Traditional Zimbabwe Wisdom

Kutsva kwendebvu, varume vanodzimurana.

“When the beard catches fire, men help put out one another's.”

In times of real trouble everyone needs help from others; no one manages a crisis entirely alone.

Rine manyanga hariputirwi mumushunje.

“What has horns cannot be wrapped up in a bundle of grass.”

The truth cannot stay concealed forever; sooner or later it reveals itself.

Kandiro kanoenda kunobva kamwe.

“The little dish that is sent out returns from the very place it was sent.”

Kindness shown to others tends to come back to the one who gave it first.

Mapudzi anowira kune vasina hari.

“Pumpkins fall to those who have no pot to cook them in.”

Good fortune sometimes lands on people who are not prepared to make the most of it.

Murombo haarovi chine nguo.

“A poor man never manages to kill an animal with a fine hide.”

Poverty has a way of reinforcing itself, denying the poor even the rare stroke of luck.

Afa haachatyi kuora.

“One who has already died no longer fears decay.”

Once a person has committed fully to a course of action, there is no turning back from its consequences.

Aiva madziva, ava mazambuko.

“What used to be deep pools are now shallow crossings.”

Circumstances and fortunes change with time; nothing stays exactly as it was.

Aiva maguta, ava matongo.

“What used to be great villages are now ruins.”

Even the greatest human achievements eventually fade; nothing built by people lasts forever.

Akumbira banga, ada kupa muridzi nyama.

“One who borrows a knife intends to give its owner some of the meat.”

A favour received should be repaid in kind; help calls for gratitude in return.

Akweva sanzu, akweva namarara aro.

“One who drags a branch drags its leaves along with it.”

Every action carries its consequences along with it; you cannot take one without the other.

Ageza haanokorerwi.

“One who has washed their own hands does not need another to serve their food.”

A person who prepares themselves properly does not need to depend on others.

Badza harinyepi.

“A hoe does not lie.”

Honest labour always shows its true results in the end; the harvest reveals the effort.

Murimi haadyi agere, anodya amire.

“A farmer does not eat sitting down, he eats standing up.”

One must keep working for one's food; there is no comfortable rest for those who wish to eat well.

Sadza huritamburira, hapana angaridye akatambarara.

“Sadza is earned through hard toil; no one eats it while lying idle.”

Food and reward come only through effort; idleness brings nothing.

Ndima yabatwa yasundika.

“A task once taken up has already moved forward.”

Starting is the hardest part of any undertaking; once begun, progress naturally follows.

Sango rinopa waneta.

“The forest rewards the one who has grown weary from working it.”

Hard work, even when exhausting, is eventually repaid with its fruits.

Pako hapana radoka.

“For what truly belongs to you, the sun never sets too late.”

What is rightfully yours will reach you in time; it is never too late to receive it.

Hurudza inofa ichinzi inodya.

“A celebrated farmer may starve while everyone still believes he has plenty.”

A reputation for success can hide real hardship that no one notices.

Pagara murimi, pagara mupopoti.

“Wherever there is a farmer, there is also someone grumbling.”

Hard, visible work always attracts criticism from those who do not understand its cost.

Guyu kutsvuka, kutsvuka zvaro, asi mukati rizere masvosve.

“A wild fig may turn red on the outside, yet be full of ants within.”

Things are not always what they appear to be on the surface.

Chisi hachieri musi wacharimwa.

“A field does not ripen on the very day it was ploughed.”

Good results take time to come; nothing worthwhile is rewarded instantly.

Rufu haruwaridzirwi bonde.

“Death does not have a mat spread out ready for it in advance.”

No one can fully prepare for the unexpected, especially for death, which comes without notice.

Chakafukidza dzimba matenga.

“What covers a house is its roof.”

Outward appearances hide what truly lies within; you cannot judge a matter from the surface alone.

Kamoto kamberevere kanopisa matanda mberi.

“A small, quiet fire still burns the logs ahead of it.”

A minor problem left unattended can grow to cause serious damage.

Chiri mumwoyo, chiri muninga.

“What is kept in the heart is locked away like something in a cave.”

A person's true thoughts remain hidden unless they choose to reveal them.

Gengezha mukombe, hazvienzani nekunwira mudemhe.

“Even a cracked cup is better than drinking straight from a calabash with your hands.”

Having something imperfect is still better than having nothing at all.

Chenga ose manhanga, hapana risina mhodzi.

“Keep every pumpkin, for not one of them is without seed.”

Do not dismiss what seems worthless; it may yet prove valuable.

Umuntu abozinuka amakhwapha.

“Let a person first smell their own armpits.”

Before judging others, one should recognise one's own faults.

Kwabo kagwala akulasililo.

“At the coward's home there is no mourning.”

Caution and discretion keep a person out of the dangers that claim the reckless; discretion is the better part of valour.

Inyembezi zendoda zehlela esifubeni.

“A man's tears fall inward, into his chest.”

Men are expected to hide their sorrow rather than show it openly.

Ubukhosi ngamazolo.

“Power and status are like morning dew.”

Status and fortune are fleeting, so they must never be misused while they last.

Inja ingaqhoba ithambo iyejwayela.

“A dog that is given a bone gets used to it and keeps coming back.”

Kindness shown to someone creates a bond that draws them back again.

Akugeza lingelasiyinga.

“There is no washing that leaves absolutely no mark.”

No person is entirely without fault; perfection does not exist.

Intandane enhle ngekhothwa ngunina.

“An orphan looks well cared for only when groomed by its own mother.”

One is best nurtured by those who truly love and claim them as their own.

Indlovu ibulawa yibunyonyo.

“An elephant is brought down by tiny black ants.”

Many small, persistent efforts can overcome even the greatest obstacle.

Inhlanhla kayiphindwa kabili.

“Fortune does not knock twice.”

A good opportunity should be seized when it appears, because it may never return.

Umlomo kawugcwalelwa ngumfula.

“A mouth is never filled up the way a riverbed is filled by a river.”

It is far easier to talk about doing something than to actually do it.

Ukubona kanye yikubona kabili.

“To see something once is already to see it twice.”

One real experience teaches enough that you will recognise and understand it the next time.

Ungexotshe' mpala zimbili.

“Do not chase two impalas at the same time.”

A person cannot successfully pursue two goals at once; focus on one thing at a time.

Inhlwa kayibanjwa ngekhanda.

“A flying ant is not caught by grabbing its head.”

Think and prepare carefully before acting or speaking, rather than rushing in carelessly.

Isikhuni sitshisa umkhwezeli.

“A burning log also scorches the one who keeps stoking it.”

Someone who constantly stirs up trouble for others often ends up harmed by it too.

Imamba yalukile, ubuchakide buchelesile.

“When the mamba has gone out hunting, the weasels roam freely.”

People take liberties and act freely once those in authority are out of sight, much like when the cat is away.

Isithukuthuku senja siphelela oboyeni.

“A dog's sweat is entirely absorbed by its own fur.”

Sometimes hard work goes unnoticed and its reward is barely visible to others.

Amajodo awela abangelambiza.

“Live embers fall on those who have no pot to shield them.”

Fortune, good or bad, sometimes strikes those who are least prepared for it.

Imbiza ibila ngokukhwezelwa.

“A pot boils because the fire beneath it is kept stoked.”

Progress continues only when effort and encouragement are kept alive.

Sizayicela isivuthiwe.

“We shall ask for it once it is ripe.”

The true results of an effort will be plain for everyone to see once they are ready.

Iqhawe lifela ebuqhaweni balo.

“A hero dies in the very heroism that defined his life.”

How a person meets their end often reflects the way they chose to live.

Sithi singalamba sidle lotshani.

“We say that when we are truly hungry, we will eat grass.”

Necessity forces people to accept what they would otherwise refuse; desperate times call for desperate measures.

Udwayi ufa lensiba zakhe.

“The wildcat dies still wearing its own markings.”

A person's true character stays with them for life and does not change with age.

Ikhotha eyikhothayo.

“It licks the one that licks it back.”

Kindness is repaid with kindness; relationships are built on mutual goodwill.