| 1. K’ongowea ja mvumo, maangavu maji male. | Kongowea is like the roar (of breaking waves); with crystal clear deep water.[1] |
| Haitowi lililomo, Gongwa isingenyemele. | It does not reveal what is inside; would that Gongwa were not so quiet. |
| Msiotambua ndumo, na utambaji wa kale, | You who do not recognize (its) war-cries and (its) strategy of old, |
| Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli![2] | It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! |
| 2. K’ongowea aridhi mbi, ukenda usijikule. | Kongowea is an evil land, if you enter do not put on airs/act boastfully. |
| Ina mambo t’umbitumbi, wajuvywa hawajuvile | It has numerous affairs, (even) the well-informed have no knowledge about them. |
| Mara huliona wimbi, lausha nyuma na mbele, | Suddenly one sees a wave, it surges to and fro (lit., backwards and forwards) |
| Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! | It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! |
| 3. Mteza na Nyali K’uu, kugeua mageule, | He who plays with Nyali K’uu to make changes, |
| Humvundanga maguu, asende mwendo wa kule; | It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far. |
| Akawa p’aka mnyau, mnyau p’aka mwele; | He becomes a mewing cat, a sick mewing cat. |
| Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! | It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! |
| 4. Gongwa nda Mwana Mkisi, Mvita Mji wa Kale. | Gongwa belongs to Mwana Mkisi, Mvita is an ancient city! |
| Usitupile viasi, ukenda enda kwa p’ole; | Do not cross (its) borders, if you do go (there) go carefully. |
| Inika chako kikosi, maninga vyema sivule, | Be humble (lit. bend down your neck), do not raise (your) eyes. |
| Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambule! | It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! |
| 5. Mvita mji wa ndweo, ivumayo kwa k’elele, | Mvita is a land of revelry (lit. “drunkenness”) that resounds with noise; |
| Ilitutile t’utio, p’anga za masimba wale. | It has brandished quivering swords of the lions. |
| Haishi vingurumio, na kwangusha mwanzi mle. | There is no end to the roaring and call to arms within. |
| Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli. | It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! |
TJH translation is based on MHA 1979 and on discussions with MHA July 1999. The text follows Hichens (1940:15) while dental and aspiration diacritics follow MHA. MHA in his text has utambaaji in verse (1) while Hichens (1940) has utambaji. The latter preserves the proper scansion of the line, and so I follow Hichens in his spelling.
[1] When mvumo is used figuratively, as it seems most likely here, it can mean “fame, renown, reputation”, thus an alternative figurative translation: Mombasa is renowned with deep and quiet water (i.e., it is inscrutable). Of course Muyaka may be invoking both senses of the word.
[2] Sacleux (1939:1023) quotes this refrain, but instead of mbwi he gives mbi “evil”: Mwina wa chiza mbi, (Mombasa) c’est un abîme de profondes ténèbres.
MHA Translation
| 1. Kongowea roars like the surf; though its deep waters are still and calm. |
| It does not reveal the great secret it holds, no wonder Gongwa is so placidly quiet. |
| You who cannot perceive the war-cries and the old strategy of the warriors |
| This is an abyss of deep gloom (i.e. Mombasa) even those who are well-informed comprehend it not! |
| 2. Kongowea is a land full of spite, refrain from being haughty when you go therein. |
| It has innumerable affairs that could not be understood even by those who are informed. |
| Suddenly an overwhelming wave appears surging forwards and backwards, |
| This is an abyss of deep gloom, even those who are well-informed comprehend it not! |
| 3. He who trifles with Nyali Kuu in order to change its status, |
| It smashes his legs so that he cannot walk far. |
| He becomes a grimalkin cat, a sickly grimalkin cat. |
| This is an abyss of deep gloom, even those who are well-informed comprehend it not! |
| 4. Gongwa is the royal land of Mwana Mkisi, Mvita is a city of old! |
| Do not exceed the bounds, but tread warily therein. |
| Cast down your head, and do not look straight, with your eyes wide open— |
| This is an abyss of deep gloom, even those who are well-informed comprehend it not! |
| 5. Mvita is a land of loud death-groans; |
| It has already brandished its long thin blades, swords of those lions. |
| There is always thunderous noise and cries of war. |
| This is an abyss of deep gloom, even those who are well-informed comprehend it not! |
Msamiati
| angavu | [adj.] | Bright, shining, crystal clear, etc. (TJH). Dead calm, shuwari na malenge (MHA). Bright, shining, luminous, radiant, polished, etc. 2. transparent, clear, as water, etc.; 3. fig. enlightened, clever, quick-witted (FJ). Clair, limpide, transparent, diaphane; qui laisse voir le fond (eau), e.g., K’ongowea nda mvumo; Madyi maangavu male, Mombasa est renommée; Mais c’est une eau claire, profonde dont il faut se métier (Sx). K’ongowea ja mvumo, maangavu maji male; Kongowea is like the roar (of breaking waves); with crystal clear deep water (MY-Mwina1). Note that MHA p. 143 also notes an equivalency between “calm water” and maji makuu “high tide, deep water”; he also quotes a proverb: maji male maangavu “still water runs deep”. It should be noted that water which is clear and transparent has also to be calm (TJH). |
| angusha mwanzi | [v. cs.] | Archaic expression. Call to arms, lit. set off a cannon; see mwanzi bamboo; note English etymology: cannon < French canon < Italian canone ‘large tube’, canna‘ cane, reed’. Roseau en gén. au pr. et au fig. … Instrument de musique comme flute, flageolet, pipeau: de là l’emploi pour appeler aux armes de l’expression vieillie –angusha mwanzi à faire décrocher le sifflet de guerre, amener la guerre (Sx). Haishi vingurumio na kwangusha mwanzi mle; There is no end to the roaring and cry to arms within (MY-Mwina5). |
| aridhi | [n. 9/10] | Land (MHA). See St. ardhi (FJ). K’ongowea aridhi mbi ukenda usijikule; Kongowea is an evil land, if you enter do not put on airs/act boastfully (MY-Mwina2). Ar. |
| chiza | [n. 9/10] | Darkness; palatalized variant of k’iza. Also giza, see FJ (TJH). Gloom (MHA). Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! (MY-Mwina2). ND. |
| geua | [v. tr.] | Change, alter, etc. (TJH). Change, make different, alter, but the Cs. geuza is generally used in this sense; (2) fig. treat with scorm, contempt, thrust aside, of persons, e.g. usinigeue, don’t treat me as though I were nobody (FJ). Mteza na Nyali K‘uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| geua mageule | [v. phase] | Make changes, make innovations (TJH). Faire des innovations (Sx). Mteza na Nyali K‘uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| Gongwa | [prop. n.] | Mombasa, old name for (TJH). One of several sentimental names for the Swahili quarter of Mombasa Town; others are Kongowea, Nyali Kuu, Mji wa Kale, and Nuhasi; a name also used in some parts of the northern coast (of Kenya) to refer to a city in which a ruling king or queen lived, or to a royal palace (MHA). Haitowi lililomo Gongwa, isingenyemele, It does not reveal what is inside, would that Gongwa were not so quiet. (MY-Mwina1). |
| guu/ma- | [n. 5/6] | Leg, foot (TJH). See St. mguu/mi- 3/4 (FJ). Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). ND |
| inika | [v. tr.] | Give a downward direction to, lay over on one side, give a cant (tilt, downward bend or turn) to, let hang down, turn down at the edge, etc,; (2) fig. humble, bring low, depress; listed under -ina (FJ). Cast down (MHA). Inika chako kikosi, maninga vyema sivule; Be humble (lit. bend down your neck), do not raise (your) eyes (MY-Mwina4). |
| ja | [adv.] | Like, as (TJH). Archaïque, sans emploi dans le langage de la conversation. Comme (devant un subst.), semblablement à. Ana ugonjwa wa safura, amegeuka ja kinyonga, il a la jaunisse, il a changé comme un caméléleon. (Sx). K’ongowea ja mvumo, maangavu maji male; Kongowea is like the roar (of breaking waves); (and its) water is deep and calm (MY-Mwina1). |
| jikula | [v. refl.] | Be high and mighty, be arrogant, be haughty, be boastful (TJH). Be haughty (MHA). see St. -kua grow, grow up, get large, increase, become great — used of the growth of men and animals (FJ). -jikua not in FJ. En poésie on trouve le réfl. avec le sens de -jikuza; Mwendako msijikule où que vous alliez, ne vous exaltez pas (Sx). K’ongowea aridhi mbi ukenda usijikule; Kongowea is an evil land, if you enter do not put on airs/act boastfully (MY-Mwina2). |
| juvile | [-ile perf.] | Perfect stem of –jua know. Ina mambo t’umbitumbi, wajuvywa hawajuvile; It has numerous affairs, (even) the well-informed have no knowledge about them (MY-Mwina2). Note: /v/ in this citation derives from a historical *w (or *B a voiced bilabial fricative) plus the *-ile Perfect; thus *juw + *ile > juvile; see Nurse and Hinnebusch 1979:372-373. |
| juvya | [v. cs.] | Make known, inform, cause to know; see mjuvywa/wa- 1/2 a person who is well-informed, well-informed person (TJH). Cf. -jua know, etc. (FJ). Ina mambo t’umbitumbi, wajuvywa hawajuvile; It has numerous affairs, (even) the well-informed do not know about them (MY-Mwina2) |
| K’ongowea | [prop. n.] | Mombasa, archaic name for (TJH). One of several sentimental names for the Swahili quarter of Mombasa Town; others are Nyali Kuu, Gongwa, Mji wa Kale, and Nuhasi (MHA). Un ancien nom de la ville de Mombasa. K’ongowea nda mvumo; Kongowea la célèbre (Sx). See –kongowea greet, salute, accost, but with excessive humility or show (FJ). Kongowea is also the present-day name of an estate on the mainland just across the Kilifi Bridge on the right before reaching Kisauni which was owned and named Kongowea by a Swahili person from Old Town in memory of Muyaka; cf. kongoni ‘welcome’ (MHA); also –kongomana be joined, be assembled, meet together. K’ongowea ja mvumo, maangavu maji male; Kongowea is like the roar (of breaking waves); (and its) water is deep and calm (MY-Mwina2). |
| kiasi/vi- | [n. 7/8] | Boundary, border, confines, territory (TJH). Bounds (MHA). FJ only lists this as a singular n. and adv. Usitupile viasi ukenda enda kwa p’ole; Do not cross over (its) borders, if you do go (there) go carefully (MY-Mwina4). |
| kikosi/vi- | [n. 7/8] | Back of neck, nape (FJ). Inika chako kikosi maninga vyema sivule; Be humble (lit. bend down your neck), do not raise (your) eyes (MY-Mwina4). |
| kingurumio/vi- | [n. 7/8] | Roar, loud, thunderous noise (TJH). Not in FJ, but see –nguruma make a rumbling or roaring noise. See –ngurumia roar at (Sx). Haishi vingurumio na kwangusha mwanzi mle; There is no end to the roaring and call to arms within (MY-Mwina5). |
| kula | [v. i.] | Grow, grow up, get large, increase, become great — used of the growth of men and animals; see St. –kua (FJ). See –jikula in this glossary. K’ongowea aridhimbi ukenda usijikule; Kongowea is an evil land, if you enter do not put on airs/act boastfully (MY-Mwina2) |
| le | [adj.] | Deep, long, tall, high (TJH). Arch. Am etc. = –refu; –le ~ –re (Sx). Khongowea ja mvumo, maangavu maji male; K’ongowea is like the roar (of breaking waves); (and its) water is deep and calm (MY-Mwina1). |
| mageule | [n. 6] | Changes, innovations, transformation (TJH). Status (MHA). See-geua mageule faire des innovations (Sx). Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| mbi | [adj. 9/10] | Evil, bad, wicked (TJH). See –wi bad, etc. (Sx). K’ongowea aridhi mbi ukenda usijikule; Kongowea is an evil land, if you enter do not put on airs/act boastfully (MY-Mwina2). |
| mbwi | [ideo.] | Ideophone (MHA, p.c. 1999). An ideophone to emphasize the depth of something, or something falling into water (TJH). See chubwi, an ideophone for the sound made when something is dropped into water (Sarah Mirza, p.c. June 30, 2014). Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! (MY-Mwina1). Its use by Muyaka in this verse is meant to emphasize the deepness or possibly the unfathomable darkness of the hole. |
| mjuvywa/wa- | [n.1/2] | Informed, sophisticated person, one who knows, someone in the know, well-informed person; see -juvywa ‘be made known’ < -juvya ‘make known’ < *-juwa < -jua ‘know’ (TJH). Cf. -jua know.etc. (FJ). Ina mambo t’umbitumbi, wajuvywa hawajuvile; It has numerous affairs, (even) the well-informed do not know about them (MY-Mwina2). |
| mnyau/mi- | [n. 3/4 an.] | Cat, mewing cat, as distinct from p’aka q.v. (TJH). Grimalkin cat (MHA). Chat (Sx). Mew (Knappert 1979:156). Akawa p’aka mnyau, mnyau p’aka mwele; He becomes a mewing cat, a sick mewing cat (MY-Mwina3). Mr. du N., Mv. Par emprunt au Digo, Samb., Bo., Zig., Kami, etc. = Mr. du S., Mg, nyau). Knappert’s gloss, mew, used in his translation of another of Muyaka’s poems, reflects the likely onomatopoeic source of the word, akin to English meow, imitative of a cat’s vocalization. |
| mtambuzwa/wa- | [n. 1/2] | One told, one reminded, one well-informed (MHA). See –tambuzi clever, quick, intelligent, knowing, shrewd; also mtambua/wa– and mtambuzi/wa– (1) a knowing, clever, well-informed, intelligent person; (2) one able to explain, interpret, fathom difficult problems, etc.; –tambua recognize, etc.; utambuzi mental quickness, intelligence, perception, facility, cleverness, skill; (2) explanation of a difficult problem, answer to a riddle or cryptic saying, etc. (FJ). Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! (MY-Mwina1). |
| mteza/wa- | [n. 3/4] | One who plays, player; see –teza and -cheza play, etc. (TJH). One who trifles with (MHA). Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina). ND. |
| mvumo/mi- | [n. 3/4] | Roar (MHA). See -vuma usually of any low indistinct sound, i.e., roar, growl, rumble, hum, buzz, rustle, e.g. of wind, thunder, wild beasts, insects, drums, e.g. bahari inavuma, of the roaring of breakers on a reef (FJ). Faire résonner comme unbruit de souffle de la tempête…; Fig. En parlant de qqn, faire du bruit, être bien famé, avoir du renom, être renommé ou estimé, illustre, cèlèbre, fameux, en honneur; avoir de la réputation, s’illustrer; être connu au loin (Sx). K’ongowea ja mvumo, maangavu maji male; Kongowea is like the roar (of breaking waves); (and its) water is deep and calm (MY-Mwina1). |
| Mwana Mkisi | [n. 1/2] | Reputed ancestral queen of Mvita (MHA). Gongwa nda Mwana Mkisi, Mvita Mji wa Kale; Gongwa belongs to Mwana Mkisi, Mvita is an ancient city! (MY-Mwina4). |
| mwana/wa- | [n. 1/2] | Lady (TJH). On retrouve encore mwana ‘dame’ en composé avec le nom d’anciennes reines restées célèbres, Mwana Aziza de Zanzibar, Mwana Mkisi de Mombasa, Mwana Masuru de Siyu (Sx). Gongwa nda Mwana Mkisi, Mvita Mji wa Kale; Gongwa belongs to Mwana Mkisi, Mvita is an ancient city (MY-Mwina4). |
| mwanzi/mi- | [n. 3/4] | Bamboo, hence any reed-like object: tube, pipe; mwanzi wa pua nostril, mwanzi wa bunduki gun barrel, etc. (FJ). See –angusha mwanzi fig. call to arms, etc. (Sx). Haishi vingurumio na kwangusha mwanzi mle; There is no end to the roaring and call to arms within (MY-Mwina5). |
| mwele/wa- | [n. 1/2] | Sick person (TJH). Malade pl. wawele ou waele (Sx). Akawa p’aka mnyau, mnyau p’aka mwele; He becomes a mewing cat, a sick mewing cat (MY-Mwina3). Mv. = Am. G. mwee, Ngaz. 2. mwade, Nz. 2. muwade. |
| mwina/mi- | [n. 3/4 ~ 3/6] | Abyss, deeps waters, a deep place in the sea (MHA). Hole, deep place, pit (FJ). Fosse, trou en terre, shimo with plurals given as maina ~ mena (Sx). Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! (MY-Mwina3). |
| nda | [cop.] | Contraction of ni ya it is of, it is for. Crase pour ni ya c’est de, c’est à, avec extension aux locutions possessives ndangu, ndako, ndake, ndetu, ndenu, ndao. Ces forms sont plus usitées dans les Dial. Am. G. Ng. qu’ailleurs (Sx). Gongwa nda Mwana Mkisi, Mvita Mji wa Kale; Gongwa belongs to Mwana Mkisi, Mvita is an ancient city (MY-Mwina4) |
| ndeo | [n. 9/10] | See ndweo. |
| ndevo | [n. 9/10] | See ndweo. G. |
| ndreo | [n. 9/10] | See ndweo. Am |
| ndumo | [n. 9/10] | War cry (MHA). Cri de guerre; cf. zumo < -luma (Sx). Not in FJ. Msiotambua ndumo na utambaji wa kale; You who do not recognize (its) war-cries and (its) strategy of old. (MY-Mwina1). |
| ndweo | [n. 9/10] | Drunkenness, inebriation; revelry, elation, exhilaration; loudness, boisterous and raucous behavior — according to Sx principally used figuratively; < -lewa be drunk (TJH). Loud death groans (MHA). Pride, arrogance (FJ). enivrement (surtout us. au fig.), vie large et sensuelle. Aph. Mvita, mji wa ndweo, Mombasa est une ville d’enivrement (Sx). See ndeo laxness, slackness, heaviness from overeating (Krapf). Mvita mji wa ndweo ivumayo kwa k’elele; Mvita is a land of revelry that roars with noise (MY-Mwina5). Ng., Mv. = Am ndreo, G. ndevo. |
| nga | [clitic] | A morpheme suffixed to verbs to express customary, repetitive action; also to indicate an intensive action (TJH). Doublet de -ga suffixe intensif. S’emploie après un verbe dont le radical est terminé par un consonne (Sx). Also see -ga suffixe qui s’ajoute au présent et au passé de l’indicatif, au subjonctif, à l’impératif et à l’infinitif, le plus souvent pour marquer l’habitude, parfois aussi simplement pour affirmer davantage, marquer la certitude (Sx). Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| ninga/ma- | [n. 5/6] | Eyes (MHA). Inika chako kikosi maninga vyema sivule; Be humble (lit. bend down your neck), do not raise (your) eyes (MY-Mwina4). |
| Nyali K’uu | [n. 9] | One of several sentimental names for the Swahili quarter of Mombasa Town; see Kongowea, Gongwa, Nuhasi, Mji wa Kale (MHA). Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| nyemele | [-ile perf.] | Perfect stem of -nyamaa be silent, be quiet (MHA & TJH). Haitowi lililomo, Gongwa isingenyemele; It (Gongwa) does not reveal what is inside, would that Gongwa were not so quiet. (MY-Mwina1). (See Grammar for Perfect Stem and vowel change). |
| p’aka | [n. 9/10 an.] | Cat. Akawa p’aka mnyau, mnyau p’aka mwele; He becomes a mewing cat, a sick mewing cat (MY-Mwina). |
| t‘umbit‘umbi | [adv.] | In abundance, in large quantity, all together, a lot of (TJH). Innumerable (MHA). Tas, monceau, amas, grande quantité ensemble…. t‘umbi ou t‘umbi-t‘umbi en tas, en masse, en grande quantité. Watu t‘umbi nzima (ou t‘umbi-t‘umbi) des gens en foule. Aph. Mvita ina mambo t‘umbi–t‘umbi. En cet emploi tumbi est très us. comme syn. de -ngi, tele. Cf. Kitumbi (Sx). Not in FJ, but see shumbi: 1. deep water, depth; 2. a heap, e.g. shumbi ya mchanga a heap of sand (FJ). Ina mambo t‘umbit‘umbi, wajuvywa hawajuvile; It has numerous affairs, (even) the well-informed do not know about them (MY-Mwina). Mv. Am = P. shumbi. |
| t’utio | [n. 9/10 | Shaking, trembling, throbbing, quivering, quaking, vibration; see FJ -tuta beat, throb as of the heart (TJH). Mitetemo (MHA, p.c. 1999). Not in FJ. Not in Sx. Ilitutile t’utio p’anga za masimba wale; It (Mombasa) has brandished quivering swords of the lions (MY-Mwina). |
| tambula | [v. i.] | Recognize, know, understand, discern, etc. see -tambua (FJ) Mwina wa chiza mbwi chile, mtambuzwa hatambuli! It is a deep dark hole, (even) a clever one cannot fathom it! (MY-Mwina1). |
| tambuza | [v. cs.] | Archaic? Remind, inform, someone, etc. See mtambuzwa (TJH). |
| tambuzi | [adj.] | Clever, quick, intelligent, knowing, shrewd (FJ). See mtambuzwa (TJH). |
| teza | [v. i.] | Play, play with, etc.; note dental /t/ (TJH). See FJ –cheza. Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina). |
| towa | [v. tr.] | Give, give up, reveal, etc. (TJH). Reveal (MHA). See St. -toa give, etc. NB: dental /t/. Haitowi lililomo, Gongwa isingenyemele; It does not reveal what is inside, would that Gongwa were not so quiet. (MY-Mwina1). |
| tupila | [v. appl.] | Jump across, over; pass over, cross over (TJH). Note dental /t/. See St. –chupa jump down from above (FJ). Usitupile viasi ukenda enda kwa phole; Do not cross over (its) borders, if you do go (there) go carefully (MY-Mwina4). (The use of –tup– “jump over” by Muyaka may refer to scaling the walls of Fort Jesus; he was warning the Omani Arabs, long-time antagonists of the inhabitants of Mombasa; see MHA p.19). |
| tuta | [v. tr.] | Shake, wave in a threatening manner, brandish; carry in amounts, in quantity (TJH). Brandish (MHA, Harries 1962:212). Pile up, carry; 2. beat, throb, as of a heart (FJ). Transporter un ou des fardeauz à bras, sur brancard ou charrette; charroyer, fair de charrois; sawa na kuchukua walakini -tuta ni kuchukua kitu kilicho kingi pamoja, au kwa mikono, au kwa gari (Sx). Ilitutile t’utio p’anga za masimba wale; It has brandished quivering swords of the lions (MY-Mwina5). NB: Note the semantic relationship between the noun t’utio shaking, throbbing and -tuta shake, shake at, threaten, brandish. The connection between the two quite different meanings given by FJ does not seem obvious. Also Sx only gives the “carry” meaning.Thus we may be dealing with homonyms here: -tuta1 carry and –tuta2 brandish. |
| tutile | [-ile Perf.] | Perfect stem of –tuta brandish q.v. (TJH). Ilitutile t’utio p’anga za masimba wale; It has brandished quivering swords of the lions (MY-Mwina5). |
| usha | [v. tr.] | Surge, rise up, rear up, rush in (TJH). Surge (MHA). See -uka go away (FJ). Mara huliona wimbi lausha nyuma na mbele; Suddenly one sees a wave, it surges to and fro, lit., backward and forward) (MY-Mwina2). Sx in his entry for –usha (listed under –uka quotes the following verse Kunako usha mawimbi, Marra huliona wimbi, Lausha nyuma na mbele; Là où il y a des vagues dèferlant, Soudain on voit la lame, Se dresser derrière comme devant (Wherever there are breaking waves, One suddenly sees a wave, Surging in and out). Am. Ng. = G. -usa, SD -rusha. |
| utambaji | [n. 14] | Strategy (MHA). Way, manner of crawling, creeping, moving with stealth thus strategy, tactic, scheme, intrigue, maneuvering (TJH). Marche, allure (Sx). See St. -tambaa crawl, creep, move slowly (FJ). Msiotambua ndumo na utambaji wa kale; You who do not recognize (its) war-cries and (its) strategy of old. (MY-Mwina1). |
| vula | [v. tr.] | Lift up, raise the eyes; open the eyes (TJH). See -vua; hutumika katika msemo: vua macho tazama, angalia (KKS). See –vua mato ouvrir les yeux (Sx). Inika chako kikosi maninga vyema sivule; Be humble (lit. bend down your neck), do not raise (your) eyes (MY-Mwina4). |
| vunda | [v. tr.] | Break, smash, etc. (TJH). Cf. St. -vunja (FJ). Mteza na Nyali K’uu kugeua mageule, Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; He who plays with Nyali Kuu to make changes, It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| vundanga | [v. tr.] | Break repeatedly, over and over; smash, pulverize; -vunda + -nga; see –nga repetitive enclitic (TJH). See St. -vunja break (FJ). Smash (MHA). Humvundanga maguu asende mwendo wa kule; It smashes his legs so that he cannot go far (MY-Mwina3). |
| wi | [adj.] | Evil, bad, wicked (TJH). See mbi cl. 9/10. K’ongowea aridhi mbi ukenda usijikule; Kongowea is an evil land, if you enter do not put on airs/act boastfully (MY-Mwina2). ND. |