superstitions

SUPERSTITIONS

Kula gizani ni kula na shetani.
To eat in the dark is to eat with the devil.
This belief discourages eating In the dark, for
obvious reasons.

Kushona nguo mwilini kunaleta ufukara; tabia
hii aidha inajongeza kifo, maana inakuwa kama
mtu anajishonea sanda yake mwenyewe.
To mend a garment which is on one’s body
brings poverty: it also suggests preparing
one’s own shroud, which betokens death.

Kufagia usiku kunakimbiza baraka.
To sweep at night is to chase away blessings.
(This belief contains some truth, in that one
may sweep up and throw away something of
value unwittingly.)

Kutembea hali ya kuwa mtu amevaa kiatu
kimoja tu kunavimbisha ziwa la mama yake
mtu.
Walking about with only one shoe on causes
one’s mother’s breast to swell. (I suppose this
is simply to discourage the stupidity of going
about with only one shoe on.)

Mtu akinywa maji usiku pasi na kuufumka mtu-
ngi, usiku roho yake itaingia ndani ya mtungi na
akitokea mtu akaufunika huo mtungi wakati
huo huo, basi atakufa papo hapo.
If a man drinks water at night and leaves the
vessel uncovered, his soul will plunge into it

during the night, and if someone accidentally
puts the lid on, he will die at once.

Mtu akiona. chungu ya wadudu sisimizi ukutani
basi atafikiwa na wageni wa ghafla.
If a man sees a swarm of ants on the wall it
means that unexpected guests will arrive.

Kwenda kulala pasi na kuosha miguu, basi hiyo
miguu italazwa katika moto wa Jahannam.
If one goes to bed without washing one’s feet,
they will lie In the fires of Hell.

Mtu akilala pasipo kuosha miguu, nyayo zake
zitarambwa na shetani.
If a man goes to bed without washing his feet,
the soles of his feet will be licked by the devil.

Mtu akila bila ya kupiga Bismillahi . . basi
baraka itaondoka na mtu hataweza kushiba.
If a man eats without saying grace, there will
be no blessing, so the food will not suffice.
(This belief has a religious background. Islam
teaches its followers to allow religion to per-
meate all their daily acts: and the great
majority of the population of Zanzibar and
Pemba are Muslims.)

Mtoto mchanga akiachwa peke yake, atageuzwa
na shetani.
If a baby is left alone in a room it will be
changed by the devil for his own. at is firmly
believed that Albinos are ‘changelings’.)

Mwenye kufanya mazowea ya kukaa kizingitini
atakawia kuoa.

He who develops a habit of sitting on a door-
step will be late in getting married.

Kula wima kizingitini, mtu atapigwa dafrau na
shetani.
He who eats while standing on the door-step
will be knocked down by a devil. in tended to
discourage the habit of eating in such abnormal places.)

Kula kitu kitamu kinjianjia mtu atasibiwa na shetani.
He who eats sweet food while walking will be
possessed of a devil. (It is regarded as bad
manners to eat while walking.)

Mwenye kumcheka mkwewe hupata maradhi
ya chokea.
He who laughs at his father or mother-in-law
will develop a stye.

Kumchungulia mtu mzima aliyekaa uchi kunaleta upofu.

Looking at a grown-up person naked will
bring blindness.

Kuzaliwa na vidole sita ni mabruki.
To be born with six fingers Is to have good
fortune.

Ukiuonyesha mwezi mchanga kidole. basi utakatika kidole.
If you point at the new moon with a finger It

will get cut.
Mwenye kula miguu ya kuku atakuwa daima
katika mwendo tu
He who eats a fowl’s legs will become a wan-
derer.

Inakatazwa kunywa maji ndani ya kata pasi na
kuikung’uta.
It Is forbidden to drink water from a ladle
without vigorously shaking It first. (To ensure
that it is clean and free from Insects.)

Kupeana mkasi mikono kwa mkono kunasabibisha kuchukiana bure.
Handing over a pair of scissors to someone
directly causes hatred.

Kukaa juu ya mto kunaleta majipu matakoni.
Sitting on cushions causes boils on the but-
tocks.

Kukutana na paka mweusi usiku ni nuksi.
Meeting a black cat at night means bad luck.

Kunywa maji ya chooni kunapeleka mtu kuwa
mwongo.
Drinking water from the lavatory makes a
man a liar. (Intended to discourage so unwholesome a habit.)

Kutema mate ndani ya lindi kunaleta kuumwa
na koo.
Spitting into the cess-pit causes sore throat.

Kumbusu mtoto usingizini kunasabibisha mtoto
huyo kuwa na majivuno ukubwani mwake
Kissing a sleeping child will make It grow up
conceited.
Mwenye kuchukua Quran kichwani ataingiliwa
na wazimu
Carrying the Holy Quran on the head will
cause madness.

Kukaa kitini na kupunga miguu mbele na nyuma m kufukuza riziki.
To sit on a chair swinging one’s legs backwards and forwards will drive away one’s
daily bread.
(This is regarded as bad manners by Arabs as
it is a sign of contempt.)
Kupiga uluzi ni kuita shetani.
To whistle is to call the devil.
Ukikanyaga chakula makusudi utasibika na
maradhi ya matende.
if you tread on food deliberately you will get
elephantiasis. (This belief has a religious
background, and is based on an abhorrence
of waste.)

Mwenye kuzowea kula ndani ya chungu atapata
mvua kubwa siku ya harusi yake.
One who eats straight from a cooking-pot will
have heavy rain on his wedding day.

Mtoto mwenye kuchezea kivuli chake cha taa
atakojoa kitandani.
A child who plays with his shadow cast by a
lamp will wet his bed.
Kuuza chumvi usiku ni nuksi kwa mwenye duka.
Selling salt at night brings ill luck to the
shopkeeper. (This belief is so deep-rooted)