Obugabe bw'Ankore

12/04/2023

Did you know that Runyankore-Rukiga has got *idioms*? Here are 100 idioms that can make your usage of your local language richer.

1. *Akaanya bwanya*. In a very short time

2. *Akangara teete*. Living in hard conditions or sometimes it means having no shelter.

3. *Ekireenga bazaana*. The evening part of the day, when the sun is setting.

4. *Ow'omutima Mukye*. A person prone to falling into temptation, or someone with limited self-control.

5. *Omuhiisa nyungu* a conversation that is meant just to pass time

6. *Amaringa ngingo* sweating uncontrollably

7. *Biguru byampisi* doing something very fast, usually with no diligence

8. *Boote boote* a very old and frail

9. *Buguru butakora hansi* moving, running or walking very fast

10. *Buso bwa ntaama* head on collision.

11. *Bukyeire bwaizire* now and then

12. *Eituumbi mahiihi* very early morning around 4AM

13. *Ekiita mukago* a fine paid for marrying a relative

14. *Ekikuunga musisa* a big crowd

15. *Ekiriira ndugu* a greedy person, who hides from others when eating

16. *Ekiteera njogyera* a child who is just beginning to walk

17. *Ekitema bakazi* a cutting object that is too blunt to cut

18. *Ekitundama nibakoza* a very dull person

29. *Ekyogwa ruganda* a person who has been disowned by his family members

30. *Embura bujune* a needy person

31. *Embura mukoro* an idle person

32. *Empenda rubango* a girl whose bride price is meant for the father alone

33. *Endengwa mwaka* stored crops that have been kept for a long time

34. *Endiira kukinduka* a person that eats too much

35. *Engyenda kiro* red ants

36. *Enkuuku mbisi* a complicated person or situation

37. *Enkwata buta* a brave person

38. *Enkwata rugo* cows paid as advance bride price to show commitment or engagement

39. *Enzira kareju* a person who has reached marriage age but has not yet married

40. *Kaisho mpande* a suspicious look

41. *Kateera rume* a go between the two families in the process of marriage

42. *Kiraarira oseire* a person that doesn't want to work, but seeks company of people with ready food

43. *Ntabo yaago* an alcohol addict

44. *Obushezya migyere* having a habit of always lamenting, whining and self pity.

45. *Obuteera kishaka* something given or money paid to someone for looking for herbs.

46. *Obwijura nju* marrying a sister of the late wife

47. *Okucwa engondo* to put tattoos on the body

48. *Okucwa enshusha* to break virginity

49. *Okufa mamigye* suffering in silence

50. *Okugamba mafuzi* speaking on a low tone, of being soft spoken

51. *Okugwa aha mahega* a girl staying long before getting married

52. *Okugwa enshazi* blacking out or fainting also *okugwa kihumura* fainting in shock

53. *Okugwa omunda* hugging someone

54. *Okugwera orubaju* being partial or not objective

55. *Okuha engata* Chasing away someone

56. *Okuhanda bunaku* using a lot of energy to do work yet without showing signs of weakness

57. *Okuhanga amaisho* to fix eyes on someone or something. Or having hopes in someone or something

58. *Okuhenda amaisho* to close the eyes of a dead person.

59. *Okuhenda endosho* a ritual for a man after he has lost his mother in-law

60. *Okukama obwasi* to milk a cow that has lost its calf.

61. *Okukirira hakye* narrowly escaping

63. *Okukubuura obusinde* the first visit of a newly married couple to their parents after their honeymoon.

64. *Okunyeeta buroro* growing up yet not able to do work.

65. *Okunywera omufunguro* to accept to suffer for someone

66. *Okuraga bunyena* having irregular menstrual cycle

67. *Okuribata omwariro* cheating on a wife that has just given birth

68. *Okurya ibanga* to steal the show, or to earn respect

69. *Okurya majuuju* eating wastefully.

70. *Okusiimba eicumi* to resist or refuse to do something

71. *Okutaasya amahasha* to perform a ritual of taking twins to their grandparents.

72. *Okuteera ekimangaza* afternoon time about 4PM

73. *Okuteera obukumbi* cracking jokes between clans on friendly terms

74. *Okuteerwa amahungu* being so sorrowful especially after death of a beloved

75. *Okuteera embari* grinding millet badly

76. *Okwata amabanga/Okwata enaama* to disclose secrets

77. *Okwegamba orubango* to be the first spear

78. *Okwiba empimbi* a newly married wife taking food from her parents in law not in an official way.

79. *Okwita ekihara* cheating on an expectant wife

80. *Okwita enju* a woman cheating when they are still building a new house

82. *Okwita oburo* cheating on your partner before or towards harvest time

83. *Omukazi w'ebibero birungi* a woman that comes with favor in her marriage

84. *Okugyenda oyebembeize enkokora* going to visit having some gifts for the hosts

85. *Embabazi za nyina kakondo* having suspicious kindnesses

86. *Okurya obuwha* eating the final meal with no hope of where the next will come from

87. *Maheembe* someone with all authority or powerful

88. *Okushandaga obutaka* killing someone mercifully after a long sickness or old age to save them from too much pain.

89. *Kugareberamu (nk'ensoonzi)* crying or having teary eyes

90. *Okuza Owanyamuyongo* to die

91. *Okuhwa aha magufa* losing a lot weight.

92. *Okumira emityoko* to silvate

93. *Okuceba entura* walk bare foot.

94. *Orukaanga booro* a drizzle

95. *Rwemereza bangyenzi* a plant that has yielded highly especially planted by the roadside

96. *Okuteera engaanja* being mean at giving

97. *Gamanywa embeba* a person that knows secrets especially household secrets.

98. *Kaitwa munigo* a person with short neck

99. *Kacu kakye* in a short while.

100. *Kaasha k'abakwe* a good looking heifer, worthy of giving out as a gift to in-laws.

*~End~*

*Compiled by:*
Ikyiriza Eliab Kanyonza,
Kanyonza ka Akorinako,
Akorinako Wa Bariyo,
Bariyo Ba Bamuriho,
Bamuriho, wa Byarwago,
Byarwago wa Mahirane,
Mahirane Ga Kaributi .

03/04/2023

During the 1940s, the Omugabe(King) of Ankole(Nkore) led a campaign to sell cattle "to help King George kill Hi**er." As noted in the Uganda Herald, the campaign rallied communities throughout the country, resulting in over £40,000 (12.65 billion UGX in today's value).

12/03/2022

NTARE IV KIITABANYORO

The Mukama (Omukama) of Bunyoro who invaded Kaarokarungi to raid cattle on his way back home from a successful raid in Rwanda was called Cwamali (spelt Chwamali in Karagwe). He and his men were killed by the troops of Omugabe Ntare IV. The name Nkore originated from the words of the mother of Cwamali who wailed saying, "Ente za Kaarokarungi *zankora* omunda". Omugabe Ntare IV was nicknamed Ntare Kiitabanyoro.

The Bahinda of Karagwe claim that it is actually their troops who killed Chwamali and their Omukama Ntare of theirs was the one called Ntare Kiitabanyoro! I have written about this controversy in one of my *long* articles as follows:

"Ruhinda rwa Njunaki (Njunaki was a slave girl in the court of Omukama Wamara of Bunyoro) is credited by the Bahinda to have been the first king of Nkore (originally Kaarokarungi and later Ankole) but accounts from published literature say that before Ruhinda, Kaarokarungi had its own king called Katuku. Katuku is said to have fled his kingdom on hearing of the invading Ruhinda's approach leaving the throne at Mweruka vacant. Ruhinda just occupied an abandoned throne without a fight. Later, all accounts I have come across agree, Ruhinda left his son Nkuba as king of Kaarokarungi at Rurama where he had moved the kingdom capital (Nkuba "ya Rurama" does not refer to "son of Rurama" but "of the place called Rurama") and invaded Karagwe, south of Kaarokarungi. In Karagwe, Ruhinda is said to have succeeded the Musiita king called Nono. It is said that Ruhinda knocked at Nono's door and when the door was opened, Ruhinda greeted his host with a curse saying "Kakyengyere". That was the end of Nono's rule of Karagwe - just by a curse.

"There are different accounts from Karagwe and Nkore of Omugabe (Nkore)/Omukama (Karagwe) Ntare Kiitabanyoro. For example, Karagwe lists Ntare Kiitabanyoro as their own king for whom the invading Banyoro rulers in Karagwe were killed. It is said that while the young Ntare was in exile in Rwanda, his brother Ruzenga in a show of bravery speared to death Omukama Chwa at Bweranyange, the capital of Karagwe. In turn, Ruzenga was also speared to death by Chwa's men. Later, the magic in Ruzenga's spear and other weapons caused the death and ouster of the Banyoro who had ruled Karagwe for six years. According to this account, Chwa and his men were ruling Karagwe on behalf of Chwamali, king of Bunyoro, after Ntare's father Kalemera was killed by the Banyoro. Ntare's mother Nyabugondo had fled to Mubari (Rwanda) with her infant son and later settled at Buha from where they returned to reclaim their kingdom. Ntare himself did not kill the Banyoro but was honoured with their death, hence the nickname Kiitabanyoro.

"According to Nkore accounts, Ntare IV was Omugabe of Kaarokarungi when Omukama Cwamali (note the slight difference in spelling which has no impact on the real person) of Bunyoro led his men, invaded Rwanda and raided a lot of cattle. On their return from Rwanda, they wanted to add the cattle of Kaarokarungi to their loot. In the ensuing battles, Omukama Cwamali was killed by Ntare's forces. For this, Ntare was nicknamed Kiitabanyoro. It is further said that when the mother of Cwamali learnt of the death of her son, she wailed saying, "Ente za Kaarokarungi 'zankora' omunda". For this, Kaarokarungi was renamed Nkore.

"All literature I have come across agrees that the Bahinda are different from the Bantu clans they found in the areas they occupied and ruled. According to historians at the University of Juba, Bahinda and related clans (Enganda Empinda), Bashambo of Mpororo and related clans (Enganda Enshambo) and Abainginya of Rwanda and related clans (Enganda Enyinginya) are Luo with origins from Bahr el Ghazal. They moved eastwards to Abyssinia and intermarried with the Oromos before moving south. According to these historians, they are the only Luo to have lost their language.

By Katabarwa Naboth

25/02/2022

https://youtu.be/SdJCTspNFwc

On February 9th 2022, the world witnessed a watershed moment when one of South Sudan’s oldest kingdoms - THE AZANDE KINGDOM was restored more than 100 years...

19/01/2022

Bagyendanwa the loyal drum which was crafted at Itaaba Chwezi cultural site.

07/09/2021

21/08/2021

*Runyankole proverbs* ( *_Enffumu_* ):

1. Ekiro kimwe tikijunza nyama.
2. Kwo oyenda kurya ebyabandi obirisa obwengye.
3. Wantambira y’abooro tehwa.
4. Yebare ekaheza ebya Mbaguta.
5. Bugubugu tigwe muriro.
6. Atakwesire tomukurata.
7. Owensinyanyi tabiika meino.
8. Owekibuunukye nanabira omwirembo.
9. Kankore nsiimwe akasa aheekyir’iba amaguru gayaata esaano bararakwe.
10. Ngu’ekiika kyayanga kuhika oti: ‘abazeeyi nab’akakaikuru tubiihemu.’
11. Owakwima ebihimba abayakutambira emungwe.
12. Akakwangire okanga embwa ekanga ensheko.
13. Kabikanye niyo kabicweke; owashwera abuza.
14. Obutaruma bwembwa tikimanyisa ngu ogitamike orukumu.
15. Rwamukuru wawe tekuta aha mushozi.
16. Mukama womuringa kwayija otega omukono.
17. Akatari kawe obika oteigutsi.
18. Wabinga ibiri emwe nekusiga.
19. Mememe tezaaza mwojo.
20. Abeirukize sho tibakeizire, oti: ‘taata we nimanya yabatsiga.
21. Rwatsya nirukwizira, oti: ‘nirukanyotsye.’
22.Owubasigire ati: ‘bariyo bandinzire.’
23. Nikwe bitwiire, ekinya kikahiira omunju.
24. Owajwire tatina mpaango.
25. Owamagyezi makye ashekura omurwabya.
26. Embura mukolo ekabagara obushaza.
27. Engalo ibiri nokunaabisana.
28. Owamagyezi makye ahuuha omushekuro.
29. Nirukambanze rutampereerukye.
30. Owayeteenga ekyaribona ati: ‘ninkarare nyenka.’
31. Ekyeeba juba n’obwooro n’obugumba
32. Owapima obureingwa bwiziba tatayo maguru abiri.
33. Kakuru takurirwa.
34. Otamanya ekimutungire n’enkoni yi ibaa, agikwatisa omukono gumwe.
35. Agogaya nigogabutotsa.
36. Agateriine nigo gaat’eigufa.
37. Ngu oburo bwashaara oti: ‘mubikireho embwa!’
38. Omukazi akaringura mukiiba ati: ‘nebyihari kwonka nonkiza.’
39. Obugara bwomutwe burutsya ebigyere.
40. Efuuzi ebyama omu iriiro.
41. Nibabugoya kubukwiima, oti mubwiihure mbwange!’
42. Akati kinikwa kakiri kabitsi.
43. N’owahiinga ahoorobi, nawe ayinuka.
44. Omukazi atenda ebirungi araara omumpare.
45.Ngu Omukama akukamire niwe orahira
46.Mwashanga nibarira oti mumpereze omwana nkikireh
47.Otarihire taruhuka.
48.Omwiru ayanga mukunda
49.Embabazi zomwana ziriga ahakinyi kyanyina
50.Nibabinga enshambane oti mumpe otunwa nzekurariraho

51.waruga okuziimu tagaya mushana
omumpare.
53.Wigusa enshaho nekuniga.
54.Owabandi ohatwarenda tohatwara maryo.
55.Wayereba ibunu nkomukazi anshwire wenka.
56.Owanyenda kurya ebyefuzi nagyehitya omumaguru.
57.Etajugirwe nyoko wafuna ekihaha norirayo.
58.Otungamire nyoko niwe sho..
59.Kwoshanga ekoni etakire obanza wasiima owagitakire.
60.Otamukwitse ati mwikarire tugyende
61.Akati karikwenda kukusiga amazi onywa nikimukyera
62.Otarakutwere ati shwera kahara kananka.
63.Nyine omufu niwe arikukwata ahakunuka.
64.Enyine emwe kweiba neirwana oyeshumba akati.
65.Oyine obwesigye abyama nibagoya.
66.Omushija ahinduka ahakitanda tahinduka mubigamboo.
67.Enumi etakarebaga erigasa empango.
68.Owazingamire tanyeta.
69.Okukunda ekitakukunda nenjura okugwa omwihamba.
70.Kabikanye kabikanye akafa atashweire.
71.orutahwire ruhemura emanzi.
72.kahendeke teyeita mbogo
73. Onyesire nishenkazi tamanya orwamwita…
74.otaruhire taruhuka
75.owempaka akunama kabiri.
76.Nyakwehingira kubi ati bakandoga orumbugu
33.Ejuga ezara eboroga.
78.kwoshanga nibashara neiwe otekaho eyawe bagishara.
79.nikwebitwire nikwebitwire ekinya kikahira omunju
80.Binuzire binuzire akagwa owishezara.
81.Nyine ente kwabura obeyinge omufumu aragurira busha.
82.Ibura shambu rikahingisa emaana ekihimba kimwe
83. Obusingye bwingi bukabuza emana ekifundikizo.
84.Twingane ngane etura ahamarwa
85.Bakuha ekinyi kyabusha oti kakitategire nza.
86.Noshanga nibatera eborogo oti mumpereze omwana ntoreho
87.Ngu amagosi gakona oti mperereze emboro ngayagayeho
88.Eka efubire nyine eka ayeyanjura kabiri
89. Owayenda akanuka ayeshegura omwoyo
90. Otareba omwoyo gumiimize okagira ngu nenkojo
91.Akati kinikwa kakirikabisi
92.Akawe nakuwarire
93. Kankore nsiimwe akagwa ahamurimo nkekaraya
94.Owazingamire tanyeta
95. Ejuga ezara eboroga…..
96. Eshagama nakarende
97.Eyamukuru wawe tekutekaha mugongo

30/11/2020

www.obugabebwankore.co.ug

07/09/2020

www.obugabebwankole.co.ug

Ruhanga okahanga Omuny'Ankole aboneire buzima.