mfumu (imfumu)
noun
plural - imfumu, nangu bashamfumu
MEANING
Chief, judge, king.
Example of use
1. Imfumu taishininwa
MEANING: The king cannot do wrong.
2. Twala umulandu ku mfumu MEANING: Bring the affair to the chief.
MEANING 2
Our Lord.
MEANING 3
A demi-god from heathen point of view.
Example of use
Imfumu ya mipashi, MEANING: A person who pretends to be possessed by spirits.
MEANING 4
A respectble, generous person, or a term of respect addressed to such:
Example of use
Ulya ni mfumu MEANING: That is a respectable person.
FIGURATIVE SPEECH/IDIOMS/PHRASES
Icafuma ku mfumu tacicepa, Literal translation: what comes from the chief is never small. Meaning: The gift is in proportion to the dignity of the giver.
PROVERBS
PROVERB 1
Twali ne mfumu tapesha mupeepi
Literal translation:
We were with the chief (says a great deal) is not wise.
Meaning:
To keep mentioning the previous chief means degrading the present one.
Bemba Meaning:
Calola mukuti umuntu alitemwa ukwikala bwino, ilyo icifulo capwa, uwamutamfishe afwa paisa umbi, kutifye libililibiliati awi mukwai kano kale ilyo twaikele bwino aima ayalaila kumbi, nakokwayabipa, ifyo fine.
PROVERB 2
Imfumu ni nkulu shonse
Literal translation:
The chief is all great
Meaning:
The chief has power and authority over his subjects
Bemba meaning:
mu bantu baiko, tamwaba uwacila imfuma amaka
PROVERB 3
Imfumu tailya cilukwa
Literal translation:
The chief does not eat his vomit
Meaning:
The chief does not reverse his decisions
Bemba Meaning:
mubupingushi bwaiko imfumu taibwelela ku numa. Imfumu taipindululwa
PROVERB 4
Imfumu taishininwa
Literal translation:
The chief is never found guilty
Meaning:
Whatever comes from the chief has to be respected even when it is wrong decision or not true
Bembameaning:
apofye cifumine ku kanwa ka mfumu, nangu buufi cishinka.
PROVERB 5
Tashililwa shibili (imfumu)
Literal translation
One cannot eat from two successive chiefs
Meaning
You may have benefited from the last chief, but things may not be same for the chief who takes over
Bemba meaning
Imfumu iyakutemwa nga yafwa, witiila neikesapo nayo cikaba cimo ciine! Umuntu mupya nga aya pa cifulo cikalamba, mwebaalelya T-bone no wakale cenjeleni!
PROVERB 6
Aikuta, alubwila ne mfumu ubutala.
Literal translation
He was filled to satisfaction and gave his grain bin to the chief.
Meaning
A person who is generous but does not makeprovision for the future.
Bemba meaning
Ubonaushi tabwawama, nabukaitemwe tabwawama. Caliwama ukulolesha nakuntashi.
PROVERB 7
PROVERB 7
Abakalamba bakobolwele mfumu insoka mu mukoshi.
literal transation
The elders removed the snake that was around the chief’s neck
Meaning
Old people know how to handle dangerous situations. Allusion to a story where a snake coiled round the chief's neck and an old man saved him by showing a rat to the snake.
Bemba meaning
Abakalamba baaba na mano ukucila abaice. Balishiba ukupikulula ubwile nangu bwafye
PROVERB 8
Amenso yashimona mfumu yafula.
Literal translation
The eyes that do not see the chief are those of an outsider.
Bemba meaning
Abeekala kumbi teekuti beshibe ifya mu ng'anda imbi. Mu calo teebonse bamona imfumu, lelo bonse baliishiba ishina.
PROVERB 9
Apo wasange mfumu, e pesano.
Literal translation
Where you find the chief there is his palace.
Meaning
Once you have found the person you are looking for don’t continue with unnecessary journeys
Bemba meaning
Umuntu nga aima aya alefwaye cintu, nga acimwena mupepi ninshi eapo peene, talinakucilapo.
PROVERB 10
Bashamfumu ni mpili shalekana akasuba, shafimbana ubushiku.
Literal translation
Chiefs are like hills, they are separate during the day but cover each other at night.
Bemba meaning
Mu bulwi imfumu tashumfwana, na bantu tabatemwa shonse. Mu cibote shonse balashicindika. Apali ubwafya nefisuma filalula.
PROVERB 11
Cenga bupele, uwalaile mfumu umusengele wa cela.
Literal translation
Mr. Cenga-bupele who promised the chief abed made of iron.
Meaning
Applied to a liar who promises what he will never give
Bemba meaning
Uwabufi, uulaya ifyo ashakacite.
PROVERB 12
Cimbala cenjela: abenda ne mfumu benda no munani.
Literal translation
Beware, cold mush, the chief's men travel with relish.
Bemba meaning
Caliwama ukutaluka ku fintu ifikali. Ilyo umuntu alecita icintu afwile ukwishiba ukuti eko bali abakutiina.
PROVERB 13
Icilyo cibi cabakile mfumu umweo.
Literal translation
Bad food prevented the chief from dying of hunger.
Meaning
Do not be fussy about food, anything is good enough to keep you alive
Bemba meaning
Ukukaana ifilyo kano apali ifingi. Limbi batiila, 'Kalundwe ukulula ni pamwina'
PROVERB 14
Imfumu ni nkulu shonse.
Literal translation
The chief is all great.
Bemba meaning
Mubantu baiko, tamwaba uwacila imfumu amaka.
PROVERB 15
Ishamfumu sha Katumba shafwile ku mpepo.
Literal translation
The chiefs from Katumba died from the cold.
Meaning
None of the chiefs would go for firewood when they were on a journey and had no servants with them. If a person always expects to be waited on and refuses to do anything to help themselves it will eventually lead to trouble
Bemba meaning
Basosa abati insoselo yafumine ku shamfumu shimo isha ku Katumba, ishali pa bulendo lucelocelo, nomba tashakwete abasha. Shakata ku mpepo ashiti katukoshe umulilo tonte. Nomba uwakutebe nkuni abulapantu cila mfumu mu mutima aiti ine ndi mfumu. Aweshasuka shonse shafwa ku mpepo. Ipinda aliti ukushingishanya takwawama, ukuitunge cintu pa mutwe auti indi mukankaala ine teco
Kalume wa mfumu tasunta bwamba.
Literal translation
The chief's page does not roam around naked.
Meaning
Dress decently and act as befits your status
Bemba meaning
Umuntu ali nokumoneka ukulingana no mucinshi wakwe no bukankaala bwakwe. Ipinda aliti nga uli mukankaala tauli nakumoneka buwelewele-buwelewele. Nga u1i kapitao ulingile ukumoneka nga kapitao. Umwana we sukulu amoneke ngo mwana we sukulu; ifyo fiine bonse.
PROVERB 17
Kolyokolyo tapakate mfumu, kano ali kumyamba.
Literal translation
The tree lizard does not honour the chief, except 'kumyamba.'
Bemba meaning
Kumyanda e kunika ukwasenguka ukwabula imiti.Ukufisama kwakwa kolyokolyo kano ku cimuti. Nga wamukumanya kumbi ninshia asanswa, teekuti amone icimuti cakuninako, pamufiitila. Ipinda lilelanda pa muntu uuifisa kuntungulushi ya bantu, imfumu, nomba ifyakucita fyamubula nga baakumana ne ntungulushi apabulo bufisamino. Icikonkapo kuipalamikafye kuntungulushi nokupingula yamupingula...
PROVERB 18
Komba no kunasha (kunaka): akombele mfumu takooma.
Literal translation
One must work quietly without any fuss (be energetic). If the chief has worked the country will not suffer.
Bemba meaning
Imilimo isuma iyakuwamye calo yalyafya, ileta necifukushi pambi icitendwe. Lelo ipinda aliti shipikisha pantu umulimo obe ukalamba, nga wanakuka walapose calo mu bucushi
Konke mfumu, umushi tauliwa.
Literal translation
Follow the chief, the village won't be eaten, or you the village will not give you free food.
Meaning
It pays to be loyal
Bemba meaning
Butembele ngo buliile. Abaice abanakilila ku bakalamba balashukilamo. Abatumika nokunakilila abafyuma tababulililwa nakalya