Cleaning Up Stereotypes Of Africa

Radi-Aid | Africa for Norway

 What stereotypes do you need to help eradicate?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

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."

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.

Tsumo - Shumo

Vaviri-vaviri
wechitatu muzvinaguhwa

Two are two; a third party means gossip.

This proverb points out the disadvantage of having more than one close friend or several wives.

-- Shona Proverb
From Tsumo - Shumo by Mordikai A. Hamutyinei and Albert B. Plangger

Similar to "Two's company, three's a crowd" in English.