Mola Ndoko: Bakweri Words of Wisdom I
Proverb No.04.
Ewule e-Nyanga Mboli e-laa, yondi e-Nguma Mboli yofe e-laa.
(The leaf that the Mother Goat eats, is the same leaf that the Baby Goat eats also).
ewule = grass; a leaf; plural, "ve-wule".
Yasi nanu: On his return from the bush where the goats were grazing, Mbake
spoke to his father, Mola Nalionge, with excitement:
"Taa-ta ! "
When I was in the bush with the goats, I noticed that
every leaf that the Mother Goat ate, was eaten by the
Baby Goat also. The leaves that Mother Goat rejected
and did not eat, were similarly rejected by Baby Goat.
"Taa-ta ! this is interesting ! Isn't it ? " Mola Nalionge
smiled and replied:
"ee ! Nandi eveli !"
ewule e-Nyanga Mboli e-laa, yondi, e-Nguma Mboli yofe e-laa".
"Yes ! The Baby Goat eats the leaves that its mother eats.
Every time that the Mother Goats goes out with its Baby
Goat the Mother Goat gives the Baby Goat practical
leasons on the leaves to eat, such as: makoko,
lingongi, gbwasa", and the leaves not to eat, such
as "jokpo-kpo a Mboli".
The Mother Goat also shows its Baby medicinal leaves
to eat in times of sickness: ewule e-Nyanga Mbole e-laa,
yondi, e-Nguma Mboli yofe e-laa".
Interpretation:
Children are generally influenced by the behaviour of their parents. It is
therefore no surprise when children behave like their parents.
"e-Sango ema wola lambo,
e-Mwaana mofe a-wola lingi lambo;
wheni e-Nyongo ndi ema wola lingi lambo,
e-Mwaana mofe a-wola lingi lambo".
(like the father, like the son).
For instance:
If the mother nags the daughter too is likely to nag.
If the father is a gambler the son too is likely to gamble.
If the mother is friendly
the daughter too is likely to be friendly.
If the father is a boaster
the son too is likely to be a boaster.
Oma nanu: Mbua Ndoko na meyana ma Mokpwe.
Comments