Mola Mbua Ndoko: Wisdom and Ways of the Bakweri People

63. “ owo te efanya, oma, owo fe yutu-tu”.

If you pick up a burning piece of wood, know that you have picked up smoke as well.

Fables of the Animal World.

Yasi nanu:  When Yoongole received news that his friend Mbai  matono  Luuwa was seducing Ejoso, the wife of Kaave  Nyame, Yoongole advised Mbai against a marriage with Ejoso.  Yoongole explained:

“You are creating trouble for yourself by seducing Kaave’s wife.  Kaave will bear a grudge against you. Since Ejoso already has seven children with Kaave she may not be capable of delivering more children.  You must understand that if you marry Ejoso you will become the de facto stepfather of her children. You will then without doubt be required to endure discomforts that you will suffer as a consequence of marrying the mother of those children

“owo  te  efa-nya,  oma  owo  fe  yututu.  nanu  ndi  ese  eveli”.

(If you pick up a burning piece of wood, know that you have picked up smoke as well).

62. “Ngoole ama Moliki-liki ae-nga, eno-ke maato kasi, nanu si naso kane-ya fe lingi lae-kise leni, na venge vee-ya vee-ni a-koo” !

Ngoole said: "Cut off my ears instantly so that I will no longer listen to the boastful utterances of Moliki-liki and the lies he tells."

 

Maito, maito kai !  It’s time to narrate Fables of the Animal World.

Moliki-liki is a stick insect, about the size of a spider or praying mantis. It trembles continuously and clings all the time at the bottom end of trunks of big trees

Yasi nanu:  Ngoole (a millipede) discovered Moliki-liki (stick insect) trembling on the trunk of a Wuuma (bombax tree).  Ngoole not knowing that Moliki-liki was suffering from Parkinson's disease asked Molikiliki:
"My friend, are you sick?  Can I be of assistance to you”?

Retorting Moliki-liki said:
"What reasons have you for suggesting that I am sick?
I am perfectly well. I am busy rocking this Wuuma.
I will up-root it now and fell it on the ground now.
So, please don't disturb me any more with questions.
Run away from here. Be fast.The Wuuma is already clicking.
It's about to fall down. Let it not fall on you”.

61. “esene noma e-Mbaa-mba, yaa-sa Mote mwe Elive e-kaa-ye nau”.

See how Mbaa-mba  is provoking Mote  mwe  Elive.

Tales of the Animal World.

 

Yasi nanu.  Mote mwe Elive was a simple man who extracted wine from live palm trees. He was gentle and well known for being without guile. He diplomatically avoided being embroiled in disputes and litigation. Still, Mbaa-mba, the troublemaker engaged Mote in a dispute that had a tragic end.

Whenever Mote was on top of a palm tree, extracting wine, Mbaa-mba would appear abruptly on the branches, and move towards Mote, looking aggressive as if he was about to assault and bite Mote.  Mbaa-mba followed Mote on top of every palm tree. Kaki  Inoni was an eyewitness to several occasions when Mbaa-mba caused fright to Mote. On each occasion Kaki Inoni shouted: