Uishige imbula ulushige na lume? (Sukuma) Umeikimbia mvua waweza kuukinkimbia na umande pia? (Swahili) Vous avez fui la pluie, pouvez-vous aussi fuir la rosée? (French) You have fled from the rain, can you flee from the dew too? (English)

Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

This Sukuma proverb speaks about the futility of trying to escape life’s inevitable or unavoidable situations. In Sukuma life, rain (imbula) and dew (lume) are natural and common; both bring moisture, and both are beyond human control. The proverb uses this imagery to teach that one cannot run away from every challenge; some things in life must simply be faced and accepted.

In daily conversation, this saying is used to remind someone who is avoiding responsibilities, duties, or inevitable realities that running away solves nothing. It challenges fear, procrastination, and the tendency to escape difficulties.

The message is simple: if you try to avoid one problem (the rain), you will soon meet another (the dew). Therefore, courage and endurance are better responses than avoidance.

The Bible also teaches about facing challenges with faith and perseverance rather than running away. Jonah tried to flee from God’s call, for instance, but he learned that no one can run away from God’s purpose as what we read in Jonah 1:1-3. The presence of God reaches every corner of life. Psalm 139:7-10 has the details.

We have to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials because challenges produce perseverance and maturity as what we read in James 1:2-4.

 Biblical Parallels

Jonah 1:1-3: “The word of the LORD came to Jonah, son of Amittai: Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; for their wickedness has come before me. But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish, away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went down in it to go with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD.”

Psalm 139:7-10: “Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, there you are. If I take the wings of dawn and dwell beyond the sea, even there your hand guides me, your right hand holds me fast.”

James 1:2-4: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

In today’s world this proverb speaks powerfully to both individuals and communities tempted to give up or to avoid hardship. It can be applied to encouraging perseverance in times of difficulty, illness, unemployment to personal life or family struggle.

It can also be applied in urging Christians to stay committed to prayer, service and moral integrity even when the path is hard enough to put into practice the faith life in daily situations.

It also reminds Small Christian Community (SCC) and parish leaders not to abandon projects or responsibilities because of obstacles.

This Sukuma Proverb spiritually teaches acceptance of the will of God by recognizing that challenges, like rain and dew, are part of our human lives or conditions. Hence, avoidance of them only delays growth.  Faith and courage transform challenges into blessings.

Therefore, you cannot escape every challenge. Learn to face life with courage, patience, and faith in God. It gives to us wisdom in facing life’s realities, guided by faith that leads to growth and divine purpose to us.

Text by:

Sister Tekla Wande, FSSB

St. Augustine University (SAUT)

Mwanza, Tanzania

+255-753-443609.

Photos by:

Rev. Zakaria Kashinje, OSA
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Cellphones:
+255-756-887787 Vodacom
+255-717-3337787 Tigo
+255-786-337787 Airtel
Email: zkashinje@gmail.com
zkashinje@yahoo.co.uk