Two poems by Muyaka bin Haji, (1776—1840)
Translated from Swahili by Alex de Voogt
K’uk’u wa mkata
Awanguapo halezi! anagaotea na kuta,
Wanawe humpa kozi na mwewe akakamata.
Wakashilia kwa njozi na mwivi nae kapata
K’uk’u wa mkata k’ata na akita haangui.
Hapokewi masikini; mambo yakwe yana k’ota
Milele hushuka tini, heshi ndaa, wala nyota!
Mkiwa hana mwandani, ha ndugu kufuata
K’uk’u wa mkata k’ata na akita haangui.
Note: Italics indicate a dental consonant and an apostrophe indicates aspiration. The rendering of this poem in the Kimvita dialect used by Muyaka follows Mohamed Abdulaziz (1979).
The poor man’s chicken
When she lays eggs, they’re not nurtured even if brooding them succeeds.
They’re surrendered to the vultures and the hawk will also snatch them.
In the end their claws have captured what will be shared by common thieves.
The poor man’s chicken does not brood; if she lays eggs she doesn’t hatch them.
The poor man’s shunned by everyone, his problems constantly renewed.
His decline cannot be undone, he’s suffering thirst or craving food.
No friends for the forsaken one, no kin or brother to include.
The poor man’s chicken does not brood; if she lays eggs she doesn’t hatch them.
Mwenda mbizi nt’i kavu
Risala wangu basiri kambe nao washupavu
Wazidi kutafakari wapumule na uungavu
Watwawapo ni ghururi mbele ni maumivu
Mwenda mbizi nt’i k’avu yuatunua usowe.
Fakam? kuli wangapi wakuzile kama ndovu
Wakit’apaza wafupi kutia katika shavu
Leo wauzwa wendapi? hawatujibu kwa wivu
Mwenda mbizi nti kavu yuatunua usowe.
Khatamtu kadi tama, turuku si pinde mbavu
Kheri yatwae kwa wema, taratibu kwa utuvu
Ulimwengu maaluma, nguvu situmile nguvu
Mwenda mbizi nt’i k’avu yuatunua usowe.
Note: Italics indicate a dental consonant and an apostrophe indicates aspiration. The rendering of this poem in the Kimvita dialect used by Muyaka follows Mohamed Abdulaziz (1979).
Diving into dry ground
Observant messenger of mine, tell those who are so suspicious
They should expand their ponderous thoughts as well suspend foolhardiness.
Whenever there is self-deceit, it shall be followed by distress.
Those diving hard into dry ground will surely bruise their faces.
How many have there been around appearing like some elephants
frightening the little ones by putting them into their mouths.
Where is it that they’re going now? They enviously don’t answer us.
Those diving hard into dry ground will surely bruise their faces.
I am done, enough already, stop acting up obstinately.
It’s better to tread carefully, prudently, and moderately.
The world is quite familiar, do not use force coercively.
Those diving hard into dry ground will surely bruise their faces.
