The ManicaPost
Friday Lessons with Uncle Jay
While reading the novel “China manenji hachifambisi”, I was intrigued by the idioms (madimikira) used in the story.
This brought back memories of the countless Shona and English novels I read as a child.
In particular, I remember how we would swap books, and set targets with a group of friends on the number of books to complete over a time period.
The title of this book is adapted from the Shona proverb (tsumo), China manenji hachifambisi, chinomirira kuti mavara acho aonekwe.
I would translate this as, ‘A shocking occurrence does not happen instantly; a number of peculiarities are witnessed ahead of it.’
Translated by the author himself, Hamutyinei M.A, the book title in English is, ‘A mystery takes long to unfold.’
A crisis or bad situation is often preceded by small undesirable incidents, building up over time.
Only after the bad thing has happened do people manage to make sense of all the prior happenings.
The message here is to be diligent enough to stop something before it has an opportunity to develop.
Madimikira create vivid imagery.
The variety of expressions used to tell the story create imagery so vivid, I am sucked right into the centre of each scene, almost as if I have travelled back in time.
It is as if I become the story’s main character, a character the writer forgot — the reader.
A host of idioms (madimikira) help dress up and colour this story of cold-heartedness and deception.
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Below are some of the madimikira I came across as I read this story.
Each of them is given together with an explanation and how it was applied by the writer.
Akazvitakura — This means that the woman in question is pregnant.
Kubata hana — To be calm, as opposed to being unruffled or frightened by something you have experienced, seen or heard.
Kubaya gudo nemukanwa — To completely satisfy the standards, expectations or aims in a given context.
Kudya mari — To spend money lavishly.
Kufumobata muromo wejongwe – Roosters have always been known to crow around daybreak.
Kufurwa nemhepo — To take a break from work. To spend time on leisure and recreation.
Kugurwa makumbo — To be stunned or shocked immensely.
Kunzwa pava nemwoyo — This is a feeling of satisfaction or contentment, say after enjoying good food and drink.
Kuseurwa makotsi — ‘Kuseura gotsi’ means to gossip about someone, while ‘kuseurwa gotsi’ means that one is the subject of gossip.
The word ‘seura’ means ‘hollow out.’
Kutaura seune muti mukanwa – To predict an event or result.
The alternative wording is, ‘kutaura seune mushonga mudama.’
Kutorwa moyo — To be drawn or attracted to, and consequently desire something. To have one’s admiration aroused by something.
Kutsika matama enzira — To walk unsteadily.
Kutsvaga nameso matsvuku — This refers to searching desperately.
Kuva mudenga rechinomwe — Feeling euphoric or ecstatic. To be blissful.
Kuve zai regondo — To be an only child.
Kuzvidya moyo — To be greatly troubled or distressed.
Pamuromo hapachina nhunzi inomhara — This refers to talking too much, and carries a negative connotation.
Vakatodenha mago enhuruka — This means to provoke, or to incite a negative response due to one’s actions or words.
‘Nhuruka’ refers to beginning of the rainy season and ‘mago’ means wasps.
Vakatura femo — This describes breaking to rest after performing a physically draining task. Alternatively, it is used to describe the act of taking a deep sigh .
Zvisina musoro – This means that something is senseless, unintelligent or baseless.
