By K.K. Kahigi

Msiba Uliotuangukia	The Disaster That Has Befallen Us
1. Kwa kweli tulikuwa hatulijui	Truly we had not know about it
Tulikuwa hatujaliona zimwi,	We had not yet seen the creature
Tulisikia tu likisimuliwa	We only heard stories being told about it
Kwenye ngano wazee walizoganuwa.	In the stories which the old men told.
Lakini msiba hauna ishara	But misfortune has no warning
Bila ya habari hukufika mara[1];	Without notice it befalls you suddenly (typo)
Pengine hukuonjesha nyingi dhiki[2]	Sometimes it makes you taste much agony
Au hukuuma, madonda yabaki.	Or sometimes it hurts you with wounds remaining.
2. Hatujui jinsi yalivyotukuta;	We don’t know how they found us;
Masaibu haya njia zake tata.	Such misfortunes, their ways are a mystery.
Usiku huo twali tumesinzia	That night we were carelessly asleep
Na ndoto kwa wingi tukijiotea,	And dreams in abundance dreaming of ourselves,
Tuliulala usingizi mnono	We slept a deep sleep
Na kumbato lao lali ni mswano.	And its embrace was good.
Au ni zimwi lali limetuloga[3]	Or had the evil one bewitched us
Tulale fofofo kwa wake uganga?	So we would be dead asleep from his spell?
3. Hatujui lilivyopajia petu,	We don’t know how it came to our place,
Hatujui ‘livyofikia jiji letu,	We don’t know how it reached our city,
Bali tunajua tulipomaizi	But we just knew when we knew
Twali tumboni mwa zimwi – pa chefuzi!	We were in the belly of the zimwi – a disgusting place
Tulikuwa humo tumejaa pomo	We were inside there, we filled it up completely
Nafasi ya hewa yali haba humo,	The room for air in there was not enough / there was not enough room in there for air,
Ndipo tukajua kuwa tumemezwa,	Then we knew that we were swallowed up,
Usingizi tulipokuwa ‘medarwa;	When we were taken (in our) sleep;
Ni wachache waloweza kukimbia	There were few who were able to run away
Na kwokoka kumezwa na zimwi baa.	And be saved from being swallowed by the evil monster.
4. Baadhi yetu tukawa twashangaa,	Some of us were astonished,
Wengine wakawa wanalialia	Some were weeping and wailing
Wengine wakatetemeka kwa hofu	Others shook with fright
Wakiwaza kuwa karibu ni wafu,	Thinking that they were nearly dead,
Wengine wakashikwa nyingi ghadhabu,	Some were seized by great rage,
Na wengine wakakaa kama mabubu;	And others sat as if dumb;
Wengine wakajitoa kwa msiba	Some surrendered to the disaster
Ambao ulikuwa umewakumba	Which had afflicted them
Wengine mashujaa walo waongo,	Other brave ones who in fact were not truly brave / others with false bravado,
Wakakaa wamenyosha zao shingo	Sat with outstretched necks (kijvuna KK)
Ijapokuwa moyoni walihofu	Although in their hearts they were afraid
Kwamba leo utawanyotea ufu!	That today death would rain down upon them
5. Sijui tulikaa kitambo gani	I don’t know how long we sat
Bila wazo la maana humo tumboni!	Without any worthwhile thought there in the belly!
Ndipo mara uchefuzi ukazidi	It was then all of a sudden the foulness became excessive
Nasi ndipo kuchefuka kukazidi,	And as for us then our own nausea increased even more (correction: chafuka > chefuka
Tukayongayonga na pia kwanguka,	We tottered and stumbled about and even fell,
6. Mnuko ukazidi, tukatapika,	As the stench increased we vomited
Ulipokithiri tukatapatapa:	When it got worse, we struggled and thrashed about:
Tukienda hapa, si nafuu hapa;	Going here, (there was) no relief here
Na tukitaka kupaendea huko	And if we want to go over there
Hatupati nafasi kufika huko.	We never reach there.
Mnuko ukazidi, tukatapika,	The stench increased and so we vomited,
Na watu kumi chini wakaanguka:	And ten people they fell down
Tukaona kuwa hao wamekwisha	And we saw that they were done for
Wamekwisha kufa zimwi kulilisha.	They were already dead and food for the monster
Na mara hiyo hiyo sita wengine	And right at that moment six others
Wak’anguka, wakifwatwa na wanne,	Fell, followed by four more,
7. Wengine tukakithiri kushangaa,	As for the rest of us, we were astonished all the more,
Wengine wakazidi kulialia,	Others began to weep and sob even more
Wengine wakazidi kutetemeka,	Some began to shake and tremble even more
Maana tuliogopa kuanguka:	Because we were afraid to fall
Wengine zikazidi zao ghadhabu,	(And for) the others their rage got worse
Wengine wakazidi kuwa mabubu,	Some became even more silent
Wengine walojitoa kwa msiba	Others who had surrendered to the disaster
Nyimbo nyingi za huzuni waliimba,	They sang many sad songs
Wengine mashujaa walo waongo,	Others with false bravado (Other brave ones who are imposters.)
Wakakaa wamenyosha zao shingo,	Sat with their necks stretched out
Ijapokuwa moyoni walihofu	Even though in their hearts they were afraid
Kuanguka watafuata halafu.	Of falling and later following the others.
8. Ndipo baina yetu mtu mmoja,	Then from among us a certain man,
Mzee kidogo, maisha ‘meonja,	Somewhat old, he had already tasted life,
Katunyamazisha sote na kusema:	Made us all be quiet and said:
Tazama, jama, janga limetuponza!	Look, folks, a calamity has put us in danger!
Lakini hivi hivi kukaakaa,	But just sitting around like this,
Pasipo kujaribu kujiokoa	Without trying to save ourselves
Ni jambo la kijinga kupindukia,	Is something completely stupid,
Lisilo kifani katika dunia.	Without comparison in the world.
Kweli tukichelewa kujiokoa,	Truly if we delay in saving ourselves
Humu tumboni sote tutaozea	Right inside this belly all of us will rot
Tutaoza tulinenepeshe zimwi	We will rot to fatten the monster
Tulipatie uwezo hili zimwi;	So that we might provide power for this creature;
Tutalipatia murua afia	We will furnish perfect health for it
Maisha kuyaishi litaendelea.	And it will go on living its life.
Litaendelea kuwameza watu	It will continue swallowing people up
Litaendelea kwangamiza watu!	It will continue destroying everyone!
Shime wananchi tutafute njia	Come on now, countrymen, let us look for a way
Tumboni humu tupate jiondoa!”	To get ourselves out of this belly
Ndipo akatutazama kwa rajua,	And then he looked at us with hope
Ambayo nasi ilitwingia pia.	Which entered us all as well
Tulikuwa tumeishiwa rajua,	We had lost all hope
Sasa tukakohoa kwayo rajua:	And now we choked on that same hope:
9. Tulokuwa tumebaki kushangaa,	Those of us there were left astounded,
Tukaanza akili kuzitumia;	We then began to use our brains;
Walokuwa wazidi kutetemeka,	Those who had been trembling the most,
Kutetemeka kwao kukapunguka,	Their shaking grew less,
Waliokuwa wamejawa ghadhabu	Those who were filled with rage
Na walokuwa wako kama mabubu	And those who were there like mutes
Ama walitoa macho kwa rajua	Either opened their eyes with hope
Au walibakia walivyokuwa;	Or remained there as they were;
Na walojitoa kwa huu msiba	And those who had surrendered to this disaster
Rajua machoni mwao ilitamba;	Hope leaped forth in their eyes;
Na wale walojidai mashujaa	And those who acted like they were brave
Nao wakaingiwa nyingi rajua.	Even they were instilled with much hope.
10. Akili zetu kweli zikazinduka,	Our minds truly awoke
Majadiliano mema yakafanyika:	Good discussions were held:
Mara kupingana, mara kupatana;	One moment in opposition, another in agreement
Tuliendelea kujadiliana	We continued on with our debates
Mpaka mwisho patano tukalifika	Until we finally reached agreement
(Wengine kumi wali wameanguka).	(Some ten of us had fallen.)
Sote tuk’amua zimwi tulichome,	We all decided we must spear the creature
Mpaka tuliue au lituteme.	Until we killed it or it spit us out
Basi kila mtu kashika imara	Well then every one firmly grasped
Chochote kinachoweza kuparura	Whatever would be able to scratch (at him)
Na kuacha alama isiyofutwa:	And leave irremoveable marks
Mikuki, mapanga, visu, mawe pia	Spears, pangas, knives, even rocks
Vilivyokuwa vimemezwa na zimwi	Things that had been swallowed by the creature
Tukavitafuta kulichoma zimwi.	We searched for them to run the monster through.
11. Na mara shambulio tukalianza	And as soon as we began the attack
Huku sauti za chuki twazipaza:	All the while raising voices of loathing:
Toboa litumbo la nduli kafiri	Puncture open the odious stomach of the accursed beast
Atakaye tumbole lituhasiri!	Who wants his stomach to destroy us!
Tukalichoma, tukalikata sana,	We plunged our weapons in, we severely cut it,
Damu humo ikatiririka sana.	Its blood inside was gushing out.
12. Ilikuwa kidogo tu imebaki	There was just a little bit left (to cut )
Tutoboe nje ya zimwi kwa haki,	For us to truly bore out of the creature
Ila mara tukasikia laliya,	But all of a sudden we heard it howl
Kadhalika kuanza kuwayawaya!	And as well begin to totter and sway!
Mara hiyo hiyo likatutapika,	All of a sudden then and there it vomited us up,
Ghafla bwa! sote chini tukabwagika;	Suddenly bwa! we were all spilled out on the ground
Halafu zimwi hilo! Mbioni hilo!	And then that creature! With what speed that one!
Lilizitimua mbio kifarasi	It took off speedily like a horse
Na kupotea upeoni kwa kasi!	And disappeared quickly beyond the horizon!
Nasi sote kwa furaha tukacheka,	As for us we all laughed with joy,
Kwa uhuru na rajua tukacheka.	For freedom and hope we laughed
Kweli hatukwamini hata kidogo,	We could not really believe it at all,
Kuwa tuko huru tulidhani wongo!	That we were free, we thought it untrue!
13. Kweli hii ni nchi yetu asili	Indeed is this our traditional land
Tuliyorithi kwa babu wa awali?	Which we inherited from our first ancestors?
Nchi ilojaa uki na maziwa,	A land filled with honey and milk,
Na ardhi yenye rutuba nakawa?	And a land with the finest fertility?
Kweli hatukwamini hata kidogo	Truly we could not believe it at all
Kuwa tuko huru – tulidhani wongo!	That we were free – we thought it couldn’t be true!
(Nimesema kuwa sote tuliokoka	(Have I said that all of us were saved
Na kwa uhuru na furaha kucheka?	And that with freedom and joy we laughed?
La! Wale walokuwa wameanguka,	No! Those who had fallen,
Kwa bahati mbaya hawakuokoka:	Unfortunately they were not saved:
Zimwi lilipotema walio wima	When the creature spit out those still upright
Lilifunga domo, mbyoni kujitoma!)	It closed its terrible mouth and bolted off in a run!)
14. Ama tulifurahi kuvuta hewa,	Indeed we rejoiced to breathe in the air
Tukatanafusi, vyema tukapumuwa;	We recovered our breath, we breathed well
Ama tulifurahi kuona mwanga	Truly we rejoiced to see the light
Ambao tumboni hatukuuonja;	Which in the (creature’s) belly we never tasted it;
Ama tulifurahi kuishi maisha	Indeed we rejoiced to live our lives
Yetu ya asili ya kuneemesha.	Our earlier grace-filled lives.
15. Wale tuliokuwa tukishangaa,	Those of us who were astounded,
Na wale waliokuwa wakilia,	And those who were crying,
Wale walokuwa wakitetemeka	Those who were trembling
Na waliokuwa wameghadhabika,	And who had been in a rage,
Wale walokuwa wamekaa kimya	Those who had stayed quiet
Na wale kwa msiba walojitoa[4],	And those who surrendered to the misfortune,
Na wale mashujaa wale waongo,	And those false heroes,
Walokaa wamenyosha zao shingo	Who sat with outstretched necks
Naam naam sote kwa hakika	Yes yes all of us indeed
Tukafurahika, tukafurahika.	We rejoiced, we were overjoyed.
16. Ngoma zikapigwa kusherehekea	The drums were beaten in celebration of
Hii siku yetu ya kujiokoa,	This our day of deliverance,
Sherehe kubwa sana ilifanyizwa	A very great celebration was prepared
Ajili ya wokofu toka kumezwa.	In honor of our deliverance from being swallowed.
Hata hivyo tuliuchunga upeo	But even so we kept watch on the horizon
Ambapo zimwi lilipitia mbio;	Where the creature had passed over in a rush
Hata leo upeo tunaulinda	Even today we guard the horizon
Kwa wangalifu sana tunaulinda.	With diligent watchfulness we protect it.
Tunajua mwewe akiona kuku	We know that the kite on seeing chickens
Huwatamani kuwala kila siku,	Desires at all times to eat them,
Kimburu akiwaona vifaranga	When the feral cat sees chicks
Hujia daima kuwazongazonga!	It always comes round to creep up and attack them.

^[1]Text has kukufika; Kahigi corrected this to hukufika.

^[2]Text has kukuonjesha; Kahigi corrected this to hukuonjesha.

^[3] Text has limetulega; Kahigi corrected this to limetuloga.

^[4] Test has walijitoa; Kahigi corrected this to walojitoa.

Summary

In this allegorical composition the poet speaks of disaster in the guise of a monsterous creature which has ravaged the land and its people.  In vivid imagery he describes the horror of its predations. In the end it is driven off by the concerted efforts of the people.  A reasonable interpretation holds that the zimwi, so vividly described, is colonialism.

Glossary

ali	[v. BE]	Past tense , -a- + li (see Grammar Notes). Na kumbato lao lali ni mswano; And its embrace was good (M&K-MU3). Au ni zimwi lali limetuloga; Or had the evil one bewitched us (M&K-MU3). Usiku huo twali tumesinzia, Na ndoto kwa wing tukijiotea; That night we were carelessly asleep, And dreams in abundance dreaming of ourselves (M&K-MU2).
ama	[intrj.]	Indeed, certainly, truly; see Arabic in FJ gloss following (TJH). Expression of annoyance, impatience, etc., like ala, and ati, also (2) used in asking a question. Ama! huna habari ya mambo yaliyotokea jana? I say, have not you heard of what took place yesterday? Ama! yeye ni mjinga tu, Oh! he is only a fool. (Ar. truly, indeed, etc.). Ama tulifurahi kuvuta hewa; Indeed we rejoiced to draw in the air (M&K-MU14).
baa	[n. 5/6]	Evil, disaster, calamity, anything which brings bad luck or disaster; (2) an ill-omened person, one who causes disaster, brings bad luck (FJ). Ni wachache waloweza kukimbia, Na kwokoka kumezwa na zimwi baa; There were few who were able to run away, And be saved from being swallowed up by the evil monster (M&K-MU3).
bwa!	[ideo.]	Expressive of the noise of something quickly and forcefully ejected; see bwaga, bwagika, etc. Also see Ashton (1944:313-315) for a list of ideophones. (TJH). Ghafla bwa! sote chini tukabwagika, Suddenly bwa! we were all spilled out on the ground (M&K-MU12).
bwagika	[v. st.]	Be thrown down, be spilled out (TJH). See –bwaga throw off, throw down, relieve oneself of (as to, with). Bwaga mzigo, tip a load off one’s shoulders, throw it on the ground. Bwaga moyo, rest the mind, throw off melancholy, be cheered. Bwaga wimbo, give a lead in singing. Bwaga matukano, let off a volley of abuse. Bwaga manza, cause contention, litigation, etc. Jibwagia moyo, relieve one’s mind (FJ). Ghafla bwa! sote chini tukabwagika, Suddenly bwa! we were all spilled out on the ground (M&K-MU12).
chefuka	[v. st.]	Be sick to the stomach, be nauseous (TJH). Cause (sic) a feeling of sickness, or nausea (FJ). Nasi ndipo kuchefuka kukazidi, And as for us then our own nausea increased even more (M&K-MU5).
chefuzi	[n. 9]	Nausea, queasiness, vomiting, retching; Something nauseating, unpleasant, disagreeable, abominable, offensive, gross, sickening, repulsive, disgusting (TJH). Not in FJ in this form but see -chefuka cause (sic) a feeling of sickness, or nausea; kichefuchefu nausea, a sick feeling (FJ). Also see chafua: fanya kuwa chafu; tia takataka; haribu. 2. tawanya ovyo; vuruga, fujo. 3. tia hasira; kasirisha, chukiza: chafua moyo fanya mtu kutaka kutapika. Pia chefua (KKS). Twali tumboni mwa zimwi – pa chefuzi; We were in the belly of the zimwi – a disgusting place (M&K-MU3).
chuki	[n.9]	Ill humour, bad temper, dislike, resentment (FJ). See -a chuki [adj.] hateful, loathing, horrible, despicable (TJH). Huku sauti za chuki twazipaza; All the while raising voices of loathing (M&K-MU11).
dara	[v. tr]	Seize, catch, touch, arrest (FJ). Usingizi tulipokuwa ‘medarwa, Ni wachache waloweza kukimbia; When we were taken (in our) sleep, There were few who were able to run away (M&K-MU3).
dhiki	[n. 9/10]	Distress, stress, pain, agony, strain (TJH). Narrowness, want of space, confinement; 2. being pressed, annoyance, distress (FJ). Pengine hukuonjesha nyingi dhiki; Sometimes it makes you taste much agony (M&K-MU1).
domo/ma-	[n. 5/6]	Terrible, ugly, nasty mouth (TJH). See mdomo 3/4 “mouth” (FJ). Zimwi … lilifunga domo, mbyoni kujitoma; The creature … closed its terrible mouth and bolted off in a run! (M&K-MU13).
fanyizwa	[v. cs. ps.]	Be prepared, be made, be provided (TJH). Cause to make, cause a making of, cause to be made, repair, but in order, mend, have (a thing) done (by giving orders, personal attention, &c.), provide, get ready (FJ). Sherehe kubwa sana ilifanyizwa, A very great celebration was prepared (M&K-MU16).
fofofo	[ideo.]	Completely, absolutely, but only used with kufa, to die, and kulala, to lie down or sleep. Amekufa (amelala) fofofo, he is absolutely dead (fast asleep) (FJ). Tulale fofofo kwa wake uganga; So we would be dead asleep from his spell (M&K-MU2).
ganuwa	[v. tr.]	Tell story; back formation from ngano story, tale (TJH). Not in KKS/FJ. Kwenye ngano wazee walizoganuwa, In the stories which the old men told (M&K-MU1).
hasiri	[v. tr.]	Injure, damage, hurt, inflict loss on (FJ). Toboa litumbo la nduli kafiri, Atakaye tumbole lituhasiri; Puncture open the odious stomach of the accursed beast Who wants his stomach to destroy us (M&K-MU11).
ishara	[n. 9/10]	Sign, signal, omen, indication, warning, hint. 2. token. 3. a wonder, remarkable, thing, fact. etc. (FJ). Lakini msiba hauna ishara; But misfortune has no warning (M&K-MU1).
jama	[n. 9/10 an.]	See jamaa: number of persons gathered or collected together, family, society, company, assembly, gathering, meeting (FJ). Chap, guy, bloke (K&K). Tazama, jama, janga limetuponza; Look, folks, a calamity has put us in danger (M&K-MU8).
janga	[n. 5]	Difficulty, trouble, annoyance, danger, calamity (FJ). Tazama, jama, janga limetuponza; Look, folks, a calamity has put us in danger (M&K-MU8).
jawa	[v. ps.]	Be filled, be full, esp. of what are not natural, suitable, usual contents (FJ). Waliokuwa wamejawa ghadhabu, Those who were filled with rage (M&K-MU9).
jitoa	[v. reflx.]	Give oneself up, surrender oneself (TJH). Give up, resign, yield, e.g. adui wakajitoa, the enemy surrendered (FJ). Wengine wakajitoa kwa msiba; Some surrendered to the disaster (M&K-MU4).
jitoma	[v. reflx.]	Take off in a burst of energy, bolt off in a hurry (TJH). See -toma: Thrust in, usu. with the Reflx. kujitoma, to thrust oneself in, burst in (FJ). Ingia ghafula au kwa nguvu (KKS). Zimwi … lilifunga domo, mbyoni kujitoma; The creature … closed its terrible mouth and bolted off in a run! (M&K-MU13).
kafiri/ma-	[n. 5/6]	Accursed, cursed, abominable, god-awful (TJH). One who is not of the Muhammadan religion, an infidel, an unbeliever, an atheist, a pagan, an apostate (FJ). Toboa litumbo la nduli kafiri; Tear open the odious stomach of the accursed beast (M&K-MU11). NB: In this citation the sense of “accursed”, etc. derives from the religious denotation of the word.
kimburu/vi-	[n. 7/8]	Feral cat (TJH). Semi-wild cat (FJ). Aina ya mnyama kama paka anayeishi porini na agh. hukamatakamata vifaranga vya kuku (KKS). Kimburu akiwaona vifaranga, Hujia daima kuwazongazonga; When the feral cat sees chicks, It always comes to creep up and attack them (M&K-MU16).
kithiri	[v. i.]	Get to be more, do in addition, cause to be more, increase, grow (FJ). Wengine tukakithiri kushangaa; As for the rest of us, we all the more were astonished (M&K-MU7).
kumba	[v. tr.]	Push, shove, press against, jostle, attack, e.g. alikumbwa na simba, he was sprung upon by a lion (FJ). Ambao ulikuwa umewakumba; Which had afflicted them (M&K-MU4).
kwa haki	[adv.]	Truly, certainly, etc. (TJH). Ilikuwa kidogo tu imebaki, Tutoboe nje ya zimwi kwa haki;  There was just a little bit left (to cut ), For us to truly bore out of the creature (M&K-MU12).
lala fofofo	[v. phrase]	Sleep deeply, sleep soundly, be dead asleep (TJH). See fofofo (FJ). Tulale fofofo kwa wake uganga; So we would be dead asleep from his spell (M&K-MU2).
litumbo	[n. 5/6 derog.]	Sickening, vile, odious, stomach; also jitumbo [TJH]. Toboa litumbo la nduli kafiri; Puncture open the odious stomach of the accursed beast (M&K-MU11).
loga	[v. tr.]	Bewitch, use enchantment on, place under a spell or charm, practice black magic against with intention to do harm (FJ). Au ni zimwi lali limetuloga; Or had the evil one bewitched us (M&K-MU2).
maizi	[v. tr.]	Know, understand, recognize (FJ). Jua, tambua, fahamu, elewa (KKS). Bali tunajua tulipomaizi; But we just knew when we knew (M&K-MU3).
masaibu	[n. 6]	Calamity, misfortune; see -sibu afflict, bring misfortune (ruin, damage) upon (FJ). Masaibu haya njia zake tata; Such misfortunes, their ways are a mystery (M&K-MU2).
mbio	[n. 9/10; adv.]	Quickly, rapidly, speedily, in a rush (TJH). Act of running, running with speed, fast. Piga mbio, run. Enda mbio, go quickly (FJ). Lilizitimua mbio kifarasi; It took off speedily like a horse (M&K-MU12).
mbyo	[n. 9/10; adv.]	In a run, quickly, etc.; see mbio (TJH). Lilifunga domo, mbyoni kujitoma; It closed its terrible mouth and bolted off in a run (M&K-MU13).
mnuko/mi-	[n. 3/4]	Smell, odor, stink, stench (TJH). A bad smell (FJ). Mnuko ukazidi, tukatapika; As the stench increased we vomited (M&K-MU6).
msiba/mi-	[n. 3/4]	Misfortune, disaster (TJH). Calamity, misfortune, untoward accidents, disaster; (2) sorrow, distress of mind, grief; (3) formal mourning, outward signs of sorrow, etc. Used of war, famine, sickness, and minor calamities. Msiba mkuu (mkubwa, mgumu), a great disaster. Frequently refers to a bereavement, i.e. msiba wa baba yake, the death of his father. Vaa nguo za msiba, wear mourning. Fanya (ona, ingia, pata, &c.) msiba, take to heart, grieve (over). Kwenda kupa mkono wa msiba, go and make a visit of condolence, offer sympathy, inquire after—after a funeral, misfortune, etc. Akakaa msiba wa mama yake, he observed the usual mourning for his mother. Prov. Hakuna msiba usio na mwenziwe, misfortune never comes alone (FJ). Lakini msiba hauna ishara; But misfortune has no warning (M&K-MU1).
mswano	[adj.]	Good (invariable; origin apparently Hehe; slang? Not in common use; may be a regionalism (West Lake)). Not in FJ. Na kumbato lao lali ni mswano; And its embrace was good (M&K-MU2).
murua	[adj.]	Excellent, outstanding, perfect (TJH). Nice, pleasing, beautiful, elegant (FJ). Tutalipatia murua afia; We will furnish perfect health for it (M&K-MU8).
mwongo/wa-	[n. 1/2]	Liar, impostor, inventor of falsehoods, deceiver, perverter of the truth (FJ). Wengine mashujaa walo waongo; Others with false bravado (Other brave ones who are imposters) (M&K-MU7).
nakawa	[adj.]	Clear, good-looking, in sound condition, of fine quality—of persons and things (FJ). Na ardhi yenye rutuba nakawa; And a land with the finest fertility (M&K-MU13).
nduli	[n. 9/10]	Beast (see TUKI for ‘beast’: katili) (TJH). Savage person, a killer, murderous, blood-shedding; 2. the angel of death, Izraili. (Perh. from ua (ula), kill) (FJ). Mtoa roho; adui asiye na huruma; dhalimu, katili. 2. malaika wa mauti; Izraili. Toboa litumbo la nduli kafiri; Puncture open the odious stomach of the accursed beast (M&K-MU11).
nenepesha	[v. cs.]	Fatten, make fat; see –nene fat, in good shape, healthy (TJH). Make stout (FJ). Tutaoza tulinenepeshe zimwi, We will rot to fatten the monster (M&K-MU8).
nono	[n. 14; adj.]	Deep sleep; deep and undisturbed (sleep), soundly (as in sleep) (TJH). See lala unono sleep well (FJ). Tuliulala usingizi nono; We slept a deep sleep (M&K-MU2).
nyotea	[v. appl.]	Rain upon (TJH). Not in FJ/K&K. See nyotanyota drizzle, used of drizzling rain, and nyonyota drizzle (FJ). Kwamba leo utawanyotea ufu; That today death would rain down upon them (M&K-MU4).
okoka	[v. st.]	Be saved (TJH). See –okoa save, rescue, deliver, preserve (FJ). Na kwokoka kumezwa na zimwi baa; And be saved from being swallowed by the monster (M&K-MU3).
onja	[v. tr.]	Taste, take a taste of; (2) try, test, examine (FJ). Mzee kidogo, maisha ‘meonja; Somewhat old, he had already tasted life (M&K-MU8).
onjesha	[v. cs.]	Give someone something to taste, make taste (TJH). In FJ, but no gloss given. See -onja taste (FJ). Pengine hukuonjesha nyingi dhiki; Sometimes it makes you taste much agony (M&K-MU-1)
otea	[v. prep.]	Dream about (FJ). Usiku huo twali tumesinzia, Na ndoto kwa wingi tukijiotea; That night we were carelessly asleep, And dreams in abundance dreaming of ourselves (M&K-MU2).
parura	[v. tr.]	Abrade, cut, lacerate (TJH). Scrape, scratch (FJ). Chochote kinachoweza kuparura; Whatever would be able to scratch (at him) (M&K-MU10).
pindukia (~ (-a) kup.)	[adj.]	Total, complete, absolute (TJH). Ni jambo la kijinga kupindukia; It is something completely stupid (M&K-MU8).
pomo	[adv.]	Full to the brim, over-full (TJH). Kabisa (Kahigi). See pomoni: mpaka juu; tele (KKS); chock-full, crowded, full to overflowing (FJ). Tulikuwa humo tumejaa pomo; We were inside there, we filled it up completely (M&K-MU3).
ponza	[v. cs.]	Caused to be crushed, etc. but esp. 2. put in danger, risk, speculate with, make a venture, do by hazard, be reckless (FJ). Tazama, jama, janga limetuponza; Look, folks, a calamity has put us in danger (M&K-MU8).
rajua/ma-	[n. 5/6]	Hope (FJ). Ndipo akatutazama kwa rajua; And then he looked at us with hope (M&K-MU8).
shime	[intrj.]	Come on now, let’s take action, let’s get going (TJH). Used as a call or appeal urging on to further effort (FJ). Shime wananchi tutafute njia; Come on now, countrymen, let us look for a way (M&K-MU8).
sinzia	[v. i.]	Doze, be drowsy; (2) be inattentive, absent-minded, make a foolish mistake; (3) of a lamp or fire, flicker. This word is used to describe thieves who steal while one of their number distracts the attention of the victim, wevi sinzia (FJ). Usiku huo twali tumesinzia; That night we were carelessly asleep (M&K-MU2).
tamba	v. i.]	Strut proudly, walk in a swaggering, conceited way, leap, dance, e.g., of warriors returning in triumph from victory (FJ). Rajua machoni mwao ilitamba; Hope leaped forth in their eyes (M&K-MU9).
tanafusi	[v. i]	Breathe, draw breath, recover breath (FJ). Also see nafasi: breathe, draw breath, recover breath (FJ). Tukatanafusi, vyema tukapumuwa; We recovered our breath, we breathed well (M&K-MU14).
tapatapa	[v. redup.]	Thrash about, struggle, move convulsively (TJH). Shiver, tremble, shudder, jump about convulsively, because of cold, fear, also as a man does struggling in the water in danger of being drowned (FJ). Ulipokithiri tukatapatapa; When it got worse, we struggled and thrashed about (M&K-MU6).
tata/ma-	[n. 5/6; adj.]	Something entangled, puzzle, mystery (TJH). Tangle, entanglement, mess, difficulty, perplexity; see –tata tangle, complicate, confuse (FJ). Masaibu haya njia zake tata; Such misfortunes, their ways are a mystery (M&K-MU2).
timua	[v. tr.]	Make something go off quickly (TJH). Fanya kitu k.v. mtu au mnyama kiende kwa ghafla; kurupusha (KKS). Not in FJ, but see –timka trot, run, amble—of the running movement of an animal (FJ). Lilizitimua mbio kifarasi; It took off speedily like a horse (M&K-MU12).
timua mbio	[v. phrase]	Send off in a great hurry, rush away, rush off, take off, bolt off (TJH). Lilizitimua mbio kifarasi; It took off speedily like a horse (M&K-MU12).
tiririka	[v. i.]	Flow, move as a current, gush out (TJH). Glide, trickle, slide along, e.g. of the movement of a snake, of water, etc. (FJ). Enda kwa mfululizo k.v. maji katika mfereji au mto (KKS). Damu humo ikatiririka sana; Its blood inside was gushing out (M&K-MU11).
toboa	[v. tr.]	Perforate, puncture, bore through (TJH). Bore a hole (in), make a hole (or passage), force a way (through) (FJ). Toboa litumbo la nduli kafiri; Puncture open the odious stomach of the accursed beast (M&K-MU11).
uchefuzi	[n. 14]	Nausea, foulness, pollution, corruption, defilement, contamination; see chefuka and chefuzi (TJH). See kichafuzi pollutant (TUKI). Ndipo mara uchefuzi ukazidi; It was then all of a sudden the foulness became excessive (M&K-MU5).
ufu	[n. 14]	State of being dead, death, deadness, numbness (FJ). Kwamba leo utawanyotea ufu; That today death would rain down upon them (M&K-MU4).
uganga	[n. 14]	Charm, spell, magic (TJH). Art (profession, fee) of a native doctor, doctoring, healing, surgical and medical aid—including use of charms, &c.; (2) medicine, charm, e.g. pika (fanya, weka) uganga, concoct (make, place in position) native medicine. Also ee topoa mtu uganga release a man from the power of a charm (FJ). Tulale fofofo kwa wake uganga; So we would be dead asleep from his spell (M&K-MU2).
uki	[n. 14]	Honey; see nyuki bee (FJ). Nchi ilojaa uki na maziwa; A land that is filled with honey and milk (M&K-MU13).
yongayonga	[v. redup.]	Totter and stumble, wobble along, move clumsily (TJH). See –yonga sway, bow or bend down, stagger under a weight or from feebleness (FJ). Tukayongayonga na pia kwanguka; We tottered and stumbled about and even fell (M&K-MU5).
zimwi	[n. 5/6]	Evil one, fiend, monster, creature (in the modern sense of something frightful) (TJH). Spirit, fairy, demon, goblin, ogre, ghost (FJ). Au ni zimwi lali limetuloga; Or had the evil one bewitched us (M&K-MU2).
zongazonga	[v. redup.]	Creep up on and attack; nyemelea (Kahigi). See -zonga: Wind, bend about, coil round; 2. fig. puzzle, confuse (FJ). Zunguka agh. kwa mambo mengi kumzunguka mtu mpaka yakakaribia kumshinda (KKS). When the feral cat sees chicks, Hujia daima kuwazongazonga; It always comes to creep up and attack them (M&K-MU16).