Itakula kwako. (Swahili)  Tu vas te burler. (French) You will get burnt. (English)

Swahili(Eastern and Central Africa)Saying

Background, Meaning and Everyday Use
The saying or phrase itakula kwako is slang. It is based on the Swahili language. The phrase is used in many cities and locations in Tanzania. You’ll hear it in the homes and streets of Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Mwanza. Being slang, it is popular among young people. It is a shorthand way of offering advice to a friend not to engage in a thoughtlessly risky move, contract, business venture, deal or relationship. Conversely, it is used to urge a friend to seize an advantage in a situation failure to which a benefit may be lost and the friend may suffer a major loss. Those to whom such a slang saying is directed are being invited to make proper discernment prior to making a choice. It could involve something mundane, like choosing what item to buy at a stall in the street to something major like choosing with whom one is to make a life commitment (or not). This slang’s use is similar to the US/UK use of the saying to get burnt. 

An example of the Swahili saying’s use is: Usiwekeze hela yako yote kwenye mradi mmoja, itakula kwako. The English translation: Do not invest all your money in one project, you will get burnt. 

Biblical Parallels

2 Samuel 17: 1-14: “Absalom had a counselor when he rebelled against his father, David the King. His counselor’s name was Ahithopel. David had suffered significant military setbacks orchestrated by Absalom. Ahithopel counseled Absalom to press on. Ahithopel had correctly surmised that it would have been to Absalom’s advantage to continue his campaign against his father when David was mostly weak militarily. Absalom did not heed Ahithopel’s advice. He chose to listen to the contrary advice of Hushai; a man, unbeknownst to Absalom, was acting under David’s instructions. David and his men regrouped, became stronger, and recaptured the kingship. In losing his advantage, Absalom lost his lofty position.” 

Contemporary Use And Religious Application

Using this saying or phrase, the faithful can be advised or cautioned to foster a thorough Christian formation among themselves; or strengthen the formation of those already formed. The results of any sort of neglect in such a formation, or a lackluster approach to formation, will be the loss of that Christian ethos that informs life. In every age, ours included, when things such as Truth, Love, Peace and Faith are continuously being relativized, Christians are invited to evangelize lest they get burnt. As we move into a Synodal Church around the world let us walk together in promoting Christian values especially among the young. 

Text by:  

Father John Siyumbu, MM 

Mabatini Parish

P.O. Box 5110
Mwanza, Tanzania
Email: jsiyumbu@yahoo.com 

Photos by: 

Elias Bushiri Élie
Nairobi, Kenya
+254 7414 97556 (WhatsApp)
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