Bemba Proverbs and Sayings
Proverbs have been used across cultures as a form of sharing knowledge. In Zambian Culture it is especially evident in the diverse cultures and tribes that live here. Growing up In Mporokoso, it pained me to hear the youngsters misinterpreting some of the proverbs and sayings I had learned as a young boy while in my homeland, Moses Kasase Village in Chief Shibwalya Kapila's chiefdom.
I then decided to compile my first book of called "Pa Nsaka - Bemba Proverbs and Sayings: Explained both in English and Bemba".
Below are some proverbs from my published book.
You can check the book on this link: Pa Nsaka - Bemba Proverbs and Sayings.
You can buy this Book in Soft Copy. All you need to do is deposit a K50 (Zambian Kwacha into MTN Mobile, Xapit, Airtel Mobile, ZamKwacha and then we will send you a Soft Copy of the book.
I then decided to compile my first book of called "Pa Nsaka - Bemba Proverbs and Sayings: Explained both in English and Bemba".
Below are some proverbs from my published book.
You can check the book on this link: Pa Nsaka - Bemba Proverbs and Sayings.
You can buy this Book in Soft Copy. All you need to do is deposit a K50 (Zambian Kwacha into MTN Mobile, Xapit, Airtel Mobile, ZamKwacha and then we will send you a Soft Copy of the book.
Bemba Proverbs and Sayings - Amapinda Ne Nsoselo mu Cibemba
- Impande yalubile mukwalaula.
- Wilalekela abanobe ukuti balekwangashisha ifyo wakwata nangu ifyo wanonka, pantu kuti bakonawila.
- Do not let everyone finger your jewels or properties; they may get lost.
- Ndi musunga wa mpundu, nyambalala pa mûlu.
- Mwimona fino nafûka elyo mulembelesha no kulantumpila; nganafulwa nalishupa.
- I seem harmless, but if you pester me, I am dangerous.
- Kolwe angala pa musambo anasha.
- Nga waba cibusa musuma no munobe kuti mwayangala nankwe munshila îli yonse.
- When you are in good terms with one another you can play in any way you want.
- Nine tîti ûshangila mulya mung’omba; kano mwipindo lyandi.
- Kuti nakwanisha nemwine nangu cakuti tamungafwile mwe bakankala.
- I can survive on my own without depending on the great and the rich.
- Umulume wambwa, tankila mubiye.
- Wicetekela ukuti abanobe ebo balekufwaila ifyo ulekabila mubwikalo bobe, ufwile waibikilishapo we mwine.
- Don’t rely on your friends to provide for you; strive for the betterment of your own life.
- Cayansha, âshile ng’anda.
- Ukubutuka ing’anda nangu abakashi pamulandu wa macushi yabwikalo.
- Abandoning your home or wife because of problems and hardships.
- Icikupe mpuku, cibala kucisu.
- Uwakupela utunono, nefingi fine kuti akupêla.
- He who gives little may give more.
- Umubala kale, ulayafwilisha.
- Nga ulefwaya ukupwisha bwangu umulimo, ufwile watendeka ukubomba bwangu.
- An early beginning is half the battle.
- Amaka ya mubiyo, tayabalilwa lubuli.
- Tekwesha ukubala ulubuli nokucetekela mumaka ya munobe ati pantu umunandi wamaka.
- Don’t start a fight just because your companion is strong.
- Akanwa kali milandu, kalaibalabala.
- Nga umuntu ali ne milandu tekala tondolo kuti asuka asapulula.
- Something on your mind troubles you until you speak.
- Akêbo kalababa.
- Nga umuntu ali ne milandu tekala tondolo kuti asuka asapulula.
- Something on your mind troubles you until you speak.
- Inda ilile kanga, taibalala.
- Tekuti wishibe umunobe ifyo aletontonkanya. Mumusango umbi, tekuti wishibe ifyo umunobe alîle.
- You never know what is on your neighbour’s mind. On the other hand you cannot know what your neighbour has eaten.
- Ifibalala, tafitulila kumo.
- Nga washukila ubukankala wisula banobe pantu nabo bushiku bumo kuti bashuka.
- When you are rich be generous to others because fortune may shine on your friends someday.
- Lukonko lwa kabamba nama.
- Umulunshi uwakosa.
- An untiring hunter.
- Uwabamba tabambuluka.
- Tekuti ulabe umulimo untu waishiba bwino.
- You cannot forget a skill that you have mastered well.
- Ukuitumpa mu myungu mibande.
- Ukwingila mubwafya ubushali bobe.
- To throw yourself in a trouble that was not yours.
- Akabangilile, kaumine ipulu.
- Ukubangilila kusuma pantu kuti wakwata ifisuma ukucila abanobe.
- The early bird catches the worm.
- Akabangilile, katamba masha ya cungulo.
- Ukubangilila no kukosa ku milimo kusuma pantu kuti wakwata ifisuma ukucila abanobe.
- Good opportunity favors the active man.
- Ukwikusha umutali, kubangilila.
- Nganaukwata umulimo uwakosa wikokola kutendeka ukubombelapo.
- Do not delay a great undertaking.
- Tubangilile mulamba talatulula.
- Ukuipekanishisha kabêla ilyo inshita tailapwa.
- To prepare before it is too late
- A stitch in time is worth nine.
- Basabasa tabashisha bwino.
- Nga ulefwaya umulimo ukubombeka bwino, taufwile ukupamfya abalekubombela.
- Do not hurry a job if you want it to be well done.
- Mukulolekesha, emukutobolwa.
- Ngawapatikisha sana pa cintu cimo cîne kuti cakuletela ubwafya.
- If you insist on something too much you will get into trouble.
- Ukubelebesha, takwilishe suba.
- Ukulaya takwawama pantu limbi kuti wafilwa ukufikilisha.
- Do not make idol promises- I may wait all day for a result that never comes.
- Bemba alya ûfwilamo.
- Ifyo ukwete nganafikulinga tekwesha kuya ulefwaya fimbi pantu kuti wailetelela.
- If you are satisfied with what you have do not look for better because you may get worse.
- Nine tembwe fili sonde, ifyaku mushi fyaba na bene.
- Ndi mwina mpanga mwilanjipusha pa fya mukalale.
- I am a bushman who knows nothing about city life, therefore leave me alone.
- Bepa umwanakashi, umwaume mubiyo mukenda nankwe.
- Kuti wabepa ku mwanakashi lelo tekuli untu mwenda nankwe lyonse, pantu ukasokoloka.
- You can lie to a woman but not to your travelling companion; you will sooner or later get exposed.
- Akakubika kalasasa/kalapapatala/kalapesa.
- Ukubikilila kuti wapanishamo nefyo wingabomfya.
- Being nigardly serves nothing.
- Uubika abikila abengi.
- Ukubikilila kuti wapanishamo ifingi pantu kuti baisakupoka kuli bambi.
- He who lays-by serves for many.
- Mu ng’anda yamubiyo, tamubikilwa buomba.
- Umukashi obe fye ewingakutentemba bwino; kanshi wilacetekala ukuti ilyo watandalila ku ng’anda iishili yobe naiwe balekutentemba cimo cine nafintu batentemba umwine wa ng’anda, kuti waleta ubwafya muli iyo ng’nda.
- Only your wife can take good care of you; therefore, when you visit another man’s home do not expect to be taken care of in the same way that the owner of the house is taken care of, you may just cause problems in that home.
- Uwabinga ukowa, teminina.
- Nga ulepanga ukubomba umulimo umo bomba bwangu wikokola.
- When you have made up your mind to do something, do it at once.
- Ndi cîba nabingafye ukusompa.
- Ine nshilingile kulabomba, kano fye ukulya.
- I am not made for work, I am here to eat.
- Alibipa nga mala ya mfuko.
- Alibipisha kabili alanunka kwati fye mala ya mfuko. Umuntu uwapatwa pamulandu wamisango yakwe nemimonekele yakwe.
- He is as bad and stinks as the bowels of a mole. A person who is hated because of his behaviour and his filthiness.
- Umwina musumba, tabipilwa ngala.
- Uutuminwe ne mfumu alingile ukucindikwa nangufye talemoneka bwino.
- Whatever his appearance, a man sent by the king is worthy of respect.
- Akabomba kabiye, ka munda.
- Tekuti ubombe filondoloke ngataulile.
- You can not work on an empty stomach.
- Icibomfuma, ecitulika.
- Ngabakusokako ufwile wacenjela; ngawamona ifishibili fyakukuletela ubwafya, ufwile wacenjela nokutaluka pantu kuti waigila mu bwafya ubo wishibe.
- Forewarned is foramed. Whenever you see some signs of danger, you should take precautions or else you may find yourself in a regrettable problem.
- Apakomaila nondo, ninshi pali ubulema.
- Nga balekwebaula ufwile waishiba ukuti uli no bwafya.
- There must be a reason for continuous rebuke.
- Uwakalema takaleka.
- Nangu engaicenjelesha shani, uwaba fye no bwafya akasuka akasokoloke.
- Nga cakuti umuntu aliba no bwafya akasuka akabwekeshepo nangu pengakokola shani.
- A leorpard can never change its spots.
- A person who is known to be problematic will again cause the same problem even after so many years, just be warned about him.
- Lufwinyemba aliwa pa kantu.
- Mwisumina umuntu nga aisa myeba ati bamufyengelefye; mutale mufwailishe.
- Do not believe when someone tells you that he was condemned unjustly. Investigate him and you will find the truth.
- Ubushiku bumo tabubosha nsofu.
- Ngawatushako fye nangu bushiku bumo ku milimo yobe, tekuti yonaike iyo.
- One day of rest from the main job does not ruin it.
- Ububamfi bwa mubiyo tabushimikwa ku mushi.
- Ishuko lya mubiyo tekwesha ukuyashimika pantu bambi kuti bamupatilapo.
- The luck of your friend should never be talked of in the village for fear of jelousy.
- Umwana wa bubeli cikanga na nyina.
- Iyi nsoselo isoselwa pa mwana mwanakashi ûkatendeka ukwafwa banyina imilimo nga akula.
- Said especially of a baby girl who will be of help to her parents.
- Ubucende mâfi banya ukutali.
- Umuntu pakucita icabipa alaya ukutali ukwakuti tabamwishibe.
- When one commits a bad act, he goes far away for fear of benig caught.
- Ubucenjeshi bwa mpelembe, icifulukutu panuma.
- Umuntu ûilanga ukuba uwakaele lelo panuma aisaikatwa alecita ifyalubana.
- Said of a man who boasts of being blameless but soon after he is caught.
- Ubucenjeshi bumo, tabulilwa libili.
- Wicetekela ukuti ifyo wacenjele pakubala efyo wingacenjela na limbi.
- Once beaten, twice shy.
- Do not think you will be as clever in you dealings as you were previously, you may be caught.
- Ubucenjeshi bumo, pamo no kupusa.
- Ngawabomfya ubucenjeshi ufwile ukukwata no mwakusempukila nga cabipa pantu ukaiseka pakulekelesha.
- One must have more than one string to ones bow.
- When you seem to be clever today you should find some ways to cover you when things become bad or else you will regret.
- Ubucenjeshi bwa nkoko pungwa tasakama.
- Tekwesha ukucenjesha ûkupusushako. Nga wacita ifyo nikwisa ukapusukila ku nshiku shakuntanshi?
- Do not bite the finger that feeds you. If you do so who will feed you in the future?
- Ubufi tabukumbwa musunga.
- Tapaba ifisuma nangu fimo ifitumbuka mukubepa ubufi.
- Nothing good comes out of a lie.
- Ubufi bulabwela.
- Ngawabepa ucenjele pantu bushiku bumo bakeshiba ukuti walebepafye.
- Sooner or later the truth will be known even though you lie far away from home.
- Ubufumu ebusosa.
- Imfumu ngayapingula takuli umbi uwingalandapo fimbi.
- When the king has spoken there is nothing more to say.
- Ubufumu busheta amenshi.
- Imfumu lyonse ibafye iyalungama.
- Mighty is always right.
- Ubufumu bukashisha amenso.
- Ilyo uletungulula uipekanye nakuli fyonse; umucinshi elyo nefyakosa.
- Hard work comes with high honors. Be prepared to handle both honor and hard times.
You can check the book on my Author Page at this lik: Pa Nsaka - Bemba Proverbs and Sayings or on Amazon at this link: Pa Nsaka - Bemba Proverbs and Sayings You can also Contact Us for a Soft Copy of this book to be sent to you by Email or WhatsApp.
Contact us via WhatsApp, SMS or Call: +260975297862/+260965297862/+260955297862 or email us at: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]