Ufafanuzi

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Fua chuma wakati kingali moto

Proverb

Picha: Walimu wa Elimu Yetu wakijifunza ufundi wa kioo wakitemeblea Shanga, Arusha, Tanzania

Umewahi kuona mhunzi akifanya kazi? Au labda ulimwoma fundi akitengeza glass (kioo)? Si ni ajabu sana? (Ukitaka kuona kwa macho yako, tembelea Shanga Foundation Arusha, au tazama videos kwenye links hapo chini - ona Rasilimali). 

Katika uzoefu wetu, glasi ni ngumu, yaani haikunji kabisa. Ukitumia nguvu zako zote, kio kitavunjika mkononi mwako na kukuumiza. Lakini hakika kioo hutengenezwa kwa kuyeyusha mchanga, mabichi na laini kama udongo.

Maishani kuna mambo ambayo yanaonekana kuwa magumu, yaani hayabadiliki kabisa, hayapindi. Tukitumia nguvu zetu zote, yataharibika tu na kutuumiza. Lakini fundi mwenye ujuzi anaweza kuyafanya kuwa mepesi na laini, kwa kuyatayarisha ipasavyo, na kuchukua hatua sahihi kwa wakati ufaao.

Methali hii hutumika sana kwa maana "chukua hatua haraka fursa inapotokea, ili usiikose." Kama WaSwahili wanavyosema "Samaki mkunje angali mbichi." Ona pia There is a tide:
Majambo ya binadamu yana kujaa na kupwa, Yakidakwa yamejaa huongoza ushindini; yakipuuzwa, safari yote ya maisha yao haiachi maji mafu, na hujaa madhilifu.
- BURUTO katika Juliasi Kaizari, na William Shakespeare (ilitafsiriwa na Mwalimu Nyerere)Hata hivyo, ikumbukwe kwenye tamthilia hii, ushauri huu ulikuwa na madhara mabaya kwake, maana Buruto hakushinda baada ya hotuba hii (soma zaidi...)

Lugha na tamaduni nyingi zina methali zinazofanana sana na hii. Labda methali hizo zina chimbuko nyingi tofauti zisizotegemeana. 


KiChina: 趁熱打鐵
KiThai: ตีเหล็กเมื่อแดง
KiHindi: लोहा गरम हैं. मार दो हथौड़ा.
KiGaelic (Ireland): buail an t-iarann te
Kiingereza: Strike while the iron is hot.

...

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)

Kalamu hushinda jambia

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CC BY Unaruhusiwa kunakili & kusambaza mchoro huu na makala hii bila idhini, ukitaja tu chanzo (www.maktaba.org)

Ufafanuzi
Methali hii ya Kiingereza inatafsirika pia kama "Kalamu ina nguvu kuliko upanga au jambia" au " Kalamu ni kali kuliko upanga." Katika methali hii, jambia au upanga unaashiria nguvu na ukatili, na maana ya kalamu ni maneno. Ingawa upanga unaweza kushinda kwa nguvu, kalamu inaweza kuwashawishi, kuwahamasisha, na kuwaelimisha watu. Sio kila mtu ana silaha za kuwalazimisha watu wengine kufanya kile anachotaka, lakini kila mtu ana uwezo wa kubadilisha ulimwengu kupitia kile anachofikiria, kusema na kuandika kwa maneno. 


Silaha za siku hizi ni kalamu na karatasi.
 - Methali ya Kiswahili


Methali hii ni kweli kwa sababu mara nyingi maneno huchochea na kudhibiti jinsi watu wanavyotumia nguvu na silaha zao. Kwa mfano, kupitia sheria, maneno ya viongozi, mahakimu na majaji yana uwezo wa kuwafunga watu gerezani au hata kuwaua. Kutoa hotuba ya moto kwa umati wa watu wenye hasira kunaweza kuleta ghasia kali na madhara mengine (ona Juliasi Kaizari).


"Ukinipa picha, nitakupa vita."
- William Randolph Hearst
(Mwandishi wa habari na mchapishaji wa magazeti, Marekani)

Lakini pia, methali hiyo inatukumbusha nguvu ya upinzani usio na vurugu kwenye kuleta mabadiliko ya kudumu, kanuni iliyotetewa na kuonyeshwa na watu kama Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, na Nelson Mandela.  Angalia pia: Insha ya "Civil Disobedience"  na Henry David Thoreau, pamoja na Tamthilia mashuhuri ya "Antigone" na Sophocles.


Chimbuko
Nukuu hii ya "kalamu ina nguvu kuliko upanga" ilipata umaarufu kupitia tamthilia ya "Richelieu: au The Conspiracy"  na Edward Bulwer-Lytton (mwaka wa 1839, ukurasa wa 47). Lakini hakika wazo lilikuwepo kabla. 

Wengine wanasema chimbuko halisi la methali hii ni Hadithi ya Ahikar. Kitabu hiki kiliandikwa takriban miaka 600 kabla ya kristu, na ni chimbuko la methali zingine kama "Ndege mkononi ana thamani ya wawili mtini"). Katika toleo letu, mfasiri hakuweza kusoma maandishi kutokana na hali ya karatasi, na maneno yalikatika. (Ukurasa 171/274) 
Dhibiti kinywa chako kwa uangalifu ...[ILIKATA]... na ufanye moyo wako kuwa mzito(?), kwa maana neno linalosemwa ni kama ndege, naye alitamkaye ni kama mtu asiye na  ...[ILIKATA]... ufundi wa maneno una nguvu zaidi kuliko ufundi wa  ...[ILIKATA]... 
- Hadithi ya Ahikar, Ukurasa wa 171/274
Je, hili ndilo chimbuko halisi la methali hii, miaka zaidi ya 2,500 iliyopita? Muwe majaji...

Chanzo karibu na methali hii pia kinaonekana katika Agano la Kale:
Kwa maana neno la Mungu ni hai, tena lina nguvu, tena lina ukali kuliko upanga uwao wote ukatao kuwili.
Waebrania 4:12, Biblia

Na vilevile katika Shakespeare: 
Wengi wanaovaa panga huogopa kalamu.
-William Shakespeare
Tamthilia ya Hamlet, Sehemu ya 2, Onyesho la II (ukurasa wa 59)

 Je, unakubali kalamu hushinda jambia? Toa maoni yako hapo chini!

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Sources

The pen is mightier than the sword (Wikipedia)
Story of Ahikar (Page 171/274)
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
William Shakespeare Hamlet Act 2, scene II (page 59)
Henry David Thoreau's Essay, "Civil Disobedience"
Sophocles' play, "Antigone"
Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1839 play "Richelieu: Or the Conspiracy"
You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war. - William Randolph Hearst (Wikipedia: Yellow Journalism)

The pen is mightier than the sword

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Proverb

Meaning 
In this proverb, the sword signifies force and violence, and the pen stands for words. While the sword can conquer with force, the pen can persuade, inspire, enlighten and motivate people. Not everyone has weapons to force other people to do what they want, but everyone has the power to influence the world through what they think, say and write with words.


Silaha za siku hizi ni kalamu na karatasi.
Today's weapons are pen and paper.
 - Swahili proverb


Part of the reason this proverb is true is that words often motivate and regulate how people use violence and force. For example, through law, the words of leaders, judges and juries have the power to jail people or even kill them. Making a fiery speech to an angry mob might cause a violent riot (see Julius Caesar). 


You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war.
- William Randolph Hearst

The proverb also reminds us of the power of nonviolent resistance to bring about lasting political change, a principle advocated and demonstrated by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela. (Check out Henry David Thoreau's classic Essay, "Civil Disobedience" and Sophocles famous play, "Antigone")


Origin
The phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword" became popular after Edward Bulwer-Lytton used it in his 1839 play "Richelieu: Or the Conspiracy" (page 47).  But the idea likely originated much earlier.

Some sources attribute the proverb to the Story of Ahikar (which is also the source of the proverb "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"). In this edition, the translator was unable to decipher the damaged manuscript and left the sentence unfinished. (Page 171/274) 
(FRAGMENTS)
Watch carefully over thy mouth ...... and make thy heart slow(?), for the word spoken is like a bird, and he who utters it is like a man without ...
... the craft of the mouth is mightier than the craft of ...... Could this be the original source of the proverb from over 2500 years ago? You be the judge...

A similar phrase also appears in the Old Testament: 
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

And in Shakespeare:
 Many wearing rapiers are afraid of goosequills.
-William Shakespeare Hamlet Act 2, scene II (page 59)


Do you agree that the pen is mightier than the sword? Share your opinions below!

...

Sources

The pen is mightier than the sword (Wikipedia)
Story of Ahikar (Page 171/274)
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
William Shakespeare Hamlet Act 2, scene II (page 59)
Henry David Thoreau's Essay, "Civil Disobedience"
Sophocles' play, "Antigone"
Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1839 play "Richelieu: Or the Conspiracy"
You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war. - William Randolph Hearst (Wikipedia: Yellow Journalism)

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Rome wasn't built in a day

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Proverb

Image credit: Screenshot from 3D virtual tour of Kilwa Kisiwani created by Zamani Project

Do you have a big dream?A dream too big for you to ever accomplish on your own? Maybe even too big to be accomplished in one generation?

Some gothic cathedrals in Europe took over 600 years -- more than 20 generations -- to complete! Although the Great Pyramid of Giza seems to have been built much faster (in a single generation), it also took tens of thousands of people.

In Tanzania, the Great Mosque of Kilwa was built in the 11th-14th centuries, rebuilt after earthquake damage, and continued to be remodeled up to the 18th century. It was described in the 1300s by Ibn Battuta. (You can take a 3D virtual tour of Kilwa! Check out the link in sources.)

The wonders of the world, modern and ancient, began as big dreams, dreams that took many generations to fulfill. Each generation continued the work of the past and also contributed to revising the blueprints for the future.

So if you are trying to do something great -- something that will really change the world -- don't expect to do it in one day. And don't try to do it alone. 


Related proverbs:

 Swahili:
Ukitaka kwenda haraka, nenda peke yako, ukitaka kwenda mbali, nenda na wenzako
If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together 

French:

Rome ne fu[t] pas faite toute en un jour 
from Li Proverbe au Vilain, published around 1190
Modern French: Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour
Rome wasn't built in a day

Chinese:
冰凍三尺，非一日之寒
Three feet of ice is not the result of one cold day

Scottish Gaelic
Chan ann leis a’ chiad bhuille a thuiteas a’ chraobh
It is not with the first strike that the tree will fall

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Sources

Great Mosque of Kilwa
Check out the amazing 3D virtual tour of Kilwa Kisiwani from Zamani Project!

How Many Generations Does it Take to Build a Cathedral?
Cologne Cathedral in Germany
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague

Rome wasn't built in a day (Wikipedia) (Wiktionary)
Scottish Gaelic Proverb (Wiktionary)
Chinese Proverb (Wiktionary)

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Kila king’aacho si dhahabu

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Hapo zamani za kale, palikuwa na binti mrembo, mkarimu, mwenye akili aliyeitwa Poshia. Wanaume wengi walitaka kumuoa na walikuja ili kuomba uchumba. Baba Poshia alikuwa amefariki dunia. Alikuwa tajiri na aliacha wosia ulioelekeza kamba yeyote aliyetaka kumuoa Poshia, lazima achague kati ya masanduku tatu: sanduku la dhahabu, sanduku la fedha na sanduku la risasi. Atakayechagua sahihi ndiye atakayeruhusiwa kumuoa Poshiia na kurithi mali zote za Baba Poshia. Siku moja, Mfalme wa Moroko alikuja ili kuomba uchumba.


Mabepari wa Venisina William Shakespeare
Mfasiri: Mwalimu Nyerere  
Tazama ▶️ YouTube

POSHIA: Kayavute mapazia masanduku yaonekane kwake mtukufu huyu mtoto wa mfalme. Haya sasa kachague.


MOROKO: La kwanza, ni la dhahabu, lenye maandiko haya:
‘Anichaguaye mimi atakuwa amepata kile wanaume wengi wakitamanicho sana.’Na la pili, ni la fedha, linaloahidi hivi: 
‘Anichaguaye mimi apate astahilicho.’La, tatu, risasi butu, na onyo lake ni butu:
‘Anichaguaye mimi itambidi atoe, na pia ahatarishe chochote alicho nacho.’Nitajuaje yakuwa nimechagua vizuri?


POSHIA: Moja lina picha yangu, mzawa wa mfalme: Ukilichagua hilo basi na mimi ni wako.


MOROKO: Muungu Fulani uniongoze. Hebu nione; nitayachagua tena maandiko toka mwisho. Nitaanzia la tatu: lasemaje, la risasi?
‘Anichaguaye mimi itambidid atoe na pia ahatarishe cho chote alicho nacho.’Itambidi atoe - atoleeni? Risasi? Na pia ahatarishe - kwa ajili ya risasi? Sanduku hili latisha: wahatarishao vyote hutumaini kupata faida iliyo nzuri: Wenye moyo wa dhahabu hawajali takataka; Kwa hiyo basi sitoi na wala sihatarishi chochote nilicho nacho kwa sababu ya risasi. La fedha lasema nini, lenye rangi ya baridi?
‘Anichaguaye mimi apate astahilicho’.Apate astahilicho! Subiri hapa, Moroko. Upime thamani yako kwa mkono wa mwadilifu: Kama ukithaminiwa vile ujifanidivyo wastahili kutosha; walakini ya kutosha inaweza isitoshe kumpata siti huyu. Bali nikitia shaka kuwa simstahili,Basi hapo nitakuwa najiumbua mwenyewe. Stahili yangu ni nini? Bila shaka ni bibie. Namstahili, hakika, kwa nasaba na kwa mali, kwa madaha na kwa sifa zote za malezi mema na kuzidi yote hayo namstahili kwa pendo. Vipi, nisiendelee, nichague papa hapa?
Hebu tuyaone tena ya sanduku la dhahabu:
‘Anichaguaye mimi atakuwa amepata kile wanaume wengi wakitamanicho sana!’Naam, ni siti huyu; anotamaniwa kote. Toka pande zote nne za dunia wanakuja kubusu sanamu hii takatifu ilo hai: Majangwa ya Hirikani na nyika pana ajabu, za Uarabuni kote, sasa zimekuwa njia ziletazo watawala kumwona Poshia bora. Nayo dola ya bahari ambayo inapofura hutemea hata mbingu, haiwezi kuzuia nia ya wageni hao; ila wanazidi kuja, kama wavuka kijito, kumwona Poshia bora. Moja la matatu haya lina picha yake nzuri. Itawezekana kweli liwe lile la risasi? Wazo chafu kama hilo lingekuwa ni laana. Halifai japo kuwa sanda yake ya kaburini.
Au niwaze ya kuwa kawekwa ndani ya fedha? Moja ya kumi na moja ya thamani ya dhahabu? Hilo ni wazo la dhambi! Kito cha thamani hivi hakiwekeki po pote ila ndani ya dhahabu. Uingereza wanayo sarafu tu ya dhahabu, ambayo kwa juu yake imechapwa malaika. Bali hapa malaika mwenyewe hasa yu ndani ya sanduku hili hapa, na bahati nijaliwe!


POSHIA: Ni huu hapa, chukua, mzawa wa mfalme; kama sura yangu imo nimekuwa mali yako.


[Anafungua sanduku la dhahabu]

MOROKO: Mama yang! Nini hii? Ni fuu tupu la kichwa, ambalo katika jicho lina hati ma’ndiko. Nitasoma maandiko.

Kila kitu king’aacho usidhani ni dhahabu,
umekisikia hicho ni kiambo cha mababu.
Kuniona kwa nje tu, wengi wameuza utu;
Makaburi ya dhahabu yana mafunza ajabu.
Ungekuwa na werevu ulivyo na ushupavu,
kijana kiwiliwili na mzee kwa akili,
usingelistahili kulipewa jibu hili:
Basi buriani dawa; pposa umefarikiwa.
Nimefarikiwa kweli. Bure nimejitanibu. Basi buriani, joto; nawe, makiwa, karibu. Basi kwa heri Poshia. Ninayo
huzuni sana siwezi kwa heri ndefu: Ndivyo wanavyoagana watu waliopoteza.
[Aondoka na Wafuasi wake. Tarumbeta]
 
- Kutoka kwa Tendo la II, Onyesho la 7 katika Mabepari wa Venisi (The Merchant of Venice) na William Shakespeare, Imetafsiriwa na Mwalimu Nyerere

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Sources

Tendo la II, Onyesho la 7 katika Mabepari wa Venisi ( Kiing: The Merchant of Venice) na William Shakespeare, Ilitafsiriwa na Mwalimu Nyerere
English: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Act II Scene 7

Watch Tazama ▶️
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

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

Picha: Mchoro ulitengenezwa kwa kutumia Akili Bandia (AI) pamoja na photoshop. CC BY Maktaba.org

Roma haikujengwa kwa siku moja

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Proverb

Picha: Shukran kwa Zamani Project waliounda ziara ya mtandaoni ya Kilwa Kisiwani!

Je, una ndoto kubwa?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. 


Methali Zinazohusiana:

 Kiswahili:
Ukitaka kwenda haraka, nenda peke yako, ukitaka kwenda mbali, nenda na wenzako

Kifaransa:

Rome ne fu[t] pas faite toute en un jour 
Kutoka kitabu cha Li Proverbe au Vilain kilichochapishwa takriban mwaka wa 1190
Kifaransa cha kisasa: Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour
Maana yake: Roma haikujengwa kwa siku moja

Kichina:
冰凍三尺，非一日之寒
Mita ya barafu sio kwa sababu ya siku moja ya baridi

Kigaelic
Chan ann leis a’ chiad bhuille a thuiteas a’ chraobh
Sio pigo la kwanza linaloangusha mti

...

Sources

3D ZIARA MTANDAONI - Kilwa Kisiwani
Check out the amazing 3D Virtual Tour of Kilwa Kisiwani from Zamani Project!
Great Mosque of Kilwa

How Many Generations Does it Take to Build a Cathedral? (Kujenga Cathedral huchukua vizazi vingapi?)
Cologne Cathedral in Germany
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague

Rome wasn't built in a day (Wikipedia) (Wiktionary)
Methali ya Kifaransa: (Wikipedia)
Methali ya Kichina: (Wiktionary)
Methali ya KiGaelic (Wiktionary)

He who is not taught by his mother is taught by the world

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Question: Have you learned more from you parents or from your experiences in the world? 
Today's proverb is often used in Swahili to describe a person who makes a mistake that could have been foreseen and suffers negative consequences... like the truck driver in this picture from Oxfordshire, UK. Regardless of what your parents taught you (or failed to teach you), you will eventually have to confront the harsh realities of life and learn from experience. 
See also: If a child cries for a razor, give it to him (Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe)



He who is not taught by his parents is taught by the world. (Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na ulimwengu)
Here's a poem by the poet Akilimali Snow-White about this proverb. (My translation from the original Swahili)

In the age they fooled me, my old folks in raising me,
I failed to learn the new movements of the world.
Today I please myself, to the people of the world, listen:
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

I couldn’t have done any work without humbling myself before them,
Obeying to flatter them, then to serve them,
Even when I pleased them, they taught me with intention,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

Now I can speak European languages without difficulty,
like English and others too, 
With effort I learn, and even they have raised me.
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

I can converse without blemish, 
And lead amidst evil, removing the blemish,
In the end the place pleases, one step towards harmony,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

There is nowhere I have overlooked, without investigation,
All sides examined, knowledge I have taken,
I even know how to sell products and buy,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

The amount which I have learned, not a little by fumbling, 
I am pleasing where I come from, I employ good work
It’s hard to scorn, how it raises me,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

It’s not right to ignore what you don’t know
Try to investigate, and then analyze,
When your intention is tightened, you can’t fail to know a thing,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.

The tasks I taught myself, my father didn’t know
He didn’t know English, or selling and buying,
but only praising oneself, that was when I, the child, knew,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the world.  

I give more for you, you all who helped me,
All of you who’ve taught me, Lord give you health
God fill you all with happiness, and return goodness to you,
He who is not taught by his parents, is taught by the people of the world.
- Diwani ya Akilimali


What do you think about this poem? What does it mean? Can you improve the translation?

Fikeni E. M. K. Senkoro (1988) wrote of this poem (my translation):
[A] person can't experience everything in life from their parents: they must be ready to be taught by the world-- that is to learn from others beyond their father and mother.

...

Sources

The illustration shows a real accident in Oxfordshire, England - BBC article (image from social media)

Poem from Diwani ya Akilimali

Quote at the end from "Ushairi - Nadharia na Tahakiki" by F.E.M.K. Senkoro, Chapter 7 (Dar Es Salaam University Press, 1988, ISBN 9976 60 0224)

Lazima muwe wawili ili kucheza tango

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Kuna vitu ambavyo huwezi kufanya peke yako. Tango ni mchezo (densi) ya watu wawili, kwa hivyo huwezi kucheza tango peke yako.

Methali hii inatoka wimbo ulioimbwa 1952, It Takes Two to Tango:
Unaweza kusafiri kwa meli peke yako,
kulala au kupumzika peke yako.
Unaweza kuingia kwenye deni peke yako.
Kuna mambo mengi ambayo unaweza kufanya peke yako.
Lakini ni lazima muwe wawili ili kucheza tango, muwe wawili ili kucheza tango...- It Takes Two to Tango (1952, Al Hoffman, Dick Manning na Pearl Bailey) Ona vyanzo/sources ili kusikiliza wimbo huu!

Methali hii ina maana nyingi tofauti ambazo unaweza kutekeleza katika mahusiano na maisha yako ya kila siku. Mambo mengi huhitaji watu zaidi ya mmoja: Wawili wanatakiwa ili kushirikiana, kufanya biashara ama kupigana. Ukitaka kucheza na mtu ambaye hataki kucheza na wewe, bora kumtafuta mchezaji mwengine.. Vivyo hivyo, ukiwa kwenye mgogoro au magomvi, itabidi ufikirie jinsi tabia yako inavyoweza kuchangia katika kuendeleza shida. katika dance, lengo si kuwa mkamilifu, bali ni kuendana na mwenzako na kufurahia pamoja.
Methali zinazofanana kutoka Afrika: 
Kimisri (Kiarabu): 
ايد لوحدها ماتسقفش‎
Mkono mmoja hauwezi kupiga makofiKiswahili:

Bila mtu wa pili ugomvi hauanzi
Kidole kimoja hakiuwi chawa

...

Sources

It Takes Two to Tango (song)
1952 recording by Pearl Bailey : YouTube Video
(Wikipedia) by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning

It takes two to tango (proverb) on Wikipedia

Image source: "El Tango" by Pedro Figari, 1930s, public domain (Wikimedia)
Tango (dance) (UNESCO) (Wikipedia)

It takes two to tango

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Proverb

This proverb means that there are some things you can't do alone. The tango is dance for two people, so you can't dance the tango alone.

The proverb comes from a 1952 song It Takes Two to Tango:
You can sail in a ship by yourself,
Take a nap or a nip by yourself.
You can get into debt on your own.
There are lots of things that you can do alone.
But it takes two to tango, two to tango...- It Takes Two to Tango (1952, Al Hoffman, Dick Manning and Pearl Bailey) - Check out the sources to listen to the original recording!

This proverb has many different meanings that you can apply in your daily life and relationships.  There are lots of things in life that require more than one person: It takes two people to cooperate, to make a bargain or to engage in a fight. You may really want to dance with someone, but if they don't want to dance with you, it's better to move on.  Similarly, if you're in a fight, consider how your own behavior might be contributing to continuing the fight. A dance isn't about being perfect, it's about being in time with your partner and enjoying the experience. 

Similar proverbs from Africa:
Egyptian (Arabic):
ايد لوحدها ماتسقفش‎
One hand can't clap

Swahili:

Bila mtu wa pili ugomvi hauanzi
Without a second person a quarrel cannot start
Kidole kimoja hakiuwi chawa
One finger doesn't kill a louse

...

Sources

It Takes Two to Tango (song)
1952 recording by Pearl Bailey : YouTube Video
(Wikipedia) by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning

It takes two to tango (proverb) on Wikipedia

Image source: "El Tango" by Pedro Figari, 1930s, public domain (Wikimedia)
Tango (dance) (UNESCO) (Wikipedia)

Kuuliza si Ujinga

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Proverb

Watu wengi wanaogopa kuuliza maswali kwa sababu wanahofia kuonwa mjinga. Lakini kuuliza maswali ni njia bora ya kujifunza kutoka kwa wengine. 

Pia kuuliza maswali husaidia wenzako. Je umewahi kusita kuuliza swali kwani ulidhani wengine wameshaelewa... lakini baadaye uligundua hawakuelewa pia? 

Kiingereza
There's no such thing as a stupid question

...

Sources

Sehemu za mchoro huu zilichorwa na Akili Bandia (AI). Unafikiriaje?

Little by little fills up the jar

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Proverb

Large tasks in life need to tackled in small steps, day by day. This proverb comes from Swahili:
Haba na haba hujaza kibaba
Little by little fills up the jar


Can you think of other similar proverbs that encourage the same way of thinking? 

This saying reminds be of a poem called "Little Things" by Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney:
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.
     
Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity. Julia Carney composed this poem in 1845 as a student in class -- and she was given only 10 minutes to write it!

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Sources

"Little Things" by Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney

Haba na haba hujaza kibaba

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Kila kazi kubwa katika maisha huhitaji kufanyika kwa hatua ndogo, siku baada ya siku. 

Je, unajua methali zingine zinazofanana na hii au zinazotoa dhana hiyohiyo? 

Msemo huu unakumbusha shairi liitwalo "Vitu Vidogo" na Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney: 
Matone madogo ya maji,
Chembe kidogo za mchanga, 
hutengeneza bahari kubwa
Na ardhi ya kupendeza

Vivyo hivyo zile dakika ndogo,
ingawa ni ndogo,
hutengeneza enzi za milele. Julia Carney alitunga shairi hili mwaka wa 1845 darasani akiwa mwanafunzi darasani -- na alipewa dakika 10 tu kuliandika!

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Sources

"Little Things" na Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney

Kile kinachozunguka huja karibu

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Huwa tunatendewa kama tunavyowatendea wengine. Kwa kawaida methali hii hutumika kama onyo, au wakati mtu mbaya anapata alichostahili. Lakini pia inaweza kutumika kama tumaini la baraka kwa wale wanaofanya mema. Chimbuko halisi cha methali hiyo haijulikani, lakini ilianza Amerika miaka za 60 hivi. Inaendana na kanuni la Karma katika dini ya Kihindi. 

Methali na nukuu zinazohusiana: 
Shakespeare: 
Bado tunayo hukumu hapa (duniani);
Tunafundisha tu umwagaji damu, ambayo, ukifundishwa, hurudi
ili lipiza kisasi na kumtesa mvumbuzi: mkono wa haki
huweka viungo vya kikombe chetu cha sumu
Kwa midomo yetu wenyewe.  ( Makbeth Act I, Scene 7 )Biblia:
Chochote apandacho mtu, ndicho atakachovuna ( Wagalatia 6:7 )Kichina: 
善有善報，惡有惡報
Wema hulipwa kwa wema, na ubaya kwa ubaya. Kijerumani:
Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus
Unacholia msituni, kitasikika tena

...

Sources

Wiktionary
Mchoro unatoka mwaka wa 1918. Inaonyesha uchokozi wa Ujerumani kipindi kile.

What goes around comes around

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This proverb means that we often get treated the same way we treat others. It is usually negatively, as a warning, or when a person who acted immorally gets their comeuppance. It could also be used as a promise of blessings to those who do good.  A third possible meaning is that Often compared to the Hindu doctrine of karma, the exact origin of the proverb is uncertain, but it seems to have emerged in the US in middle of the last century.

Related proverbs and quotes:
Shakespeare 
We still have judgment here; that we but teach 
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return 
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice 
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice 
To our own lips.  (Macbeth Act I, Scene 7) Bible:
As you sow, so shall you reap (Galatians 6:7)Chinese:
善有善報，惡有惡報
Good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil.German
Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus
What you shout into the forest, will echo out again

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Sources

Wiktionary
Image from 1918 drawing depicting German aggression.

1

To ask is not ignorance

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Proverb

Many people are afraid to ask questions because they don't want to be seen as stupid. But asking questions is the best way to learn from others.

Asking questions also helps others around you. Have you ever hesitated to ask a question because you thought others already understood... but later you realized they didn't either? 

This proverb is similar to the English saying, “There's no such thing as a stupid question.”

...

Sources

Parts of this picture were created using AI. What do you think?

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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

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Proverb History

Meaning it's better to be satisfied with what you have, rather than risking it for a chance at a larger reward. 

This proverb turns out to be very old indeed. It comes from an ancient book called "The Story of Ahikar" also known as the "Proverbs of Ahiqar." 
My son, a sheep's foot in thine own hand is better than the whole shoulder in the hand of a stranger; better is a lambkin near thee than an ox far away; better is a sparrow held tight in the hand than a thousand birds flying about in the air; better is a hempen robe, that thou hast, than a robe of purple, that thou hast not.
The Story of Ahikar (page 110)
 The book tells the story of an advisor to the ancient Assyrian and Egyptian rulers. It was probably written about 600 BCE, with the earliest surviving fragments dating to about 500 CE. 


Similar proverbs from around the world...
French:
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras
A here-you-go is worth more than two you-can-have-it-latersJapanese
明日の百より今日の五十
Today's 50 over tomorrow's 100Italian
Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani
Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow

And one more for fun...
"A monkey on the back is worth two in the bush."
-ChatGPT

Do you think this proverb is good advice? When is it better to go with a sure thing now or take a chance and search for something better?

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Sources

The Story of Ahikar
French proverb (Wiktionary)
Japanese proverb (Wiktionary)
Italian proverb (Wiktionary)

Image CC BY - Brighid for Maktaba.org
Remixed from:
Two Birds Perched on a Flowering Rose Bush by Ren Yi (Ren Bonian), Chinese, late 19th century - Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bird on Hand by Mahbub Hasan, Bangladesh (bird: common myna / Acridotheres tristis) - Wikimedia

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Kuokoa mia ni kuingiza mia

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Proverb

Methali hii inatoka Kiingereza "A penny saved is a penny earned." Maana yake, mia inayobaki mfukoni inaweza kutumiwa kwajali ya madhumuni mengine. Mifano: Inaweza kutumika kwaajili ya kununua kitu kingine, unaweza kukopesha au kuwekeza ili kuingiza riba au pesa zaidi katika siku zijazo. Katika uchumi, kanuni hii inaitwa Opportunity Costs (gharama za kukosa fursa). Tunapotumia pesa au muda kwa jambo limoja, tunapoteza pia fursa ya kuzitumia kwajili ya jambo lingine.

 Methali hii huhusishwa na Benjamin Franklin, lakini si chimbuko halisi, wala hakuandika msemo huu kamili. Misemo karibu na huu ilichapishwa kabla yake. Kwa mfano: 



A penny spar'd is twice got.
Senti iliyookolewa hupatikana mara mbili.
- Outlandish Proverbs by George Herbert (1640)   
Katika Poor Richard's Almanac (1736), Benjamin Franklin alinukuu methali hii na alifafanua vizuri kanuni ya Opportuinty Cost hivi:

Vidokezo kwa Wale Wanaotaka kuwa MatajiriMatumizi ya pesa ndiyo faida zote zinayopatikana ukiwa na pesa. 
Kwa pound [£] sita kwa mwaka [yaani riba] unaweza kutumia  £ mia [yaani kupitia mkopo], kama unajulikana kama mwaminifu na mwenye busara.
Anayetumia groat [senti 4] kwa siku bure, hutumia pound £ zaidi ya sita kwa mwaka, ambazo ni bei ya kujipatia matumizi ya pound £ mia moja.
[Kwa hivyo] Anayepoteza muda wake wa thamani ya groat [senti 4] kwa siku, siku moja na nyingine, anapoteza fursa ya kutumia pound mia moja kila siku.
Anayepoteza muda wa shilingi tano kwa uvivu hupoteza shilingi tano, ni kama amezitupa tu baharini.
Anayepoteza shilingi tano sio tu kwamba anapoteza kiasi hicho, bali anapoteza pia faida yote ambayo ingeweza kupatikana kwa kuzitumia katika shughuli zake, ambayo, akiwa kijana, wakati wa uzee ingefikia kiasi kikubwa cha fedha.
Tena: anayeuza kwa mkopo huongeza bei ya kile anachokiuza kwa kiasi sawa riba angaliingiza na pesa hizo kwa kipindi ambacho atazikosa. Kwa hivyo, anayenunua kwa mkopo hulipa riba kwa kile anachonunua, na anayelipa pesa mara moja kwa kila anachonunua hukoa fursa ya kuzikopesha kwa wengine, kwa hivyo aliye na kitu alichonunua ameshalipa riba kwa matumizi yake.
Hata hivyo nasema kulipa mara moja unaponunua ni bora, kwa sababu anayeuza kwa mkopo anatarajia kupoteza asilimia tano ya mikopo; kwa hivyo anaongeza bei ya kile anachokiuza kwa asilimia ileile ili kuzuia hasara. Wanaolipa kwa mikopo hulipa kodi mara moja. Anayelipa kwa pesa mara moja anaweza kuzuia kodi hii
"Senti iliyohifadhiwa ni senti mbili hakika;
[haba] kwa siku ni [nne] kwa mwaka."
 
Basi, unapofikiria kutumia muda au pesa zako katika jamblo fulani, jiulize, ningekosa, ningepata fursa zipi? Pesa hizi zingeweza kutumikia vipi? Mifano: kumkopesha mwingine, kurudisha madeni uliyonayo, kubuni kitu kipya au kuwekeza katika kitu ambacho kinaweza kuleta faida kubwa mbeleni.

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Sources

Outlandish Proverbs by George Herbert (Explained and Translated to modern English)

Origin and meaning of the proverb (Snopes) (Grammarist) (Forbes) (Wiktionary)

Shindano la Insha ya Methali - Shinda Zawadi ya Pesa!

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Announcement Featured Homepage

Tunaomba msaada wako! Je unapenda kuandika? Unapenda Methali ya Siku? Maktaba.org tunasherehekea Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani kwa Shindano la Uandishaji wa Insha!

Wasilisha Insha ya Methali kabla ya 7/7
Wasilisha insha yako juu ya methali yoyote hapa au kwa baruapepe tuzo@maktaba.org leo ujipatie nafasi ya kushinda zawadi ya pesa!

Mshindi wa kwanza ➜ 50,000/= TSh

Mshindi wa pili ➜ 25,000/= TSh

Mshindi wa pili ➜ 12,500/= TShl

Vigezo & Masharti ya Shindano[Read in English]
Washindi watachaguliwa na watumiaji wa Maktaba.org! Insha tatu zitakayopata "likes" ❤️ nyingi zaidi kabla ya trh 15 July watashinda. Mtu yeyeote anaweza kupiga kura akiingia akaunti ya yake ya Maktaba.org (Kama haujafunguliwa akaunti yako, jiunge leo, bila malipo yoyote!) 

Hatua ya 1: Chagua methali. Methali inaweza kuwa kwa lugha yoyote, lakini sharti iwe methali inayojulikana na watu, yaani usitunge mwenyewe. Unaweza kutafuta katika vitabu vyetu vya methali hapa!

Hatua ya 2: Tunga insha inayoeleza maana ya methali kwa maoni yako.

Masharti (lazima)

Lugha: Insha iwe kwa Kiswahili ama kwa Kiingereza.

Urefu: Idadi ya maneno ya insha iwe kati ya 80 na 1000 (ndefu kuliko aya, ila isizidi kurasa. Piga chapa kwa kompyuta au simu.

Hakimiliki: Insha yako itasambazwa chini ya leseni ya Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), inayosema, kwa kifupi, inaruhusiwa kunakili, kubadilisha, kutafsiri na kuchapisha kazi yako bila idhini, kama utatajwa kama mtungaji.  

Ushauri (hiari)
Haya ni mawazo kwa muundo wa insha yako:

Chimbuko: Eleza chimbuko la methali kama inajulikana. Taja vyanzo vya taarifa.

Matumizi na mifano: Methali hutumika vipi na nyakati gani? Taja mifano.

Bunilizi: Tunga shairi au simulia hadithi fupi iniayohusiana na maana ya methali.

Uzoefu binafsi: Simulia hadithi kutoka kwa maisha yako / uzoefu wako mwenyewe.

Utekelezaji: Toa shauri kwa wasomaji jinsi ya kutekeleza methali katika maisha yao ya kila siku.

Simulizi ya kweli: Shiriki hadithi kutoka sayansi, historia, ngano/kisa, dini, au fashihi. Taja vyanzo halisi.

Methali zinazohusiana: Find similar proverbs from around the world.

Methali zinazopingana: Je kuna methali ambazo zinatofautiana na methali hii?

Majadiliano: Uliza maswali yanayowaalika wasomaji kutafakari na kushiriki mawazo yao / uzoefu wao.

Picha/Mchoro: Chora, piga, au tafuta picha inayoeleza maana ya methali na ambatanisha katika insha yako.
Hayo ni mawazo tu, ili kukuhamasisha. Pia unaweza kusoma mifano kwenye Methali za Siku. Tunatarajia kuona ubunifu wako!

 Hatua ya 3 : Pakia (upload) insha yako hapa
Tarehe ya mwisho: 7 Julai 2023 (Saba Saba)
Jaza fomu: https://forms.gle/2VgUtNPMBLETjbCx5
AMA unaweza kuwasilisha insha yako kwa baruapepe. Tuma kwa tuzo@maktaba.org. Usisahau kutuambia taarifa zako za malipo ili tuweze kukutumia zawadi ya pesa ukishinda shindano!

Wasilisha insha hapa kabla ya 7/7/23!

...

Sources

Wasilisha Insha ya Methali hapa ama kwa tuzo@maktaba.org

Ndege mkononi ana thamani ya wawili mtini

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Maana yake, afadhali kuridhika na ulicho nacho, badala ya kuiweka hatarini kwa ajili ya kupata kitu kubwa zaidi.

 Methali hii ni ya zamani sana. Chanzo cha methali hii ni kitabu cha kale kiitwacho  "Hadithi ya Ahikar." (Kinajulikana pia kama "Methali za Ahiqar.")
Mwanangu, mguu wa kondoo katika mkono wako mwenyewe ni bora kuliko bega zima katika mkono wa mwengine; Afadhali kondoo mdogo aliye karibu na wee kuliko ng'ombe aliye mbali; Afadhali shomoro aliyeshikwa mkononi kuliko ndege elfu warukao angani; vazi ulilo nalo ni afadhali kuliko vazi la zambarau usiloliona. 
- Hadithi ya Ahikar (ukurasa wa 110)Kitabu hiki kinasimulia hadithi ya mshauri wa wafalme wa kale wa Ashuru na Misri. Inadhaniwa kuwa hadithi hii ilitungwa takribani 600 KK, na kuna nakala iliyochapishwa mwaka wa 500 KK. 


Methali karibu na hii kutoka nchi mbalimbali:
French:
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras
'Shika-hii-hapa" moja ina thamana kuliko 'nitakuletea-baadaye' mbiliJapanese
明日の百より今日の五十
Hamsini leo ni bora kuliko mia keshoItalian
Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani
Bora yai leo kuliko kuku kesho

Mnaonaje -- methali hii ni ushauri mzuri? Ni bora kuridhika na kitu kinachopatikana kwa hakika, ama kutafuta kitu bora zaidi kisicho na hakika?

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Sources

Maelezo juu ya Hadithi ya Ahikar
Methali ya Kifaransa (Wiktionary)
Methali ya Kijapani (Wiktionary)
Methali ya Kiitaliano (Wiktionary)

Image CC BY - Brighid for Maktaba.org
Remixed from:
Two Birds Perched on a Flowering Rose Bush by Ren Yi (Ren Bonian), Chinese, late 19th century - Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bird on Hand by Mahbub Hasan, Bangladesh (bird: common myna / Acridotheres tristis) - Wikimedia

Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe

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Proverb Parents

Picha hii imetengenezwa na akili bandia (AI)

Habari zenu wapenzi wa lugha na hekima! Karibuni tena katika kipindi chetu cha leo cha Methali! Methali ya leo ni “Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe.” Je, unaijua? Kwa walezi wengi, inaweza kuonewa… kali sana, au sivyo? Ina maana gani kwako? Je, unakubaliana nayo? Tushirikiane mawazo. 

Nikisikia nitasahau, nikiona nitakumbuka, nikifanya nitaelewa.
-Mwalimu Amos 

Mtoto akitaka wembe, basi mpe ili aelewe kwanini alionywa dhidi ya kucheza nao. Methali hii inaonyesha umuhimu wa kuwapa watu nafasi za kujifunza kutokana na uzoefu wao wenyewe, hata kama wanaweza kuumiwa (kidogo). Vilevile, hata ukikataa kumpa, labda hatatiii na atacheza nao ukiwa nje. Methali hii inaweza kutumika pia kama onyo kwa mtu anayepuuza ushauri au kusisitiza njia yake. Ingawa ni muhimu kusikiliza ushauri na maonyo kutoka kwa wengine, wakati mwingine tunahitaji kuona matokeo ya vitendo vyetu wenyewe ili kuelewa madhara yake. 

Adhabu ya Asili  (Natural Consequences)Katika eneo la malezi, methali hii inafundisha kanuni ya Natural Consequences (Adhabu Halisi au Adhabu ya Asili). Adhabu ya asili ni matokeo yatakayokuja kwa sababu ya tabia ya mtoto mwenyewe. Tofauti na adhabu ya kutolewa au adhabu ya viboko, adhabu ya asili hujitokeza bila mlezi kujiingilia. Kwa mfano, fikiria kama mwanako amesahau daftari yake nyumbani. Ungefanyaje? Wazazi wengine wanajibu “Singefanya chochote, maana atahitaji kueleza kwa mwalimu wake.” Wengine wanasema “Ningekimbia shuleni ili kumletea daftari, halafu jioni ningempa adhabu.” Ipi bora?  Jibuni hapo chini… 

Swali: Je, mtoto akilia nyoka utampa?
Sawa tumekubaliana mtoto akilia wembe, mpe. Lakini… fikiria kama mtoto analia kitu cha hatari zaidi— je utakubali? Yesu aliwauliza wazazi: “Mtoto akiomba samaki, je, atampa nyoka?” Akilia nyoka, utampa? Wembe unaweza kusababisha jeraha ndogo, lakini si hatari sana kama nyoka mwenye sumu. 
Wewe kama mzazi, utakubali kiasi gani cha hatari ili ajifunze mwenyewe? Kama anaomba kuacha masomo ili kucheza michezo za simu sikuzote? Kama anaomba kumwoa/kumwolewa na mtu ambaye haumwamini katika umri mdogo? Yaani pia kuna maamuzi muhimu ambayo watoto hawako tayari kujifanyia. 
Je wewe kama mzazi unawezaje kuamua au kutambua kama unapaswa kumwokoa / kumlinda mwanako, ama kama unapaswa kumwachia afunzwe na ulimwengu? Wazazi na walezi wote tunaomba maoni yenu!

Nyoka ana madhara.
-Mwalimu Shila  

Utekelezaji wa methali hii katika maisha ya kila siku
Elimu: Watu hukumbuka walichojifunza kwa vitendo kuliko walichoambiwa kwa maneno. Utafute nafasi za kutekeleza kile unachojifunza.

Malezi: Mpe mtoto uhuru na nafasi za kujifunza kupitia uzoefu. Usimtatulie kila jambo, na usiogope anapofeli, kama hakuna hatari wala madhara ya muda mrefu, maana kufeli ni nafasi ya kujifunza kwake.

Kusikiliza: Ukipuuza maonyo na shauri, usishangaye kuona madhara yaliyotabiriwa.

...

Sources

Mathayo 7:10, Luka 11:11
Velten, C. (1903). Sitten und Gebräuche der Suaheli, nebst einem Anhang über Rechtsgewohnheiten der Suaheli. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. - Page 349

A promise is a debt

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It’s a simple and profound truth about human relationships: Making a promise means creating an expectation in others. When we fail to keep our promises, we damage our relationships and our reputation. Next time you make a promise, ask yourself, "Would I sign a contract that said this?"

French
Chose promise, chose due 
A thing promised is a thing owed. Russian:
Долг платежом красен, а займы отдачею. 
The beauty of a debt is its payment 
Alternative translation: A debt is beautiful when it is paid off, and loans when repaid.Latin:
Pacta sunt servanda
Agreements must be kept (an important principle of international law)Chinese
口說無憑
Spoken words are no guarantee.English
Your word is your bond

What do you think? Is a promise as strong as a contract?

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Sources

French proverb: Chose promise, chose due

Latin Proverb: Pacta sunt servanda

Russian Proverb: attested to here and in this 1941 USSR propaganda poster

Chinese 口說無憑 Spoken words are no guarantee.

English: Word is bond

2

Maisha yakikupa limao, tengeneza juis 🍋

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Proverb

Picha hii iliundwa kwa kutumia Akili Bandia. Unafikiriaje? Je, picha gani ingefafanua methali hii vyema?

"Maisha yakikupa limao, tengeneza juis" inamaanisha pale tunapokutana na changamoto, tunapaswa kujaribu kuzifanyia kazi  ili zibadilike kuwa fursa. Limao pekee ni chungu, lakini sukara na maji safi hugeuza limao chungu kuwa kinywaji kitamu cha kuburudisha. Maisha yanapoleta chungu na changamoto (limao), tunaweza kuwa wabunifu na wastahimilivu ili kubadilisha changamoto hizi kuwa fursa (juis).

Je, umewahi kubadilisha changamoto kuwa fursa?
Je! unajua misemo au mithani inayohusiana na kanuni hiyo hiyo?
Toeni maoni hapa chini!

Misemo inayohusiana kutoka kwa tamaduni mbalimbali:
Kizuizi cha hatua huendeleza hatua. Kinachosimama njiani kinakuwa njia.
- Tafakari za Marcus Aurelius (Roma ya Kale)


اِصْنَعْ شَرَابًا حَلُّوا مِنْ حَامِض لَيْمُون الْحَيَاةِTengeneza kinywaji kitamu kutoka kwa asidi ya limau ya maisha.-Methali ya Kiarabu 


जब भी जीवन में मुश्किलें आएँ तो उनका भी लाभ उठाएँ
Matatizo yanapotokea, tumia fursa hiyo pia. -Methali ya Kihindi

(Chanzo: Shukrani kwa Wiktionary)

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If a child cries for a razor, give it to him (Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe)

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Proverb Parents

Image created using AI.

Hello, lovers of language and wisdom!  Welcome back to your daily dose of proverbs. Today's proverb is "Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe" -- literally, "If a child cries for a razor blade, give it to them." To many parents that might sound, well… pretty harsh, right? But if you speak Swahili, you’ve probably heard this proverb. Do you agree with it? What does it mean to you? Share your thoughts.

If I hear I will forget, if I see I will remember, if I do I will understand.
-Teacher Amos
If a child wants a razor, then give it to him so that he understands why he was warned against playing with it.  This proverb illustrated the importance of giving people opportunities to learn from their own experience, even if they might get (slightly) hurt. Also, even if you refuse to give it to him, he might disobey you and play with it while you are away. This proverb can also be used as a warning to someone who ignores advice and insists on his own way.  While it is important to listen to advice and warnings from others, sometimes we need to see the consequences of our own actions to understand.

Natural ConsequencesIn the area of ​​parenting, this proverb teaches the principle of Natural Consequences.  A natural consequence is the result that naturally follows because of a person's behavior.  Unlike corporal punishment, penalties or demerits, natural consequences occur without the intervention of the parent or guardian.  For example, imagine if your son forgot his notebook at home.  What would you do? Some parents answer "I wouldn't do anything; he’ll have to explain to his teacher."  Others say "I would run to school to bring him the notebook, and then in the evening I would discipline him."  Which one is better?  Answer below...

Question for parents: If a child cries for a snake, will you give it to him? 
OK, so we’ve agreed, if a child cries for a razor, we should give it to him.  But… imagine if the child is begging for something more dangerous– Would you agree? Jesus asked parents: "If your child asks for a fish, will you give him a snake?" What if the child asks for a  poisonous snake? Will you give it to them? 

A snake has real risks.
-Teacher Shila   

A razor can give them a small wound, but it is not as dangerous as a poisonous snake. What if they ask to quit their studies to play mobile games all day?  What if they ask to marry someone you don't trust at a young age? There are also important decisions that children are not ready to make for themselves. How do you, as a parent, decide or recognize when you should save and protect your child from regret, and when you should let the world teach them? Parents, tell us your opinion!

Apply this proverb in your life
Education: People remember what they experience and do, rather than what they are told.  Find opportunities to apply what you learn.

Parenting: Give the child freedom and opportunities to learn through experience.  Don't solve everything for him, and don't be afraid when he fails, if there is no danger or long-term effects, because failure is an opportunity for them to learn.

Listening: If you ignore warnings and advice, don't be surprised to see the predicted consequences occur.

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Sources

Velten, C. (1903). Sitten und Gebräuche der Suaheli, nebst einem Anhang über Rechtsgewohnheiten der Suaheli. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. - Page 349
Bible: Mathew 7:10, Luke 11:11

Siku ya kufa nyani miti yote huteleza

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https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ureport/story/2001246337/siku-ya-nyani-kufa-miti-yote-huteleza-how-kenyans-political-parties-have-made-good-on-this

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amor_fati

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moirai

Proverb

MaanaMtu hawezi kuepuka hatima yake.


MatumiziMethali hii hutumiwa nyakati za vita, au juu ya kiongozi pale ambapo wakati wa kuanguka umefika (mf. Macbeth). Tazama pia: Kile kinachozunguka huja karibu (What goes around comes around)


UtekelezajiHata ukijitahidi sana kufikiria, kuhangaika na kuepuka matatizo, bado yanaweza kujitokeza. Wakati mwingine, kujaribu kuzuia tatizo kunaweza kusababisha tatizo lilelile kutokea au kuifanya kuwa mbaya zaidi (mf. Oedipus). Nyani anaweza kuchagua tawi lingine ili kuepuka kuteleza, lakini tawi hilo pia linaweza kuteleza vile vile.

Katika hekaya za Kigiriki, hatima zilitajwa kama dada watatu: Clotho anayesuka uzi wa maisha (kuzaliwa), Lachesis anayechota uzi (akimpa kila mtu baraka na changamoto alizojaliwa maishani), na Atropos anayekata uzi (kifo).

Methali hii inatuhimiza kukubali ukomo wa nguvu yetu na kukiri kwamba mambo mengi muhimu yako nje ya udhibiti wetu.


Misemo inayohusiana
Kiswahili:
Ulichojaliwa hakipunguzi wala haiwezi kukuongezea
Siku za mwizi ni arobaini Siku za mwizi ni arobaini 
Kilatini (Stoic) 
Amor fati
Penda hatma  
Kichina (kutoka kwa Analects)
生死有命，富貴在天
Maisha na kifo vimepangwa, utajiri na heshima [hutoka] mbinguni.

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Sources

Kiburi hutangulia anguko

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