Swahili Proverbs

Kiswahili Methali

Nia zikiwa moja, kilicho mbali huja

This collection is dedicated to J.K. Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania, proverbial scholar and statesman.

The Swahili proverbs on this website were compiled, translated, and annotated by Albert Scheven.

Background to this Collection

The basis for this website and collection of proverbs come from the text Swahili Proverbs: Nia Zikiwa moja, kilicho mbali huja by Albert Scheven (1981). His text was also dedicated to President Nyeree.

This collection had its origins in 1974, when Dr. Victor Uchendu, then director of African studies at the University of Illinois, saw the need to provide the ever-growing number of Swahili students at the University with an interesting selection of proverbs to enrich their language learning. He asked the three instructors then teaching Swahili to undertake this project: Mohammad I. Abasheikh, Fred Kanali, and Albert Scheven. Dr. Uchendu provided a small grant to initiate the work. After a good start, and substantial contributions from all, student pressures forced the first two to withdraw, and Albert was left to finish what was originally conceived of as a modest undertaking. Eventually it developed to the text published in 1981 with Universities Press of America, Washington DC. The compilation is of all Swahili proverbs found in the published sources of all languages, but directed to those who know English.

As can be seen from the list of sources, there certainly is no dearth of proverb collections, and one may well ask why the need for one more when so many exist.

First, it became clear as soon as Albert examined more than one source, that there are fascinating differences, in form, interpretation and understanding, and it would be useful to show these versions side by side.

Also, many books are out of print, other collections have been published in specialized journals or dictionaries which are not readily available to the general public. Some texts have been written in French, German or entirely in Swahili. Then even the excellent collection of Farsi is very sparse in its explanations for those whose are not fluent in Swahili.

Proverbs are one of the most precious cultural heritages of a people. In the West there have been times when the popularity of proverbs has risen—and fallen. For example, in Britain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, proverbs were so much in vogue that they were used to excess.* And following this period, there was a time when the use of proverbs was considered vulgar and showing a lack of originality in thinking and expression.*

Whatever the popularity of proverbs in society, it must be remembered that there is a substantial difference between the knowledge of proverbs and their use in speech. A person may be loat to utter a proverb in public, but his conduct must show that he understands it in order to follow its wisdom: “Who does not heed proverbs will not avoid mistakes.” (Turkish)

In many African societies proverbs were the main source of instruction for children and youth. They contained guidelines and principles of behavior toward God, ancestors, neighbors, and themselves. This education is still actively conducted in schools, where proverbs are studies for their linguistic and social importance. African authors almost go out of their way to use proverbs in their writings.* A guide to health in Zaire includes a short section of Yombe and other proverbs related to health and its protection.* John C. Messenger explains the elaborate usage of proverbs in the judicial system of the Anang (Southern Nigeria):

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