Kaulu Ka Busongo
Kaulu Ka Busongo
REPRODUCTION OF
Page
THIS PUBLICATION
IS PROHIBITED.
PUBLISHED AND EDITED BY WILSTERS MICHELO
HAATALA KAULU KA BUSONGO
KAULU KA BUSONGO
BY MULAMBO MWEEMBE HAATALA
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HAATALA KAULU KA BUSONGO
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to a captivating world of wisdom and storytelling, where ancient Chitonga proverbs
intertwine with the deepest reflections on life, nature, and human relationships. In this book, we
delve into the treasure trove of Chitonga proverbs, exploring their timeless significance and the
profound truths they reveal. This book will help the reader in the following ways: understand the
meaning of Tonga proverbs. relate Tonga words to English words in terms of meaning. develop
culturally. develop grammatically by constructing correct sentences. learn how to socialize with
others. Chitonga a Bantu language primarily spoken in the Western and Southern regions of
Zambia, is known for its rich and highly expressive cultural heritage. At the very heart of this
linguistic tapestry lie the Chitonga proverbs, cherished as wise sayings passed down through
generations. Each proverb encapsulates a lifetime of experience and observation, carrying within
it the collective wisdom of the Chitonga-speaking community. These proverbs offer a unique
perspective on key aspects of human existence, encouraging introspection, fostering communal
bonds, and providing valuable guidance for navigating life’s challenges.
This book aims to bring the profound wisdom contained within Chitonga proverbs to a wider
audience, honoring the time-honored tradition of storytelling and philosophy that is deeply rooted
in African culture. It is not only a celebration of the Chitonga language but also a testament to the
universal human thirst for knowledge and understanding. Through the pages of this book, you will
embark on a literary adventure, encountering proverbs that explore love, friendship, morality,
nature, and the human condition. Each proverb serves as a doorway into a moment of
contemplation, inviting readers to reflect upon their own lives and the world around them. Whether
you are a scholar of African languages, an enthusiast of world cultures, or simply someone seeking
a profound and thought-provoking read, this book promises to captivate and educate. As you
immerse yourself in the eloquence of Chitonga proverbs, you will gain insight into the cultural
heritage of a vibrant community and discover truths that resonate across time and space.
So, join us on this enchanting journey through the vibrant world of Chitonga proverbs. Let these
age-old words guide, inspire, and challenge you, providing invaluable insights that transcend the
boundaries of language and culture. Open your mind and heart, for wisdom awaits, hidden within
the verses of these cherished Chitonga proverbs.
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HAATALA KAULU KA BUSONGO
KAULU KA BUSONGO 1
When you are about to leave a place / people you were staying / working with, do not quarrel
with them just because you are going away. You may need their help in future. It warns people
not to be over excited and have an ‘I will not come again attitude’ when they are about to leave
people.
People always accuse somebody as the one responsible for the death of a deceased/any bad
event. Used in consoling accused people.
(Any orphan gets advice when the parents of a child counsel their child.)
Whenever you hear words of wisdom/ advice being given to somebody, take them also even
though they are not directed to you, for they will benefit in future.
Where you are to succeed/ achieve, you make only very little effort then things go well.
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When a crime/ omen is about to befall you, it does not give a warning signal but simply happens.
In this way, there is no way one can prevent it.
People do or view things differently and they must not be blamed for being different from each
other. It encourages people to accept diversity of ideas, methodologies etc.
People are good at doing things for others but usually fail to do things for themselves.
Best friends can separate/ kill each other over very small conflicts regardless of how many years
they have been together.
Whenever a group of people set out to do something, not all of them achieve/ succeed.
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It is better to wrong your relatives because the issue is solved internally and does not attract a lot
of people’s attention. But if you wrong non-relatives the crime goes very far.
(Relaxing led to the suffering of a new bride while an old woman got away with it.)
Never be cheated by old employees at work/ other people in any place. If you see them working
slowly / relaxing do not imitate them because they know all the tricks they use in tricking the
boss.
Even if people differ in terms of wealth, intelligence, level of education, skin colour, etc, they are
all people and enjoy similar favours from God.
(Cleverness ends.)
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Everyone has the potential to be rich as long as they think and work very hard.
(The foolish are always safe and the clever end up in trouble.)
Days are different, things change. if you are lucky today, tomorrow you may not be lucky.
A person who doesn’t listen to counsel/ advice is likely to get into trouble, at times we must
accept to be called fools while being counselled.
People who are ill but are able to eat and are active, give others hope for their survival. But if
they stop eating, people tend to panic and think that the patients may die at any time.
If you are demoted from a leadership position, do not be worried/ angry because you be giving
another person a chance. That is how nature operates.
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People must work hard to get the good things they want.
(You do not need to sound a drum to mark the stage of your adulthood.)
People must not wait to be told that they are adults but must see it for themselves and change
their behaviors according to their age.
(Promiscuity is as nice as a bullfrog; once tasted it’s difficult to abstain from it.)
Do not indulge in promiscuity/ prostitution because it’s difficult to desist from it once you start
indulging in it.
If somebody does something for you when you know that you are not able to do it yourself, you
tend to thank him/ her.
One is satisfied and needs no more food, better help those in need by giving them .
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People who are powerless/ financially crippled get into misery the day they encounter problems
they will not be in a position to defend themselves.
Habitual criminals may seem always to get away with it but they could be caught in a single day.
(Generosity cuts.)
People who like assisting others tend to assist other people who are not grateful. Instead of
appreciating the good done for them, they cause trouble.
A wrong thing done once to help somebody in difficulties is not bad and you may not be caught
as long as it is not repeated.
Wealth is never permanent. Prosperous people today are supposed to share with the poor because
tomorrow those who were poor yesterday may be rich and will also assist them.
(A canoe does not wait for a passenger but a passenger should wait for it at the ford.)
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Be punctual in everything you do. A bus / train cannot wait for you. If you are delaying you will
be left behind.
Treat/ handle dangerous people/ items/ chemicals with great precaution otherwise they may
harm/ kill you.
If one is a stranger in an area, one must be very alert and careful not to fall into danger.
(Bride look back and also look forward to where you are going.)
A married woman should neither ill-treat/ neglect her biological parents / relatives nor the
parents/ relatives of her husband.
If a man indulges in adultery, one day the husbands of the women he sleeps with will catch him.
One who loves watching a fight will one day be hurt∕ killed by a stray weapon from the people
fighting. Therefore, keep away from people fighting.
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People must buy their own possessions instead of depending on borrowing. When using your
own tool∕ item, you tend to use it any how without any fear of breaking∕ losing it.
(Do not complain about the size of the gift you are given by somebody.)
Give thanks if you are given something no matter how small it is.
(A sausage tree fruit swings as if it will fall but a ntondo that appears secure falls first.)
Do not wish other people to be hurt/ die, for you are not God. Instead, it’s you who will die and
leave them alive.
Even somebody is a stranger in an area they will always get a person who will accommodate
them for a night or more.
A dedicated vendor/ hawker must allow potential customers (regardless of their appearance) to
look at / touch their wares because by so doing people get to know more about the wares and
then buy.
(If you wrong yourself, you do not complain much. / The one who did it has no venom)
If people hurt/ wrong themselves they do not complain much as compared to when they are
wronged by another person.
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Completely avoiding a problem does not make any progress but if you try to work on it, you will
realize some slight/ big changes.
A promise is a credit. Some people will always try their best to fulfil it regardless of dangers that
they may encounter in trying to fulfil it.
One must not judge bad food by merely looking at it. You must eat it and only by tasting/
vomiting it can you say it’s bad.
If a nice thing you are enjoying is short lived, do not be engrossed in that but try to better
yourself so that even if the good thing passes you will still be in a position to survive well.
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Do your work yourself. Do not always send others to do it. A person who does not do things for
him/herself tend to get his/ her things done badly or not done at all.
(Food being cooked will get ready by constant prodding of the fire.)
Do not underrate your enemies regardless of their size. Every enemy has the potential to harm/
kill you.
(One who plays or likes mud gets a bumper harvest while the other one who hates mud gets
nothing.)
(The eyelid should rescue the for being together means they are friends.)
The behavior of a child resembles either that of the mother or the father. Like mother, like
daughter or like father, like son.
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A person is pretending to be assisting you while he / she has a hidden agenda of either harming
or killing you.
If you take care of people, they will also give lots of good advice.
Never rely much on borrowed items because they will not allow you to work freely and your
work will not be completed in time as the owner can reclaim his or her thing at any time
If you admire something, no matter how bad it appears, you will take or eat it.
We have to work hard to get what we want than relying on other people
People who usually give each other items will always share things.
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(A ford that you are used to can still cause you to be eaten by a crocodile)
Be always cautious in danger zones even if you are very familiar with those places.
(Everything passes).
No matter how difficult a problem you face, one day it will pass.
There are many young men/ ladies who are not yet married. Therefore, if you are not in good
books with your lover do not hesitate to leave him/ her and look for another one.
Opportunities differ from one person to another. If somebody is lucky and gets something it does
not mean that you will also get it even if that person is your friend/spouse. So never crack your
head about how you can also get it.
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Everyone praises their home place even if it’s bad because they know no other place.)
In any discussion there are bound to be some people who have divergent views. This is normal.
If you admire something, better ask for it from the owner rather than steal it.
Hate a person together with his possessions. Do not hate a person and continue to use their
money/assistance/or whatever they have.
If people invite you to eat their food (especially beverages), make sure you let them be the one
who finish that food, meaning, a person maybe bad to others but still be loved by the parents.
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(A pot that fills with your children will end up swallowing you also.)
A person or disease that is killing your children will end up killing you unless you take
precautions before it’s too late.
The last person to perform receives more attention or performs better than others. Those who eat
last are envied by those who will have eaten first.
An ugly person like criticizing beautiful or handsome people. Such people are also very short
tempered.
I will only do what you want after you have done what I want.
(The baleya clan scoop food but the bachimba pulls the pot.)
A greedy person is not content with scooping just enough out, but would rather take the whole
pot even though it is too much.
A predator and a prey can hardly stay together without the prey being eaten or destroyed or
victimised.
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The period for mourning the dead does not cease, therefore, never hurry to the funeral.
Never discuss embarrassing issues in presence of many people. Better move to a secretive place.
Attend to an issue while it is still small, if you delay you will fail to overcome it.
A person who performs the best gets the award. Those who want awards need to excel in
whatever they are doing.
Get married to a man or women whose background you know well to avoid problems in your
marriage.
Having many children is advantageous for defense but providing them with the daily needs is
very difficult.
(A civet cat that has not yet seen what makes saliva in the mouth go dry.)
A person who has not yet experienced a certain problem usually takes it lightly.
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(A clever person is the one who runs away and looks back at the same time.)
Always give yourself time to evaluate and reflect on whatever you are doing so that you
recognize your mistakes and see how you can overcome them.
(Meat is a visitor.)
Wealth is temporary. Good things are sometimes temporary. Therefore, do not boast about them.
A person successfully defends him/herself with a minor detail when everybody was already
convinced that he/she is guilty.
Take a big problem to those people or authorities who will give a final and long-lasting solution,
not to people who will refer you to others after they have failed to make a final decisions/ to give
a lasting solution.
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A person who frequently wishes you bad luck directly/indirectly is the one who bewitches you.
A person who frequently visits you loves you. Treat them nicely also.
A person who comes last /delays gets little/ nothing/ bad things because the good thing will have
been taken by those who come early. It encourages punctuality.
(What falls are ridges (mibundu) and what remains are ridges (mibundu).)
Even if a woman ditches a man she is still going to be married by a man. Even if a man ditches a
woman that man will still marry a woman. Be content with the partner you have.
Anybody, regardless of their leadership position or status can die any day when his or her time
has come.
(The sun does not raise at the same time in the whole world.)
New ideas/technology/civilization never reach all the people at the same time. Even the way they
are accepted within a society will defer from one person to another.
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Use things /tool/ machines / weapons with which you are well versed and do not tamper with
things that you do not know because they may hurt /kill you.
(Catch a bird whose feathers have already been removed and leave the one with feathers.)
Go for already easy things and leave those that will require you to labour first before you get
them .
(tomorrow is yesterday.)
The absence of one member does not bring the operation of that body to a standstill. Even if one
is absent things still move .Never think that your absence will make everything come to a
standstill. It warns people who think they are so important that their absence means everything
will not move smoothly or collapse without them
Even if you run away from a crime, by the time you come back after a long period you will still
be prosecuted.
Never be easily deceived by other people to be at the forefront in doing bad things while they
remain in the background .You will be caught /get into trouble while they survive.
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A useless person who heavily criticizes other people in their absence but when they are present
he fears them and pretends everything is normal.
(A river with still water on the surface is the one with a very strong current beneath.)
Never trust quiet people because most of them are respectable-looking crooks.
Be open with your friend/ other people and never fear to tell them the truth even if it will hurt
them. The truth is painful but is constructive.
A person has faced death many times. It is therefore not a surprise that he/she has died today.
The whole group /tribe is said to be bad because of one person who commits a crime or
has bad behaviour.
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Even if one harvests nothing, one will survive through borrowing from local people. It’s a
different story when none from the area harvest anything; then all people suffer.
Continued bad behavior accompanied by ignoring advice, leads somebody to danger or death.
You can dislike and ill-treat a child but never deny them wisdom or advice.
Better a person be disabled than for them to die because disabled people can contribute
something to the society.
(Nsole is a country.)
Do not aim at exactly achieving what your role model has achieved aim even higher.
(How beautiful are the feathers that went to the night jar.)
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What somebody possess does not suit him or her. Usually, it refers to a beautiful wife married to
an ugly husband or a handsome man married to an ugly wife.
(Both the clay pot and it’s the maker must be beautiful.)
When you love/marry somebody then whole heartedly accept their parents/relatives too. Never
marry somebody and hate his/her parents/ relatives.
(Enquire about farming land and never about the social problems of an area.)
It’s not possible to be ever alert. The person with the intention to do bad knows exactly when the
victim can be unaware.
The collapse of marriage does not bring to an end to the established relations between the two
families.
The death of a person does not stop people from using the name of the deceased in their
conversations.
(Dying is sleeping.)
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No matter how careful/alert one is, one is bound to commit a crime one day unintentionally.
One Must accomplish set objectives before leaving the task. Usually this applies to courting a
lady; make sure she clarifies her position before you let her go.
You achieve what you want by persevering and adding more efforts.
(An animal caught by a snare screams but the one trapped does not.)
A person facing a small problem manages it with others but somebody with big problems usually
feels powerless.
A child with a mother, even if she is disabled, is much better than a motherless child.
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(Tasting is eating.)
No matter how far a place is, if somebody has something important at that place, they will
always get there without any hesitation.
Do not stay with your nephew because he will expedite your death in the event that you die. Your
nephew is the one who takes over your family and property.
(You can keep the body of a person but not his or her heart.)
No one will ever know what the person next to him/her is thinking. It’s impossible to get into the
mind of an individual and know what they are thinking and feeling.
Some people only fight when provoked. They do not provoke others and do not like conflicts.
You achieve what you want by persevering and adding more efforts
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Never bother yourself much about rumors you do not understand properly because you will get
to really know it with time.
(Where you hear the sound of a pestle and mortar that is where the home is.)
Never take seriously any bad talks or insults from a bereaved, sick person or anybody in
difficulties.
(A wrong doer easily forgets but the wronged does not forget.)
People who wrong others easily forget their mistakes while the wronged people hold grudges and
wait for opportunities for revenge.
Enjoy and at the same time have foresight. Never be engrossed in the present good and
temporary life and forget about your future.
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People will only assist you if disclose your problems. If you keep quiet nobody will know what
you need.
Never be entirely dependant on your employer / person keeping you but also have a small piece
of land/home where you can go when you are fired.
(Better stay with a witch because a gossiping person ruins the society)
A witch is better than a person who gossips. A witch only kills one person at a time while a
person who gossips involves lots of people at a time, who, when they fight, may kill each other.
(Better have stomach pains after eating figs than continuing on a hungry stomach.)
People are advised to eat whatever is edible just to keep them going when food is scarce.
It’s bad to mess around with a person / organization from whom you get assistance.
(Where you buried your umbilical cord will always be your home.)
Even if you vow not to come back home and disappear for years, you will go back home one day
for one reason or the other.
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Men are the same and so are women. Even if you dump your wife /husband the one you will
marry will be more or less the same as your former spouse. Therefore, be patient with your
partner.
If you give, the people to whom you give items will also respond by giving you similar or better
items in future.
(If one heap of grass catches fire the near one will also catch fire.)
Your neighbor’s problem is also your problem, therefore, assist each other when the need arises.
If you treat a visitor well, they will also treat you well in future when you meet them somewhere
else.
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When a person is old they entirely depend on their children for all forms of assistance including
food.
Never ill-treat people / visitors because one day you will find your yourself at their place or your
children will end up visiting and need assistance from them.
People who are related will always come together in times of difficulties even if they were
enemies before.
It’s normal for some people to leave jobs, positions, houses so as to create space for others.
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A people with lots of children gets assistance in many ways from the many children.
The second or third wife is usually loved more than the first wife.
You can tell where there is something happening by the crowd streaming towards that place.
(Where a plough was used, you cannot fail to see a maize stalk.)
As long as you put some effort into whatever are doing, one will be rewarded, even if the reward
is small.
People of old age have fewer years remaining for them to die. Or a process is nearing
completion.Never give up ,soon you will make it .
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Somebody is being alerted about something that may happen, especially a conflict or something
dangerous in the area.
(A trap that frequently kills keeps its owner on his / her toes.)
(One can by-pass an anthill without talking to it but not somebody’s home.)
(One can check what is going on the fields but you cannot check what is going on in somebody’s
heart /mind.)
We cannot trust the way we see patients because sometimes a patient may appear to be
recovering when in fact they are about to die.
Do not be embarrassed if you lose in a game or in whatever you are doing because it’s normal .
In any game expect to lose or win.
(Death is a shadow.)
Death is everywhere.
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(Tongue rescue your people, the elbow has its own people.)
Usually, people with little physical power are gifted in verbal defense while those gifted with
power never waste time peacefully resolving conflicts. They tend to use force in settling
disputes.
Usually, a person sent to do something is not the one who is guilty, but the person who instructs
sends that person is the guilty one.
Even if a person is very old, he/she is still needed by his / her relatives.
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What is said first usually carries more weight than what is said later.
A new person usually pretends to be nice during early days but tend to reveal his/ her true
colours later.
A person was easy to cheat in the past but now very clever. We usually become wise because of
people around us.
A person who assisted you in doing something must be rewarded in whatever way to show
appreciation.
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(News is stolen.)
The ear usually listens to issues not meant for it. Its normal
(Gossiping and bad talk do not kill but only cause you not to sleep well.)
People ’s bad talk does not kill. Even if people gossip about you, continue with what you are
doing as long as you know that it will benefit you.
Leave a function, as nice as it is, if you have something else to do; otherwise, if you wait up to
the end, your program will be distracted.
If you are many, when you start doing something together you tend to proceed very well and
finish up at the same time.
People tend to provoke somebody they know is powerless, or do things they know are easy to
accomplish rather than going for something difficult .
(When a pool of water is drying up, water moves towards the center.)
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When people are in problems, they tend to come together to discuss the problems in a bid to
come up with lasting solutions.
It is difficult to keep somebody ’s money because if problems arise, one can use the money.
A visitor cannot finish your resources, therefore, just share with him /her whatever little
resources you have.
(The blood that does not ooze from you is like flowing water.)
You never really feel the pain or the weight of a problem unless it’s yours.
(Bad omens are like food crumbs on a churning stick which is not as easy to clean as a cooking
stick.)
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The cultures of people differ from one place to another. Never think that your culture is superior.
If relatives stay in different places, they remain more united but if they stay together, they can
easily fight and create enmity.
People staying together /friends sometimes do get involved in a conflict. Its normal.
A visitor should not refuse to extend his / her stay at the request of the host.
Try and you may succeed. Do not fear from afar but always try to do /tackle what you can.
Luck/Opportunities usually goes to people who do not know how to use it.
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Do not start a conflict because you think your friends /relatives present will rescue/assist you.
They may not intervene, then you will be thoroughly beaten/killed.
(People are busy but the rumor of their success goes to another person.)
The success of a group of people is usually attributed to their leader rather than to the people on
the ground. For example, the success of the army is attributed to the commander, not the soldiers;
the success of the company is attributed to the manager, not the workers.
When you assist somebody, when he /she is assisted and enjoying the help you gave them ,they
sometimes kill or do harm to you .So not all people are thankful.
Parents put their children first before they think of their own interests, especially in terms of
food. If parents get food, they would rather take the food to their children before they eat.
A person running away from danger seeks refuge anywhere. people who are in problems usually
do not choose help they are offered.
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(Mbubu fruit rescue yourself by being bitter because ntumbulwa fruit has thorns.)
Disabled people are usually good at verbal expression while those with ability usually use force
to achieve what they want.
Never mistake a quiet person for a fool and useless one .You never know what they are capable
and incapable of doing.
Never appreciate anything good from your enemy. It can be a trap meant to capture you.
Never be deceived by a smile from your enemy. It will never be a genuine one .
(Eyes that once saw each other will see each other again.)
People who once met will meet again. Usually used be people bidding farewell to each other.
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Just seeing your lover, even if you do not speak to them, is better than totally missing them.
A person is shy to verbally ask for something that they need, so they indicate that they need it by
the way they look at it.
If you ignore the advice you get from people, you will find yourself in difficulties which people
were warning you against.
(A long heart.)
Having patience even under intensive difficulties tends to be important and Paying .
A junior tends to give in to the needs of his / her superior because of fear of victimization even if
the junior has a good point to make.
A human being is a very complicated animal ; you cannot say you really know a person because
any time they can do the unexpected.
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No matter how hard something is to get , one will always fight for it as long it is of great value to
him
Where a married woman is ill –treated she stays longer than in a marriage where she is well
treated.
A good wife is one who bears both boys and girls, not only girls or only boys.
A person may complain about using something but they do not stop using it because they have
no other option.
If your wife bears a child while still yours, that child is said to be yours even if a different man
fathered that child.
Do not revenge by doing a bad thing if somebody who wrongs you . Leave a bad person alone.
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A person knows him / herself, what they can afford and what they cannot afford in life and also
what disease / weakness they have in life.
A person who stayed in an area for a long period is never forgotten by the people of that area .
Even if he / she dies or moves to another area, residents of his /her former area will continue
referring to him / her.
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A son -in -law must not be ill-treated or made to labour much by the father -in -law.
A son-in-law is usually absorbed into the family of his in-laws and treated like their biological
son.
(A son-in-law is fibre.)
In a marriage a son-in-law ties / brings together his family and the wife’s family in such a way
that a strong relationship is created between the two families.
Your first son-in-law must be respected more than those that come later .
Never laugh at somebody who commits a crime because ,you never know ,it may be you
tomorrow.
Never eat all your food in one day, forgetting that you will need to eat again tomorrow.
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If you give up waiting for someone who has delayed, he /she will arrive immediately after you
depart. In other words, be patient if you are waiting for somebody to come.
A thief / badly behaved person will remain the same. Some people do not stop their bad behavior
/ habits even when put amongst good people.
A boss is only a boss in his / her own territory but outside their area they are as simple /ordinary
as anybody else.
(A mouth is a witch.)
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Everything comprises tiny things brought together. Never underrate those tiny things that when
brought together make big things.
(Do not throw a stone at a single file of women where your mother-in-law is present.)
Never throw a weapon to kill somebody who is in a crowd of people where your relative is.
Instead of killing your target, your weapon will stray and kill your relative.
Never do/discuss anything in darkness because you never know whether you are going it
properly/ who is listening to you.
A person must be given the right to choose the person to marry rather than having a partner
chosen for them.
whenever you advise directed to someone else, get it also for it is your opportunity.
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Never be rigid with your sisters about love affairs because you will not marry them . Leave them
to choose who they want to go out with.
(A person whom you eat with is the one who kills you.)
Your closest friend /relative is the one who can easily kill you because they know how you live
,what you like most and how best to kill you.
An old person is the one who is put at the forefront on behalf of their group /relative when things
are tough. Old people have vast wisdom and experiences which they can utilize to negotiate and
resolve problems.
Mature people never give an offensive answer. If they are not interested in a thing they simple
hide behind a finger instead of directly refusing .
(A respected person is beaten when you are trying to kill a tsetse fly biting him /her.)
It’s not easy to take revenge as an adult, therefore, one tends to exploit a situation which arises to
cover up the revenge process.
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People who get into marriage must be prepared to face a lot of hardships otherwise their
marriage may not last long.
Use whatever you have at that time to shield yourself (pay a fine) from the crime you will have
committed.
A positive response from the ancestral spirits does not come directly but they give through
somebody or open more avenues /opportunities for one to exploit and get what one wants.
Make use of the opportunity, you never know maybe it's the last chance.
Never mess up at the place you have been working/staying from , you never know what the
future brings .
A good wife comes from the people whose background you know well.
(The distance you know well must be traveled with a gallon of water.)
A person who knows the difficulties found at a certain place will certainly prepare him / herself
with all the required things before going there.
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Persist where you want to get something. Even if you are turned
down or chased away, just go back again until the people you are
Do not hide any problem that you are going through , tell the people so they may help .
What is said first usually carries more weight than what is said later .
A man on a journey must carry a defensive weapon , however small ,rather than travel empty
handed . In any place security is needed .
(A home is an axe.)
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Continuous drizzle makes weeding a problem. Series of problems never lead to development.
(A man is a buffalo.)
Never underrate a man when fighting, regardless of his size. He may kill you. As a man keep
working hard.
Never assume that somebody is special to eat something. Give them whatever you have they may
like it.
(A chief is feared mostly by his subordinates but his family members do not fear him.)
Bosses /presidents and other people in leadership positions are highly respected / feared by their
subordinate but are not similarly respected by their family members.
Nobody has everything. Even the very rich people lack some things and have to get them from
poor people.
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A man does not contribute to the increase of his relatives since he only bears children for his
wife’s relatives. In Tonga culture Children belong to the mother's side .
Never care for someone's child because when children grow up, they tend to go back to their
parents while your child will remain with you and look after you.
(That’s how a boy child is arrested; the death of a tortoise is the striking of an axe.)
They always say the child wants this and that when in fact they are the ones who want it.
311. Mwana nguufwa banyina banywa maanzi/ Uulila nyina unywa meenda.
Even if your child /relative dies do not be very concerned but give yourself time to relax because
death is not new. That way you will recover faster.
Never underrate a dangerous thing regardless of its size because it can harm /kill you.
(A child crying for a trumpet made out of castor bean plant should be left alone for it to wilt in
his / her hand.)
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A youngster who ignores his /her parents in what they are saying about his / her lover ends up
facing the problems they were being warned against.
(It is not a surprise for a child of a farmer to be holding a very big cob of maize.)
If it is known that you have such a thing in abundance at your place, no one will be surprised
when you are seen carrying it.
(A young one of a buck does not fight but its ancestors fight for it.)
Innocent people are usually defended by their ancestors when accused of a certain crime.
The organizer /owner of a function is easily identified by the way he /she runs around to attend to
all necessary things while non-involved people relax.
The father at home, bosses at work, know exactly where their subordinates will be at any given
time.
Never rush to blame /kill yourself before you are really sure how bad things are. Wait and act
only when you have confirmed that things are bad.
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Sometimes a visitor helps the people he visited in a very special way. A visitor may buy his /her
hosts something they cannot afford or do something great for them.
A visitor must not be selective in terms of food. Just eat what your host eats.
(Stand beside the dead animal so that you appear as if you are the killer.)
Never attach /align yourself to great achievements if you are the contributor to their
accomplishment.
Always treat the visitors nicely because they are not there to stay
Never put more hope on something you have not yet seen .Accept whatever you have been given
instead of refusing an offer based on what you think you will get.
(I have killed my father but did not get the ancestral spirit badge.)
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Never kill somebody where you are not going to gain anything from his / her death .
(I made vultures starve while they thought they would get eat. )
Someone who narrowly escapes his enemies when they had concluded already that they have
cornered him.
(I have seen it with my vagina /penis-eye for eyes see from afar.)
One would have proved beyond doubt that what has been said /alleged is correct about
somebody /something.
(A cow is a clan)
If you have cows you can use them to pay or solve problems even if your relatives are very far .
A person never helplessly dies /admits defeat but tends to fight back and dies or accepts defeat
after making some form of resistance.
People who are reckless with their property are left alone because they will be destroying their
own property.
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Punctual people always get the best .Those who delay tend to get the worst or nothing at all.
(A cow of one colour tends to have a small spot of a different colour somewhere.)
No matter how good somebody is ,they will have a negative aspect to their character .Nobody is
perfect .
(Cow, let your leg break so that we know where you came from.)
The background of a stranger is known if they get seriously ill or when they are involved in an
accident.
Whenever people are ill /sick they must always contact a doctor /traditional healer . Never
underrate any illness , it may develop into a serious disease later .
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A person deliberately provokes people because he/ she has a dangerous weapon or somebody
strong enough to lean on /rescues him /her when things are tough.
(As a rattle makes a noise it does not make a noise for one person.)
A woman never knows who will marry her. Any man from anywhere can marry her.
Never shun your parents even if you become an influential person. Your parents will always be
your parents.
People usually use the mouth by talking to settle the problems they are facing.
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A stranger in an area has higher chances of being involved in accidents, misfortunes or anything
as compared to those who are already well known.
(A conflict is unpredictable)
If a person is caught doing something wrong, the is usually punished if for the wrong he did in
the past.
(Have a firm grip because the ancestral spirit gives only once.)
Whenever a chance / fortune arises make maximum use of it. You never know, maybe you will
not have another chance.
A good thing is usually done when there are visitors so as to impress them. However, non-
visitors too do enjoy the favour done for the visitors.
Take great care of people who grow up under you for they will also look after you in future.
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(Eyes may not see but the ears hear what is happening.)
People get to know (through other sources) what is happening far away from them. It warns
people not to cheat their friends / lovers because they think they are alone and far from their
partners. Even if they are far they will still come to know what is happening.
Never put your hope on one thing. Better put your hope on many things so that if one of them
fails then you will rely on the other.
Never fear something from afar before you try it. It could be lees dangerous /difficult than you
are thinking .
A person will always go to a place / person where he /she was once assisted in whatever way.
(Where you are coming from must be clean as Well as where you are going.)
(A person who does not take advice is advised when he/she comes back.)
One who does not take advice is better advised when he /she has had a bad experience.
(He who belittle small meat must go and look at the foot prints of a buck)
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(The one who accepts being sent anywhere does not fail to get food.)
A person who is very helpful tends to receive a lot of thanks in various ways.
Never entirely depend on handouts from other people but produce your own food.
There are many issues that affect, delay or disturb somebody to follow their program or fulfill
their promise .
Never belittle or complain about something you receive from your child, be it small, appreciate.
New possession/ friends tend to receive more attention than the old ones.
No matter how secretly something is done ,people will get to know about it .
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(A snake that loves moving around will not know where it will die from.)
An adulterous man can be killed by any of owners of the wives with whom he sleeps.
An individual is never burdened by a load he/ she voluntarily puts on him/ herself. The load
referred to can be dependants to be supported or work to be done.
Never be stubborn /boastful with what you have (especially a temporary thing ) because people
will laugh at you when that thing is no more.
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Whatever item you possess that is not immediately available cannot be used to solve your urgent
problem . What you have on the spot is the important thing.
Never laugh at the disabled because you may have similar or more severe disability or problems
in the future yourself .
Never fear asking about anything you are not clear about. No one will harass /beat you for
inquiring about something as long as you do it politely.
(One who steps on stones tells lies.) A talkative person is usually a liar.
If you are looking for somebody in a new place, better state his /her name so that it becomes
easier for people to direct you to that person.
(A canoe carver must carve his canoe near a path so that those who pass-by advise.)
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If you have an idea / initiative make it known to other people so that they may help you develop
it into a successful thing .By keeping it to yourself you may produce a poorly done thing or even
fail to accomplish it.
Never trust beautiful or handsome people for they are rarely well behaved .All that glitters is not
gold .Even items/ situations that appear good may be bad.
A young person can request a senior person to do something for him /her. It’s normal.
(Daytime has no sorrow because there are many youngsters one can send.)
A couple /somebody without children is blessed during the day as there will be plenty of young
people to assist them but at night there will be no one to assist rather do the task for themselves .
People who commit many crimes are usually rebuked for all crimes they did sometime back once
caught .They will even be accused of being responsible for crimes they did not do .
(One who waits for people to ask for him slept on an empty stomach).
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(Leave your position and give way to people who are still coming.)
Never cling to a position of leadership but be prepared to give way to the young blood with new
ideas.
A person can only be healthy if they are fed by the people they are staying with .
(A person who talks about a wound talks about a wound that she /he had before .)
People who talk convincingly about something are those who experienced it before .
People may say bad things about you but just ignore them provided you are doing what benefits
you .
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Sellers must be flexible enough to reduce their prices in some cases if their goods are to be
bought . Where possible, allow the people to taste .
(He who beats goron tula must listen to where they fall.)
Whenever you are speaking ill of someone in his/ her absence you must check around if there is
anybody who might tell that person and get you into trouble.
(One who promises to return quickly, where he /she goes, there are people who entertain him
/her) If somebody promises to return quickly ,never take it serious because he/ she does not
know what form of disturbances await them where they are going .
Never start a journey without food or money because you will die from hunger. Always carry
something that will assist you, no matter how small it may be.
(One who eats soup for the first time is seen by letting it run down the arm to the elbow.)
One who is a learner in doing something is seen by the poor way they handle or do it.
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(Throw a small branch to the field of a person who will not be able to cultivate.)
Blame a crime on somebody whom you know cannot succeed to defend himself/ herself.
(A baboon missed a branch.) A person who claimed to know everything got stuck.
If one is required to pay a fine /lobola and one does not have the means to do so ,one must show
whatever small items /money one has as an indication of commitment.
Never provoke somebody at their home because they will fight you to death using whatever
weapon available at their house .
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One who avoids conflicts /fights also avoids unnecessary injuries and even death . Such people
tend to live longer.
(You who doesn’t search, you will never find a nice tuber.)
(One who upon seeing a visitor, thinks that relatives smell feces.)
Never shun your old friend /lover in favour of a new one because you do not fully know the
character of your new friend /lover who may disappoint you.
(Getting rich while still young is a bad omen, you get rich through persistence.)
Getting rich while still young is not good because by the time you are old that wealthy will have
evaporated .Better get rich while in the middle /later age when one has mature brain to maintain
the wealthy .
No parent forsakes his /her child or no relatives throws away one of their members regardless of
the nature of crime they have committed.
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A good son-in-law is the one who works very hard for his in-laws not the one who is only smart
and lazy.
(As long as one tastes, the owner is the one who gets a larger share.)
In sharing food, if you are given a small piece that is enough. The owner is the one who gets the
big piece.
(For you to say one is stingy you might have found them eating and they did not give you food.)
One should only accuse somebody of a certain bad behavior if one has enough evidence to
support that claim, such as having caught the accused red-handed.
(For one to return early, it means he found the people he had gone for.)
If one goes to a certain place for something, one is likely to come back early if one finds it
readily available.
(The one who cooks meat of an old animal must cook while there is still time.)
Start tackling issues that need lots of time /doing difficult things while there is still time.
For anything bad done by a child ,it is the parent who blamed .
(A new thing is better than an old one.) New things tend to receive more attention .
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A person without ears but with eyes is better than the one with ears but without eyes .
(One who fails to kill anything when hunting must bring his leg home.)
Even if you fail to achieve /get what you want from a certain venture, do not be shy to come
back home; they will not laugh at you.
(Where your toe points at is also where your relatives will tend to look.)
In polygamy the wife favored by the husband is also the one who tends to be liked by the
relatives of the husband.
(Even at a farthest place one will come back unless they die.)
No matter how far somebody goes but they will always come back home regardless of the period
they were away.
Never kill / ill-treat your partner at divorce but better divorce properly in a peaceful manner.
(One who waits until somebody asks for food is stingy but a generous person simply invites
people to join him/ her.)
Never delay in inviting people to the dining table. If they have to ask you to give them food you
will be perceived as a stingy person.
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(Be rivals at home but defend each other when attacked by an outsider.)
Never support an outsider against your family member /workmate. If you are rivals in a family /
company /organisation, let it be an internal issue only and unite against an outsider when such a
need arises.
(You who dig, dig carefully or else the rats will come out and run away.)
When you talk bad about other People look around to ensure that no One will report. When you
are doing something always be ready to face the Consequences.
When you marry /get married, love the people from both families.
(You who long for a sausage-tree fruit to fall, it is you to fall first.)
Do not wish bad things on people or else it will be you experiencing bad things first.
(It was bad going there but was pleasant when coming back.)
People who go hunting /do something, tend to go reluctantly but will be happy if they succeed
when they have killed /obtained /achieved something.
(Indirect talks to a mature person do work because they will easily twist the meaning.)
Never try to convey a message to an adult in an indirect manner because they will easily change
the meaning. Do that to a young person.
(People with big morsels rescue themselves but one who kills a person is a bad person.)
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If people embark on doing something they must do it with all their strength so that they succeed.
(One who gets into a home must look at the faces of the owners of the home.)
You can tell whether you are welcome or not from the face of the person you are visited.
Better be visited by a stingy person because you will not bother yourself to prepare them
something to eat.
If people are praising the good behaviour of your child will be indirectly praising you because a
parent is largely responsible for the nature of the character of the child.
When people are in problems, they tend not to choose what to eat.
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Even if you hate visiting ,always treat the visitors well because one day even your children might
be hosted by other people .
(Do not talk about a place where you have never been.)
Never talk about a place you have never been to as if you once went there .You never know ,the
person you are talking to might have full knowledge about that place .Don’t try to deceive others.
Never mess up the place you have been working at, you might need it again in future.
A person who fails while trying to do his or her thing has nobody to blame but him or herself.
As long as you are still alive, do not laugh at somebody who is disabled.
Always assist people where you can. Your desire to assist others may encourage the people you
are assisting to reward you.
Endurance /perseverance. One who initiates something must be prepared to follow through with
it regardless of difficulties.
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(Do not boast of a bumper harvest by seeing germinated maize /millet /sorghum plants.)
Never boast about things that are not yet ripe . Something may disturb the success of your
things.
(Let’s eat and deny him/her for he /she will not get anything to give us.)
Successful people must share with those who do not have anything because things may be the
other way round tomorrow.
Wish a visitor to come so that you can get good things or be assisted.
(There is no bad bird; even without a tail one must scratch for food.)
Whatever shortcomings you have, never look down of yourself in front of others.
Consider whatever luck /thing that comes your way as that which will make you successful.
By moving around, you get lots of things /knowledge as compared to a person who does not
move around.
455. Takulizyaligwi.
In many cases parents do not bear children with characteristics that are the same as theirs . A
pastor bears a murderer /drunkard. A murderer /drunkard bears a pastor.
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As long as you are still alive, never despise and laugh at others.
(We do not worship a mother of twins but worship a mother who has miscarried.)
It is better to help the person in more difficulty than the one in less.
The news of whatever happens usually quickly spreads to many people within a short period of
time.
Whatever one produces is not finally used /eaten by one alone but is used /eaten by other people
also who will not have contributed to its production.
In a talk between / among relatives /workmates /friends, an outsider must not interfere
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Never directly communicate to your wife /husband that you no longer love them but show it by
your behaviour. It’s more powerful that way.
In a situation of starvation people who get little food usually survive compared to nothing at all.
People help each other according to how they relate to each other .
(We are few before God but too many when we come to feeding.)
Never be wasteful in terms of food, but conserve food for tomorrow or share.
(My snare, do not catch an animal so that we see how other hunters share.)
Be patient. Always wait for others to demonstrate their skills before you display yours. If you
rush to displaying yours, they may be so outdated that you will be laughed at.
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A person who is very selective tends to starve when plenty of food is available
Never join a group /class of people in the society in which you do not fit . Always try to look for
your level.
Never belittle something before you really prove that you cannot be content with it . Never
belittle your enemy in a fight. They can be small but strong enough to overpower /kill you.
When somebody steals from /wrongs you, do not worry but just be alert because you will catch
him / her red-handed next time when he/she tries to strike again.
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If somebody asks for assistance render him /her that help if you are in a position to assist.
(One who catches bullfrogs in water does not fear a black mamba.)
One who aims to achieve their objective must not be discouraged by the disturbances /difficulties
they encounter during the process until they achieve their goal.
One who alerts you before danger strikes you must be thanked so that tomorrow they alert you
again.
(The one suffering from diarrhoea is the one who fights with the door.)
Never insult /beat up somebody who politely asks for help. if you are not in a position to assist
just leave them alone.
Never feel jealous of somebody eating /using his /her own things . Instead look for yours too.
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(One who demands lobola is not prohibiting you from marrying his daughter.)
No matter how high the payment for lobola is, it does not prohibit you from marrying your
girlfriend, just pay it wholeheartedly.
If you are travelling you must make necessary preparation in time so that you are not left behind
by the bus /train.
A child assists many people including those who are not his/ her parents /relatives .
People on a journey never concentrate on one thing but tend to lay hands on whatever they think
will be helpful in life.
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A person will die poor or get into severe problems which will lead to his /her death.
(Rescue one involved in a conflict because a hungry person easily forgets the assistance rendered
to him /her.)
It is better to assist somebody who is about to be killed than to assist somebody who is hungry .A
hungry person quickly boasts after getting satisfied.
(Even if your child /relative commits an offence you still like him /her.)
Somebody will be admiring an ex-lover who after divorce will have completely changed .
(One is carrying iron bars before they see the black –smith.)
A very ambitious person who talks about a second stage before they pass through the first stage
yet they do not have means /resources/ tools to go through the first stage.
(It troubled one who saw it.) The one who marries is the one who experiences problems in
looking for lobola.
496. Ibwami busalazya meso. (Leadership turns the eyes to red.) Being a Leader is not easy.
(Put your problems before many people so that they are light.)
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Always inform people about your problem so that they can help.
(Don't deep all your legs into the river when trying to see how deep it is)
(The person who is leaking the gossip confirms that the gossip about you was very poisonous)
We should always take Care of ourselves because good things are coming.
Always leave an event while it is still interesting all else your programs will be interrupted.
Sleep will overtake you, no matter how big your problem is.
No matter how experienced in doing something you may be, you are bound to make a mistake
hence, never shun advice.
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(Fruits have fallen into a dish; those that need to be picked are a problem.)
Better to take something already done /prepared than to initiate something, because its time
consuming.
Things have gone wrong or something very important one wanted to get has already been taken
by another
The people in question are equals so that no one can command the other.
-- The End --
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