MONGO Proverbs and Fables (400+ Proverbs)-gctid86924

[Mani Kongo]

MONGO Proverbs and Fables (400+ Proverbs)
COLLECTED AND COMPILED BY E.A. RUSKIN - 1921

CONTENTS

FOREWORD
MONGO PBOVERBS...1
MONGO Fables..........59
Subject Index.............94
List of Fables............100

The Mongo ethnic group is present in the actual Democratic Republic of Congo.
Their language is the Lomongo language (also known as Nkundo).

Attached files  MongoProverbsFables.pdf (5.5 MB)

[Mani Kongo]

7.
Loembele ntokaka nkang'oonju isei.
A mosquito feels no pity for an emaciated person.
An oppressor has no pity for the poor.

13.
Bote nk'asi ntacweka nkasa.
A tree without sap does not bear leaves.
A sapless tree is a leafless tree.

48.
Mpamb'emoko ntasangolaka bokoka.
A fallen tree cannot be raised by the strength of one person.

62.
Engamb'ek'etumba ntafikaka.
A great warrior does not honour himself; i.e. does not presume upon his past prowess.

63.
Etumb'ek'olongo efoune la jelo.
A battle in the street must not be fought half-heartedly.
A great undertaking requires whole-hearted

84.
Tsa ntasanemaka.
Tsa ntaongak'isano.
Fire is not to be played with.

93.
Bokolongo w'osongo ntasambaka joko.
A piece of good sugar-cane is not without holes. Even a good person has his faults and blemishes.

148.
Nkema ntakaaka nd'olenga oki wembi.
A monkey does not spring into the trap in which its mate has been caught.
" Profit by the experience of others."

256.
Likambo ntasambaka ncina.
A palaver is not without a reason.

305.
Jofwa ja mbula wae bakungola.
The warning (reminder) of rain is thunder.

308.
Jomo ntasilak'esanga.
By resting only you will never get through the forest.

[Mani Kongo]

179.
Tofela nkoi, ko tofel'andola nd'anza.
We blame the leopard, and we also blame those who go outside.
It is unwise to go out at night when a leopard is known to be prowling about. If a person goes out and is wounded or killed, he will be judged to have been culpable.
Said of those who have disregarded warning.

294.
Olambya likili nd'oyau, tofelake oyokase.
You have left your mark (foot-prints) in the grass (as you fled), do not forget him who is searching for you.
Precaution.

301.
Mboka ee w'oleka efa la liunga.
The road by which you are accustomed to pass cannot be mistaken.

302.
Ocikaki lisala ntayaka ntengela.
He who left his garden does not cease to examine it.

318.
Esende akene nk'iteko asimbi la lisambe nd'aliko.
When a squirrel sees you without a net for catching squirrels, he goes along with his tail up.

324.
Bocwi ow'asi ataye, ekucu etalola.
The person who went for water has not yet come ; the calabash is not yet full.
There is a reason for the delay.

334.
Akosangel'iyo, w'okaka.
When they tell you, hear.

335.
Akosangel'iyo. w'okozaka.
When they tell you, listen.

347.
Lokino j'onkenge otenak'akaka.
You treat leprosy as nothing, and your feet are (ultimately) mutilated by it.
Disregarded warning is inevitably followed by evil consequences.
"Little enemies and little wounds are not to be despised."

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