Ulukani lwelukulema valongele avayago vakutange. (Bena) Jambo linalokushinda waambie wenzako wakusaidie. (Swahili) S’il y a une chose qui vous dépasse, dites à vos collègues de vous aider. (French) The thing that overcomes you, tell your colleagues to help you. (English)

 

Bena (Tanzania) Proverb

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use

This proverb talks about a family that had problems and ended up hiding them instead of telling others so that they could be helped. It is a proverb of the Bena Ethnic Group, a Bantu Ethnic Group in Tanzania. It is found in the highlands of southern Tanzania especially in the regions of Njombe, Iringa and Morogoro. The origin of the Bena: they came from the coast and went to Mdandu that is in Njombe region. Mdandu was the headquarters of the leaders of this ethnic group.

The origin of the name Njombe: In the village of Mdandu there was a very big tree that was not cut down because it had very sweet fruit and people were eating it. The name of the tree was mdzombe.

When the colonists arrived in that area, they wanted to know the name of the tree. The local people told them it was called mdzombe. But unfortunately they failed to pronounce mdzombe, they called Njombe. It has remained Njombe until now.

 

      Ulukani lwelukulema valongele avayago vakutange means The things that overcomes you, tell your colleagues to help you. The Bena people are very good at using proverbs, sayings, stories, songs and even music to convey certain messages to the community, to educate, to warn and to maintain their culture. The proverb above is one of the proverbs they used.

 

The source of this proverb happened like this:  A family came from a distant village and came to live with the people of this local village. They had two children. After some time passed, the mother gave birth to a third child and this child was born albino. Unfortunately, people from a different ethnic group than the Bena come to live in that village. This ethnic group believed in ghosts while the Bena believed in Nguluvi that means “God.” Since this ethnic group believed in ghosts, a child born albino was a big disaster in the community. So it was killed/sacrificed early by the family and the whole village performed rituals to their spirits to avoid disasters that they thought could happen in the village. But the father and mother of the albino child believed in God. Therefore they decided to hide their child. But the locals who were passing by heard the sound of a child crying, and they wanted to see him but they did not succeed. They found out that this child is albino because parents who give birth to albino children hide them.

 

Others advised the child’s father to go to the chief and tell him his problem because the chief belonged to the Wabena. When the Chief got the news he was very afraid because he knew that in his village there are an ethnic group that believed in ghosts so they will kill the child. The Chief called the elders of the Wabena and asked them about the matter. The elders told him to call all people together and tell them the truth. After the people came, the chief said, “an albino child has been born in our village!” The Chief insisted that the family with the albino child go to their own village. With them he sent two men to accompany them so that they are not attacked on the way. He said: “Because if a child is killed, its ghost will descend on our village and disturb people.” All the people agreed. This is how the chief saved the child and the family.

This proverb is likened to people who stay silent when they have problems. Compared to people who solve their problems by getting help from others.

Biblical Parallels

Mark 10: 8: “Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”

 

Luke 5: 12: “When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’”

 

Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

 

2 Thessalonians 3:13: “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”

 

 

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

Today many bad things happen because of the habit of hiding problems. People kill themselves, young people lose hope and in the end kill themselves, families are scattered, marriage break up and so on.  All of this happens when a person or people encounter life’s challenges such as lack of money, work, being lied to and being bullied by hiding the reality. They kill themselves or destroy their lives. But the best way to solve the problem is to be open, join various groups that work to improve people’s behavior, participate in religious services every Sunday and go to Small Christian Communities to express yourself in order to be helped.

 

Even if people laugh at you or look down on you that will pass. You have saved your family or your marriage or your job. And later you will see that life has become better.  Other people should not get tired of doing well, advising and helping young people who are facing many challenges. Let us look at how the chief and the good people did: how they helped each other to save the child and his family.

 

Text and photos by:

Sister Felisia Mbifile, SCSF

Phone Number: +393716690762

Email: felisiajmbifile@gmail.com

Rome, Italy