, this advice has pretty bad consequences for Brutus, who didn't exactly sail on to fortune after this speech (read more...)

Many cultures and languages have a proverb that is very similar to "Strike while the iron is hot." It seems likely that the proverb has multiple independent origins.
Chinese: 趁熱打鐵
Thai: ตีเหล็กเมื่อแดง
Hindi: लोहा गरम हैं. मार दो हथौड़ा.
Irish: buail an t-iarann te
Swahili: Fua chuma wakati kingali moto

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Sources
Shanga website (Tanzania),  Glass making at Shanga Foundation (Maktaba Instagram), Glassblowing at Shanga on YouTube
Glass (Wikipedia)
Strike while the iron is hot  (Wiktionary
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Tofautisha na linganisha matunda na pipi. Matunda yameiva, yana ladha halisi, yamejaa virutubisho na vitamini -- kweli yanajiuza yenyewe.

Kwa upande mwingine, mfuko wa pipi unalia “nisikilize!”, kwa rangi kali, na kauli mbiu zinazolipuka *BOOM*! Lakini chini au nyuma ya kinachong'aa, tunajua kwa kkweli pipi ni sukari tupu tu yenye rangi na ladha bandia ya matunda.

Kama nyani, binadamu hupenda matunda kwa sababu yanatupatia nishati pamoja na lishe na virutubisho. Pipi hutoa nishati bila lishe halisi (Kalori tupu). Pipi huiga tunda. Usidanganywe!

Kizuri hakihitaji kutangazwa, maana ubora hujieleza yenyewe. Kama wachumi wasemavyo, “demand” inazidi “supply”. Matangazo yanaweza kutuahidi furaha, uzuri, upendo, mali au heshima. Lakini jiulize, je, inawezekana kwa kweli? Coca-Cola sio dawa ya upendo.

Methali hii inatukumbusha thamani ya ubora wa kweli kuliko muonekeano maridadi. Methali hii hutumika wakati msemaji ana mashaka juu ya mtu anayejisifu au kujivunia kupita kiasi.

Tuwe kama kikapu cha matunda: mwazi na mwema. Sifa hizi zitawavuta wengine kwako — angalau wao wanaoelewa kwamba “Chema chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza!”

Methali zinazohusiana:
Vingaravyo vyote si dhahabu

Don’t judge ya book by it’s cover
Usihukumu kitabu kwa kava yake (muonekeno)

Appearances are deceptive
Maonekano hudanganya
 
高嶺の花
Hana yori dango
Chakula [ni bora] kuliko maua
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This picture was created using AI. What do you think?

Our proverb today comes from Swahili.
Ukitaka uvunguni sharti uiname
If you want something underneath [the bed] you must bend down
This proverb is usually used to encourage hard work and dedication. We can't expect to find the things we are searching for unless we are willing to looking in places that aren't easy to reach.

Here's a story that illustrates the proverb. The story is about Mulla Nasreddin, a humorous character often seen in Sufi folklore.
Mulla [Nasreddin] had lost his ring in the living room. He searched for it for a while, but since he could not find it, he went out into the yard and began to look there. His wife, who saw what he was doing, asked: “Mulla, you lost your ring in the room, why are you looking for it in the yard?” Mulla stroked his beard and said: “The room is too dark and I can’t see very well. I came out to the courtyard to look for my ring because there is much more light out here.”
-  Retold by Houman Farzad, Translated from Persian by Diane L. Wilcox (1989)

In English, a similar story is often told with a drunkard looking for money (or keys). Here is a version from the Boston Herald (1924):
[A police officer encountered a man groping about on his hands and knees]
“I lost a $2 bill down on Atlantic avenue,” said the man. “What’s that?” asked the puzzled officer. “You lost a $2 bill on Atlantic avenue? Then why are you hunting around here in Copley square?” “Because,” said the man as he turned away and continued his hunt on his hands and knees, “the light’s better up here.”

This story has come to be known as the streetlight effect in science.

Thank you to one of our members for suggesting this proverb! 🙏
Do you have a proverb to suggest? Share it here!


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Sources
Note: 
An alternative form of the proverb is:
Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame
One who wants something underneath [the bed] must stoop

Streetlight Effect (Wikipedia)
A short story (Insha) about the essay in Kiswahili - https://middemb.com/insha-ya-mtaka-cha-mvunguni-sharti-ainame/
Nasreddin (Wikipedia)
History of the Streetlight Principle story on Quote Investigator
1989, Classic Tales of Mulla Nasreddin, Retold by Houman Farzad, Translated from Persian by Diane L. Wilcox, Looking for the Missing Ring, Quote Page 26, Mazda Publishers, Costa Mesa, California. (Verified with scans by Quote Investigator; thanks to Stephen Goranson and Duke University library system) 

1924 May 24, Boston Herald, Whiting’s Column: Tammany Has Learned That This Is No Time for Political Bosses, Quote Page
2, Column 1, Boston, Massachusetts.