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Loketa Hashim
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Methali za Kiswahili - Swahili Proverbs
Center for African Studies, University of Illinois
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Popular Swahili Proverbs - Methali maarufu za kiswahili

Updated 4mo ago
by
Scott M
Swahili, spoken by about 200 million people in Tanzania, Kenya, northern Mozambique, southwestern Somalia, Northwest Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, is a Bantu, Afro-Arab and Comorian language.

Swahili words were learned inadvertently by English speaker's who watched Disney's The Lion King (i.e. Rafiki = Friend, Simba = Lion, Hakuna Matata, etc...), but the language has a rich history of fun and wisdom filled proverbs.

We will be posting some of our favorite proverbs and encouraging discussion.

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Swahili proverb: Bila mtu wa pili ugomvi hauanzi - Without a second person a quarrel cannot start
It takes two to tango (meant in a combative or divisive sense)...or two to quarrel
...
Swahili proverb: Nia zikiwa moja, kilicho mbali huja. When minds are one, what is far comes near
When people work together, difficult things become possible. 

Or, it could mean: When people care to know about others, people come together (from far away) to understand, love, appreciate and cooperate.
...
Swahili proverb: Achekaye kilema hata kwao kipo.
Someone who laughs at a cripple will have a family defect too.

A warning to those who laugh at the deformity of others (they will be similarly punished).
...
Swahili proverb: Biashara haigombi - Trade does not quarrel
A businessman should be careful in the choice of their words to not alienate customers. 

An expression used by business owners when customers disagree about the price of goods or services
...
Swahili proverb: Chungu huliita birika 'mweusi' - The pot calling the kettle black
It takes to to tango (meant in a combative or divisive sense)...or two to quarrel
...

The stone pot calls the aluminum pot "black." Similar to, "The pot calling the kettle black" which is referring to (or pointing out) hypocrisy, or someone being hypocritical.

Swahili proverb: Hujavuka mto, simtukane mamba, al tukana. You haven't crossed the river, so don't insult the crocodile
A proverb to caution against counting chickens before they hatch, or taking risk for granted BEFORE facing it.
...
Swahili proverb: Jani kavu mtini linalilaumu lililo chini kwa kelele - It is easy to see other's faults
Literal meaning is "A dry leaf on the tree blames the leaf on the ground for noise," indicating that it is often easy to see and point out the fault of others, when you might have similar traits or deficiencies.
...
Swahili proverb: Kalimba hula samaki wadogo.

The big kalimba fish eats the small ones. Little people are the victims of big people. Instead of kalimba one could use mbota (Nile perch) or chewa (rock cod) or nguru (king fish).

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Popular Swahili Proverbs - Methali maarufu za kiswahili
0 Sub posts 8
Swahili proverb: Bila mtu wa pili ugomvi hauanzi - Without a second person a quarrel cannot start
It takes two to tango (meant in a combative or divisive sense)...or two to quarrel
...
Swahili proverb: Nia zikiwa moja, kilicho mbali huja. When minds are one, what is far comes near
When people work together, difficult things become possible. 

Or, it could mean: When people care to know about others, people come together (from far away) to understand, love, appreciate and cooperate.
...
Swahili proverb: Achekaye kilema hata kwao kipo.
Someone who laughs at a cripple will have a family defect too.

A warning to those who laugh at the deformity of others (they will be similarly punished).
...
Swahili proverb: Biashara haigombi - Trade does not quarrel
A businessman should be careful in the choice of their words to not alienate customers. 

An expression used by business owners when customers disagree about the price of goods or services
...
Swahili proverb: Chungu huliita birika 'mweusi' - The pot calling the kettle black
It takes to to tango (meant in a combative or divisive sense)...or two to quarrel
...

The stone pot calls the aluminum pot "black." Similar to, "The pot calling the kettle black" which is referring to (or pointing out) hypocrisy, or someone being hypocritical.

Swahili proverb: Hujavuka mto, simtukane mamba, al tukana. You haven't crossed the river, so don't insult the crocodile
A proverb to caution against counting chickens before they hatch, or taking risk for granted BEFORE facing it.
...
Swahili proverb: Jani kavu mtini linalilaumu lililo chini kwa kelele - It is easy to see other's faults
Literal meaning is "A dry leaf on the tree blames the leaf on the ground for noise," indicating that it is often easy to see and point out the fault of others, when you might have similar traits or deficiencies.
...
Swahili proverb: Kalimba hula samaki wadogo.

The big kalimba fish eats the small ones. Little people are the victims of big people. Instead of kalimba one could use mbota (Nile perch) or chewa (rock cod) or nguru (king fish).

Kalimba hula samaki wadogo
Kilichoniuma jana nikaona uchunguwe hakinitambai tena
Kila mcheka kilema naye humsikilia.
Kila fitina hakosi kutumika
Kidonda kimerudi penye kovu
Kitumbua changu sikitie mchanga
1
Kucheka kovu, asiyefikwa na jaraha
Kucheka-cheka, kutatoweka
Kobe alikimbia kwa kuchekwa mwendo wake.