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Maasai - Riddles and Proverbs |
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In this page: Riddles (Iloyietia and Ilang'eni) Proverbs (Ndung'eta-e-rashe) |
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Maasai riddles range from the simple and silly to the complex and serious. There are two classes of riddles, each with their own fixed formulas.
Simple riddles (Iloyietia) are introduced by the propounder with the word oyiote, which means "are you ready?". The audience respond by saying, ee-wuo, "it has come", and the riddle is then put. These riddles are meant to be funny and are posed in a light-hearted manner.
The more complex riddles are called Ilang'eni, literally meaning "those for the clever", and are opened with the question Ira ng'en? ("Are you clever?"). If the audience responds in the affirmative, which invariably it does, the riddle is asked.
The following riddles and most of the proverbs are from Naomi Kipury's excellent "Oral Literature of the Maasai" (1983: East African Educational Publishers Ltd.)
Riddle |
Answer |
Kidung' ang'ata bkira aare nimiking'amaro? |
Iyie oloip lino |
Edung' ng'utunyi olosinko erumisho enebanji? |
Enkeju enkerai |
Anaa ipi nabaa o nabaa nimintieu atakedo enkashe e kikoris enkoriong? |
Eremet |
Mugie ai naten ilasho? |
Enkawuo o mbaa |
Ting'iria maaishaki? |
Olalem opiki enchashur |
Anaa ipi nabaa o nabaa nimitonie enetonie entito nayok? |
Emoti |
Anaa keidurraki neini nanyokie? |
Enkima |
Tamanai teidia alo oldoinyio matamanu tena nimikitumo aikata |
Nkiyiaa |
Or nememanyi, ore pee emanyi neishiri? |
Enkong'u |
Olkiteng' lai otii erishata oolmang'ati? |
Olng'ejep |
Anaa iten nabaa o nabaa niminepu kapironto etagore? |
Olojong'ani |
Anaa aidorrop enkanashe ino nemeeta olng'anayioi oing'ataa? |
Entaritiki |
Engai tajapaki tooinaipuko inona
God, shield me with your wings
Menang' silig kewan
Facing backwards does not perform itself
Meaning: A simple act like turning backwards has to be performed. The proverb emphasises the importance of initiative and that of corporate action. Everyone has a part to play however small it might be, and therefore people do not ignore a small act, for it is just as essential as a big one.
Edoorie enker modooni nkuta
A blind sheep might chance across rain water
Meaning: this warns that good fortune is not restricted only to the affluent members of the society, but to all, irrespective of their status.
Meeta empur nemejo nanu eedo kidong'oe
There is no gecko that does not claim to possess the longest tail
Memurata olayioni oota menye
He who has a father is still not circumcised
Meaning: a man will always be subordinate to his father, and will still receive orders from him.
Menya enkoshoke enyamu
The stomach cannot steal
(It would show)
Memut elukunya nabo eng'eno (or Meishaa elukunya nabo eng'eno)
One head does not consume all knowledge (or, One head cannot contain all knowledge)
Meaning: there are limits to one person's knowledge
Enkong'u naipang'a eng'en
It is the eye which has travelled that is clever (or, clever is the eye that has travelled).
Esuj erashe ng'ejuk emusana
A new idea (custom) follows an old one
Meaning: if an idea is good it will be copied and followed.
Meikooyu olelipong'
You cannot advise a man who is after a woman
Meeta enkiteng' olopeny
The cow has no owner
Meaning: cattle are exchanged so often that the idea of individual ownership ceases to make much sense.
Olapa oibor inkera
The children are the bright moon
Meaning: they bring pleasure into the home
Meyek olenkaina ilala lenyena
The elephant does not get tired of its tusks
Meaning: one carries his burden without flinching.
Meitang'e oltung'ani olkikuei leme olenye
A person does not itch from a thorn that is not his
Meaning: it is the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches - you cannot (or should not) feel someone else's troubles
Medol ilala osina
Teeth do not see poverty
Meaning: people still smile despite problems. Often said in difficult situations when people still manage to entertain each other and have fun.
Meituku olkine ng'iro
It cannot be cleansed with a brown he-goat
Meaning: brown he-goats are customarily slaughtered during cleansing rituals, since the colour brown is associated with purity. If a person commits an 'unpardonable sin', normally one which has never been committed before, this proverb is quoted to indicate the magnitude of the deed.
Meji olayioni kaji itopokie
A boy (man) is not asked where (how) he recovered
Meaning: once a person has acquired property, he is not asked how he obtained it. The means is not important; it is the end that matters.
Menyaanyuk enchikati enkutuk o enolkurum
The fart of the mouth and that of the bottom are not the same
Meaning: abusive talk smells more than a fart.
Erruesh olenkaina enaimurruai
The elephant can trip over a creeping plant
Meaning: despite his size and might, he is still vulnerable
Milo ilgum eranyi
Do not go gathering fruit when a dance is taking place
Meaning: do not perform an irrelevant task at an inappropriate time.
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