06 December 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Panotyoka gumbo
ziso rinobudisa misodzi.
When the leg breaks, the eye sheds tears.
When one's friend gets into trouble, one sympathizes with him.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
03 December 2011
29 November 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chiripo-chiripo
ndarira imwe hairiri.
What is there is there, one bracelet does not tinkle on its own.
Everything that happens has a cause; nothing just happens by chance.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
26 November 2011
22 November 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chidembo hachinzwi kunhuhwa kwacho chomene.
The pole-cat cannot smell its own stink.
A person rarely blames himself. All people point to the mistakes of others leaving their own blunders untold.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
19 November 2011
15 November 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Kashiri kapangami kanovaka dendere neminhenga yedzimwe shiri.
A clever bird builds its nest with other birds' feathers.
A man who prospers often does so at the expense of others. People suspect that a successful businessman has got rich because he has shrewdly exploited others.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
12 November 2011
08 November 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Ukaona tsuro yomisa nzeve
yonyera nhanga yokutiza.
When you see a hare raising its ears it is about to run away.
When a usually composed person acts oddly or suspiciously it indicates that he wants to avoid blame or embarrassment. People quote the proverb at the chief's court to warn the judges of the cunning of the accused.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
05 November 2011
01 November 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Zvaita sei kuti chembere yorasika
bere rorutsa imvi?
Why is it that an old woman is lost and the hyena vomits grey hairs?
People become suspicious of a coincidence which could only be disproved by an alibi. A mother who misses a tin of sugar will suspect the child who has some grains of sugar on his lips.
Like the English saying, "Where there's smoke, there's fire."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
29 October 2011
25 October 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Rushavashava rune zizi
kwarafamba rinonzi muroyi.
It is the owl's bad luck to be called a witch wherever it goes.
An unfortunate fellow will always be blamed when something goes wrong, even when he is not responsible. An innocent person will quote the proverb in self-defence against those who accuse of a crime.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
22 October 2011
18 October 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Zinyakurasikirwa anotsvaga uta nomugate.
One who has lost his bow will look for it in a clay pot.
When a person loses something he really needs he will search for it desperately even in the most unlikely places.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
15 October 2011
11 October 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Nhamo haina duku.
Trouble is beyond any measure.
It does not need long suffering or great trouble for a person to lose his bearings. Quite a small mishap can deprive him of his happiness.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
08 October 2011
04 October 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Nhamo haigochwi.
Misery cannot be roasted.
Life is haunted by misery and there is no ready-made means to counteract it.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
01 October 2011
27 September 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Shure kwenzara
maguta.
After famine follows abundance (of crops).
In spite of being exposed to so many vagaries of nature, the Shona people strongly believe that things will finally work out to their advantage. This is a popular proverb quoted to encourage anybody in a desperate situation.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
26 September 2011
24 September 2011
Who's The Boss?
A couple of impala bucks testing each other. They were part of a herd of young bucks at the Antelope Park in Gweru, Zimbabwe. Possibly the winner would consider challenging the dominant buck in the game park for his harem.20 September 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Homwe yerombe haina chainosiya.
A beggar's bag takes everything.
The have-nots cannot choose. They have to accept anything, however small. Like the English saying, "Beggars can't be choosers."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
17 September 2011
13 September 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chimedza matore
haachadzipwa nepfupa remhuru.
One who is used to eat old cows will not be choked by a calf bone.
A person feels confident of being able to do small things when he has successfully undertaken bigger and more difficult tasks in the past.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
10 September 2011
07 September 2011
06 September 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Shungu dzinomona kana musungo wapotsa.
Grief grips (the heart) if a set snare misses (its target).
When people fail to achieve what they have firmly hoped to get they become very disappointed. For instance, an employee will be very worried if his hopes for promotion are not fulfulled.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
05 September 2011
03 September 2011
29 August 2011
Moçambique Trash City
Moçambique Trash City
For some, recycling is not a choice for saving the environment. It is a choice for survival itself.
28 August 2011
27 August 2011
Waterfall inside Mt. Meru Crater
A waterfall inside the crater of Mt. Meru -- Arusha, Tanzania
I'm not sure which presentation I prefer. Your choice?
20 August 2011
16 August 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chinobhururuka chinozoguma nokumhara pasi.
That which flies ends up by perching on the ground.
A person bragging of his high status or reputation will sooner or later experience humiliation that he cannot escape. An imperious young woman who thinks she is the prettiest girl in the world will lose her glamour when getting on in years.
Like the English saying, "Pride goes before the fall."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
13 August 2011
09 August 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Mukutanda mapfeni
ndimo munowanikwa ndimo.
While chasing baboons one discovers a new field (to plough).
One who does not travel and, instead, keeps all by himself will never get acquainted with new ways and ideas.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
06 August 2011
02 August 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chirungu chakauya nechirungurira.
Westernization brought indigestion.
Western ways have replaced African customs to an extent that the changes are referred to as epidemic.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
30 July 2011
Warthog's Wallow
When we lived in Pemba, Moçambique we would make several trips a year out to Lilongwe, Malawi either to meet our older son coming home from school in Kenya or to take him to the airport to fly back to school. (Pemba has an airport, but service to Nairobi, Kenya was not available. Sometimes charter flights could be arranged with several groups sharing a flight.)
Most of the time we would drive from Pemba to Nampula (5 - 6 hours) and spend the night with friends. Then we would proceed to Mocuba and spend the night either with friends or at a guest house (6 - 12 hours depending upon road conditions). The next stage of the journey was either to Mulanje, Malawi where we would visit friends, or directly on to Blantyre where we stayed in a guest house. Usually the choice was based upon road conditions. It could be 4 - 8 hours to the Malawi border (Mulanje is just across the border) or 6 - 10 hours all the way to Blantyre. From Blantyre to Lilongwe was about a 4 hour trip on a good road.
(Click on map for larger view)
Sometimes, when the road conditions were "good" we would take a northern route from Nampula out to Malawi. This route would take us through Cuamba, Moçambique, across the border through Mangoche, Malawi and on to Liwonde, Malawi where we would spend the night. This would usually be about a 10 hour trip.
Friends discovered an economic place to stay in Liwonde that was clean and comfortable. They introduced it to us -- Warthog's Wallow.
Warthog's Wallow was a collection of rondavals on the bank of the Shire River. There was one for eating, an observation "tower" and several individual sleeping quarters.
A wooden walkway was constructed over the swampy bank of the river out to the water's edge.
(Younger son, Luke, coming back from the Shire River)
Although we never saw warthogs or any signs of warthogs, hippo sign (and sounds) were abundant. From the walkway one can regularly see fresh hippo tracks in the mud. At night the grunts of hippo can wake all but the soundest sleeper.
The observation tower is a good place to observe the hippo during their nocturnal wanderings. Although we wanted to observe the hippo, we were always too tired to stay up until they arrived.
There's even a small pool at Warthog's Wallow. We never used it. It was usually so late when we arrived that we would just eat our evening meal and go to bed. We would usually continue our journey early the next morning. The staff were always nice enough to have breakfast ready for us by 4:00 A.M. so that we could start in the dark and arrive at our destination before sun down (usually).
I don't miss driving for hours on the horrible roads, but I do miss the beauty of Warthog's Wallow and surroundings.
26 July 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chingoma chiririsi
ndicho chiparuki.
The drum that sounds loudly is the one that bursts.
Once a thing is talked about too often it becomes stale and loses its appeal.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
23 July 2011
19 July 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chandiwana nhasi
chichazokuwanawo mangwana.
What has befallen me today will befall you tomorrow.
Like the English expression, "What goes around comes around."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
16 July 2011
12 July 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Chura kugara mumvura
handi kunwa.
A frog living in water does not mean it is (always) drinking.
Do not be misled by appearances into making rush judgements.
Like the English, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
09 July 2011
05 July 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Tsuro pfupi
haitemi uswa hurefu
A short hare does not cut tall grass.
It is not wise to attempt what is beyond one's energies or capabilities.
Much like the English expression "Don't bite off more than you can chew."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
03 July 2011
29 June 2011
28 June 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Nhamo haityi imwe.
A misfortune is not afraid of another one.
Misfortunes never come singly. Thus people should not delude themselves into thinking that one misfortune precludes another.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
27 June 2011
My Prayer for Robert Mugabe
I pray that Robert Mugabe will go to heaven when he dies.
When he gets there he will see God welcoming the victims of Robert Mugabe's and ZANU-PF's violence and misrule. As God heals their wounds, physical, mental and psychological, He commends them on their courage, perseverance and faithfulness to truth and justice.
Then God will turn to Robert Mugabe and say, "Welcome Bob! Come on in. I forgive you and love you." Mugabe's past victims will join in saying, "We forgive you, too!"
And THAT will be hell for Robert Mugabe.
21 June 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Kana shumba ikashaya nyama
inodya uswa
If a lion fails to find meat it eats grass.
A hungry or desperate man is not choosy; he takes whatever comes his way.
Like the English proverb, "Beggars cannot be choosers."
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
16 June 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Urombo hahuurayi.
Poverty does not kill.
Although poverty can frustrate a person it does not deprive him/her of life.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
14 June 2011
05 June 2011
29 May 2011
27 May 2011
22 May 2011
Some New Ways to View Zimbabwe
I'm testing out some new software so I can present the beauty of Africa in different formats. Here are some old photos shown in new ways.
Old photos make old movies.
Fanning Scenes of Zimbabwe
10 May 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Nzara haisukwi setsvina.
Hunger cannot be washed away like dirt.
Misery of some sort is part and parcel of life. You cannot simply shake it off or chase it away. Industry and skill can often overcome it.
Misery of some sort is part and parcel of life. You cannot simply shake it off or chase it away. Industry and skill can often overcome it.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
07 May 2011
03 May 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Mvura yateuka
haina muoreri
Spilt water cannot be collected.
Once a misfortune has occurred it is futile to weep over it or try to retrieve it.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
Like the English saying, "It's no use crying over spilt milk."
26 April 2011
Tsumo - Shumo
Maronda asiri ako
anonhuhwa
Wounds other than yours stink.
Every person is capable of seeing other people's defects but not everyone sees his own. This proverb is quoted against somebody who is reluctant to admit his mistakes.
-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger
Much like "The pot calling the kettle black" in English.
23 April 2011
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