Consultation

1154. Akili ni nywele, kila mtu ana zake. F 2.9; H 95; B 1.68; 2.34; KB 10; SWA 44.
Intelligence is [like] hair, every person has his/her own. No two people are alike in intelligence. It is said as a sign of respect for the opinions of others, but also to express that everybody follows his/her own opinion.

1155. Akili yachotwa katika mkutano. KB ll.
Ideas are picked up in a meeting [of brains]. Cf. 1163.

1156. Akuambiaye: "kula kitoweo kwa uangalifu" anataka ushibe. NGU.
The one who says to you "Eat the relish carefully" wants you to be satisfied, because it will do you good.

1157. Ametoa waadhi akajisahau. MA 58.
One gave a sermon and did not do a thing for self-improvement. Said of someone who gives advice but does not practice it.

Mtowa waadhi hajisahau mwenyewe. MM.
The giver of counsel must not forget oneself.

1158. Ampae maana shetani, hujipatisha ghadhabu za rahmani. MA 34.
A person who pays heed to Satan deserves divine anger.

1159. Asiyeona aibu zake, haifai aone aibu za wengine. MA 34.
If you do not see your own shame [vices] you should not take notice of the faults of others.

1160. Asiyesikia la mkuu huona makuu (or maovu). F 4.39; KB 27; MARA 3; CM 53; V 17; SACL 566; J kubwa.
One who does not listen to the advice of an elder will see bad things. Cf. 1161.

1161. Asiyesikia la mkuu huvunja mguu. F 4.40; MARA 8; L 8; SWA 65; B 2.39; H 14; KS guu; RSP 2; NGU.
One who does not listen to an elder's advice breaks a leg. One who does not heed superiors will have to repent later when in trouble - SWA. Cf. 1160.

1162. Asiyeuliza hufanya makosa. Nestor p.55.
The person who does not ask questions makes mistakes. If you cling to your own ideas without heeding others' advice, you'll regret your own mistakes - Nestor.

1163. Bamba na waume (or wake ni) bamba, hakuna bamba la mume peke yake. T 43; J bamba; SACL 89; KS mume; AL 1477; V 98.
Counsel with men is counsel; there is no counsel of one person [alone]. In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Bamba na waume. ED.8; SPK.
[You need not only] a wall [but] also people [to help you defend it]. A town can only be defended by co-operation in unison - SPK.  A great person has helpers. Bamba: a great man - ED.  Consultation, deliberation, important business needing reflection - SACL. Cf. 1241.

Warume hufanya bamba, hakuna bamba la nguvu. SPK.
Men make a council, there is no council of force. The African democracy expects common rule
by consultation - SPK.

1164. Fanya sahibu wa heri kwa kutakana shauri. JKP.
Make a good friend for mutual counsel.

1165. Fimbo ya maonyo huadhibu. NGU.
The stick of warnings hurts. It punishes when you do not listen to warnings.

1166. Fujo inatoa amani. AL 390.
Animated discussion produces peace. From contradictory advice a peaceful solution is born - AL.

1167. Jeraha uliganga sharti ulione. EM j7.
To treat a wound you must see it. To solve a problem you must understand it. Tell the doctor what ails you. See also section on "Health."

1168. Hukunyima tonge; hakunyimi neno. F 11.21; KB 74. AL 1139.
One denies you a ball of food, but does not deny you advice. A person may not be prepared to give you some food, but will always give advice or information - F.
Tonge or donge, a small ball of food shaped with the fingers.

1169. Kalia mtu kitako. Semi za Kiswahili II.13.
To put a person on his/her seat. To stop someone's evil doing.

1170. Kuambiana kupo, kusikilizana hapana. B 1.59; F 17.39; T 167; AL 1096.
There is conversation, but there is no listening. Especially when there are warnings involved.

1170a. Mashauri ya mtu usiyashike, mtu siri husema na moyo wake. SPK.
Do not accept anybody's advice, people discuss secrets with their hearts alone.

1170b. Mkae mkiambiana mshike yenu miradi. SPK.
Go on talking to each other [about your differences] that you may reach your purposes [in the end].

1171. Mkutano wa vyura. JKP.
A meeting of frogs. "Said of a useless argument, 'hot air'" - JKP.

1172. Mwenye busara mara hunasihika. SAM 19.41; KA.
Even a wise person sometimes needs forgiveness - KA.
Nasihi, taka radhi, need of forgiveness.

1173. Mwenye kuuliza hakosi njia. AL 387.
One who asks questions does not take the wrong road.

1174. Oni la tajiri hukubalika, la maskini hukataliwa. EM o4.
A rich person's suggestion is accepted, a poor person's is rejected. Suggestions should be examined regardless of who gave them.

1175. Onyo kwa mwerevu ni baraka, kwa mpumbavu ni tusi. EM o5.
A warning to the wise is a blessing, to the fool an insult.

1176. Panapo (or penye) wengi hapaharibiki neno. F 41.7; MS 136 penye; MARA 2.
Where there are many people nothing goes wrong. "A counsel of many people ensures that things are kept on the right lines" - F.

1177. Penye wazee haliharibiki neno. H 95; B 2.54; F 42.17; SWA 48.
Among a group of elders nothing goes wrong. Implied that elderly, wise, experienced people give good advice - MM. Where there are many people there is bound to be one who is experienced - SWA.

Penye kuwa watu hakuozei chura. AL 1468.
Where there are people [not even] a frog does rot.

1178. Penye wengi pana mengi. F 42.18.
Where there are many people, there are many words [opinions]. Or many matters, or much business, or: many quarrels - SPK.

Palipo na wengi pana mali mengi. SPK.
Where there are many people there is much money [to be earned] - SPK.

1179. Penye wengi, pana mungu. F 42.19.
Where there are many people, there is God.

1180. Shauri baraka. Vbaraka 89; AL 391.
 Deliberation brings blessing. Four eyes see more than two - V. Cf. 718, 719.

1181. Shauri jema halivuti wengi. EM s2.
Sound advice is not attractive to many.

1182. Unaumia, sasa unakoma. AL 651.
Now you stop, because you are in pain. One who did not listen to a warning.

1183. Usiseme kibanza jichoni mwa mwenzio kumbe wewe una boriti. NGU. Don't speak about the splinter in the eye of your friend, while by the way you have a pole inyour eye.

1184. Usitoe shauri hadharani. NGU.
Don't give advice to a crowd. It's useless.

1185. Waonywapo ndipo waonapo. FSM 202.
Where people are warned there also is understanding.

1186. Wawili si mmoja. F 51.8; T 588; B 4.62; V 89; KA.
Two are better than one - T; V. Two are not one - F; T.
The difference in translation is caused by si, which can mean: "is not" or "is better than".
Therefore the proverb can mean: Two heads are better than one, or Two persons, two opinions. This last translation is also expressed in 1154. Cf. 718, 719.