Fujaga ndimu, utize’ fuja nhola. (Sukuma) Kosea kulenga mnyama mawindoni, usikosee kuoa. (Swahili) Manquer une cible lors de la chasse, plutôt que d’épouser la mauvaise femme. (French) Miss a target when hunting, rather than marry the wrong woman. (English)

Sukuma (Tanzania,) Proverb

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

There has been a great discussion on the role of women in African traditions. This made me to have a serious search among the Sukuma Ethnic Group where about 12 Sukuma elders confirmed that in order for the family to prosper, the role of a woman is very important. Thus among the Sukuma, a woman in a family is regarded as the keeper and engineer of all domestic activities. Hence the Sukuma use this proverb “Fujaga ndimu, utize’ fuja  nhola.” This is advice to young men before they discern to enter married and family life.

This Sukuma proverb shows the great importance of any woman in her family, meaning that when a man gets a strong, good hearted, disciplined woman to marry, the Sukuma believe that the whole family is going to be prosperous because the woman is a real domestic engineer of her own family.

Hence, women should understand that they have a great role and duty to perform in their families and their status as women in their family and society in important. But they should also advocate for equality in contemporary society and this should be reflected in new proverbs and sayings. Equally one should say, be careful about marrying the wrong man.

Biblical Parallels

Genesis 2:18: “Then the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Mark 10:6-8: “God made the male and female, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Ephesians 5:31: “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

This is a wise admonition the preparation of the youth (young men and young women) before entering the family life through the sacrament of matrimony. The church is called to became involved in the preparation of engaged couples for marriage, which is an ecclesial mission (Amoris Laetitia, 207).

As the Sukuma elders do to their young men and women, the Catholic Church also continues to be the best home of all brothers and sisters called to live the family life through various seminars and workshops to create an awareness among the youth on family life. Telling them that the sacrament of matrimony is not a mere contract but rather a covenant built on fidelity. Thus before entering it, one should really discern wisely so as to avoid all unnecessary matters which can hinder the progress of family.

Again this proverb gives responsibility and praise to women as it shows their role in a family. Women together with their husbands are regarded as the ones responsible for the upbringing of their children; hence they are considered as the first teachers of moral life and transmitters of cultural values to their children. While traditionally men have been the bread winners to sustain the lives of all family members, this is changing. More and more women have professional lives with paying jobs.

This is a very relevant African proverb about marriage and family during the 2021 – 2024 Synodal Process in the Catholic Church. African delegates at the October, 2023 Assembly in Rome emphasized the theological theme of the Church as the Family of God, the family as the domestic church and the importance of family values in our daily lives. In the SCC Model of Church a Small Christian Community is a communion of families starting from below.

NOTE: This is the 35th Sukuma Proverb that we have used in the “African Proverb of the Month” Series.

No. 1235. FUJAGA NDIMU UTIZEFUJA NHOLA

in the Sukuma Legacy Project https://sukumalegacy.org (TLRS)

It includes Swahili and English translations.

Contents and photos by:

Paschal Mahalagu, Sukuma seminarian from the Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga, Tanzania
Segerea Senior Seminary
P.O. Box 3522
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

+255-755-180893,
+255-719-664463
paschalmahalagu@gmail.com