Proverb No.06
Moleli mo nyama fe a kiyava.
(Food with plenty of meat too is subject to rejection).
moleli = food. nyama = meat, fish.
kiya = reject.
motima = an animal which dies of illness.
Yasi nanu: Mola Nalionge was wealthy and generous. He
used to receive many visitors, especially on Muea Market days, when
friends and acquaintances stopped to either drink water from his house,
or to rest under the shadow of the orchard in his compound. His guests
were always lavishly entertained with delicious food, containing very
large pieces of meat. When it became known that Nalionge was
entertaining his guests with meat of animals that had died from sickness,
people refrained from eating food in his house.
"Mokpwe asa-la nyama ya ee-mbe e-nweli motima"
Mokpwe considers meat of an animal that has died as a consequence of
illness, as being unclean. He does not therefore eat such meat. If by
accident he eats such meat, he has to undergo a ritual cleansing.
On one occasion, when one of the wives pressured Mola Ekambi to
eat some food, Mola Ekambi curtly replied:
"nasa-la". (I will not eat).
Nalionge's wife asked Ekambi:
"Monya ! Are you rejecting this my food which contains plenty of meat?"
Ekambi replied:
"ee! nasa-laa!
moleli mo nyama fe a-ki-yava! "
(No, I will not eat your food !
Food with plenty of meat too is subject to rejection).
Your children in this house have disclosed to their friends that guests
at this home are being entertained with meat of animals that have
died as a result of sickness."
The allegation, true or false, against the Nalionge home was too
strong to be challenged. The community was grossly annoyed with
Nalionge, but in the absence of proof, the best action against him was
to refrain from eating and drinking water in his house.
"Moleli mo nyama fe a kiyava"
Literally:
It should not be taken for granted that every gift has to be accepted.
Potential beneficiaries of gifts and donors should therefore under-
stand that a very attractive gift even to someone who is desperately in
need is also subject to scrutiny and rejection. A bribe, for instance,
aught to be rejected.
Oma nanu:
Mbua Ndoko na meyana me Mokpwe.
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