Sura ya saba [7]
51 Msamiati
- Matata – complications (hakuna matata is a famous saying).
- Chaka – the argumentative of KICHAKA – bush, hence a big bush, a thicket.
- Vikwa – the passive of VIKA, the causative form of VAA (also VALISHA/VISHWA). VIKA means to dress someone. Or in this case WALIVIKWA PINGU – they had handcuffs put on their hands (DT – direct translation).
- Kata maji – (phrasal verb) drink beer
- Kikwao (adv.) – his/her native style/way. ALILIA KIKWAO – he (Deogratias) cried like his people/people from his community do.
- Boma – (ma-) wall/ fort/administrative office/stable {for cattle). In this context, it means the police station.
- Kuota maziwa – sprout breasts (DT). VITOTO VINAVYOANZA KUOTA MAZIWA – young girls.
- Almasi – diamond(s). Diamonds are mined in Mwadui, Tanzania hence the simile,… kama almasi ya Mwadui.
- Anasa – pleasure, joy, comfort, prosperity, luxury. The word has a negative connotation. Mtu anayependa anasa si mtu mzuri.
- Chosha – the causative of CHOKA – tire. CHOSHA – tire someone/some people.
- Mpiga ngumi ukuta hujiumiza mwenyewe – He who fights with a wall will only hurt his hand. This proverb cautions against fighting those stronger than you. In this context, the parents of the girls ensnared by ‘big’ men have no say because they cannot fight people who have positions (power) in government. Deogratias had two fathers transferred from Mwanza because they dared complain he was going after their daughters.
- Nzi hatui juu ya damu ya simba – The fly does not settle on a lion’s blood – even a wounded lion is dangerous. A proverb that cautions on relating with dangerous people, in this instance the girls who fall for the ‘big’ men are playing with fire.
- Manung’uniko – grumblings/dissatisfaction.
- Wakerewe wagomvi – saying that disparages the Kerewe people – that they are quarrelsome. Stereotypes about various communities abide. Most of them encourage negative ethnicity.
- Msiba – misfortune/affliction/distress/accident/disaster/calamity. Rosa wanted to forget the misfortune that befell her after Deogratias, her fiance, was jailed for two years.
- Tumewatengeneza – we have taken advantage of them (in this context).
- Yumbayumba – sway, stagger, stumble – the way drunk people walk.
- Paramia – climb/clamber up something (quickly) but used figuratively to mean go after someone/some people. The barmaids used the men’s money and were heard bragging about it by Rosa.
- Unyonyaji – exploitation
- Noga – be tasty/sweet. The false promise that Rosa gave the young man at the bar.
- Kiwiliwili – trunk/torso. The writer uses exaggeration to signify the surprise that met the young man when he went looking for Rosa at no. 2 Banda Street. That even his body laughed at him for falling for Rosa’s false promises.
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