N’shishiyelo ni Lilo/ Abdilatif Abdalla (This is What I Hold Fast) na Mamba (Crocodile)

N’shishiyelo ni Lilo/ Abdilatif Abdalla	This is What I Hold Fast
1 Nipulikiza ndu yangu, ninenayo usikiye Yaliyo moyoni mwangu, ningependa nikwambiye Ujuwe imani yangu, ambayo niishishiye Siiwati ingawaye, n’shishiyelo ni lilo	1 Listen to me, brother. These are things you should hear. Put your ear to my heart; let me tell you what’s there. I need you to know the faith that I hold dear. I will not let it go; this is what I hold fast.
2 Walinena walimwengu, wa zama zilopisye Kwamba kweli i utungu, kwa yule aambiwaye Nami haya ndugu yangu, sasa niyaaminiye Asojuwa nasikiye, apeleleze ajuwe	2 Our shrewd ancestors said so; it’s nothing new: The truth can be bitter when it’s given to you. I’ve come to believe them; the old sayings are true. If you don’t know it yet, listen well and you will.
3 Kweli nnaifahamu, haipendwi aswilani Kwa mja hiyo ni sumu, mbaya iso kifani Mwenye kuitakalamu, hapendezi katwaani Sasa nshayaamini, ni kweli haya ni kweli	3 I’ve come to learn just how truth is despised; Its taste, like a poison’s, not easily disguised. Truthsayers, it seems, are rejected, not prized. I’ve come to accept the truth of these truths.
4 Kweli imenitongeya, kwa kuinena mwendani Wale nalowaambiya, wamenitiya dhikini Wameniona mbaya, kumshinda Firauni Kweli, sasa naamini, si wangi waipendao	4 I told the truth and it came to betray me; Those who were told came back to repay me. More wicked than Pharaoh they’d like to portray me. Truly, I believe: there are few who love truth.
5 Kweli naliwaambiya, wakuu wa nti hini Haeleza moya moya, kwa wanati wa ntini Kuhusu walofanyiya, upande wa Upinzani Sasa kuwamo tabuni, nalipwa kwa hiyo kweli	5 I spoke the truth to the men in control; To the leaders and the people, I told it in full, What’s become of the ones who challenged their rule. My present affliction is my only reward.
6 Kweli ilipowatoma, kama dasturi yake Wao wakaona vyema, afadhali wanishike Wanishike hima hima, hima ndani waniweke Ngomeni n’adhibike, nijute kusema kweli	6 When the truth finally cut them—as it always does— They reckoned my words were sufficient cause, Arrested me at once, and threw me behind bars. They believed prison would make me regret.
7 Kweli yanipasha tabu, ndugu yangu niamini Na nyingi mno adhabu, za moyoni na mwilini Yote haya ni sababu, ya kunena kweli hini Ndipo sasa haamini, kweli i utungu kweli	7 Believe me, this truth has caused bitter pain; The vengeance on body and heart I sustain Is all just for stating the truth that I’ve seen. There is no question, truth is truly biting.
8 Kweli menibaidisha, na huko kwetu mjini Pia menitenganisha, na walo wangu nyumbani Kuja kuniadhibisha, kwa kunileta ngomeni Yote sababu ni nini? Ni kwamba mesema kweli	8 The truth has removed me, kept me apart; Severed me from home and those close to my heart. Why am I punished, why kept under guard? All this for saying things I knew to be true.
9 Kweli menifunga ndani, ya chumba nde sitoki Kutwa kucha ni chumbani, juwa kuota ni dhiki Na mlinzi mlangoni, yu papo kattu ha’ndoki Nilindwavyo bilhaki, ni kama simba marara	9 The truth has me trapped morning, night; I can’t watch dawn break or feel the sun’s light. The guard never leaves; the door’s bolted tight. You’d think I’m a beast the way I’m restrained.
10 Kweli yanilaza tini, ilo na baridi kali Ningawa burangetini, natetema kweli kweli Na maumivu mwilini, daima ni yangu hali Shauri ya idhilali, ya kulazwa simitini	10 The truth has me sleeping on the floor, in the cold. Despite my blanket, once the shivering takes hold, The agony in my limbs is persistent, uncontrolled. This is the torture of sleeping on cement.
11 Kweli japo ni ngomeni, kwenye kuta ndefu nene Kabisa sitangamani, na mahabusu wingine Na lengo kubwa nadhani, ni: nilonalo ‘sinene Hazuwa mambo mengine, kwa kuambukiza watu	11 Though towering walls make me their prisoner, I’m forbidden to mix with the others they keep here. An uprising, I think, is the thing they most fear, That I’ll stir something up with the things that I know.
12 Kweli pia meninyima, haki zilizo ngomeni Wangu kuja nitizama, hilo haliwezekani Haya nnayoyasema, ndivyo yalivyo yakini Baruwa sitakikani, kwandika wala kwetewa	12 The truth even denies me my rights in this jail. My loved ones can’t visit; I can’t receive mail. These words are the truth, though it may sound unreal. I’m forbidden contact with anyone outside.
13 Sendi mbele ‘tasimama, sikupi kwa tafswili Kusudi nirudi nyuma, kwa ubeti wa awali Ili nipate kusema, imani yangu kamili Ujuwe kwa jambo hili, mtima wangu ulivyo	13 I’ll stop; I won’t detail each grim play of force, Let me turn back instead to my opening verse, And tell you the nature of the faith that I nurse. So you can know fully the will of my heart.
14 Nilipoenua kimo, kutaka niseme kweli Nilidhani yaliyomo, hinena sina aili Kanama wangu mdomo, waja fungika kauli Nisiseme bilkuli, kuwaeleza wanati	14 The day I stood up, to speak what I knew, I assumed there’s no wrong in saying what’s true. I had no notion of what I’d be put through: To clamp my mouth shut, so I’d never be heard.
15 Mno wanganiadhibu, adhabu kila namna Na mangi yanganiswibu, ya usiku na mtana Hayatakuwa sababu, ya kuniasa kunena Kweli nitapoiyona, tanena siinyamai	15 Even if their torture went on without end, Employed every tactic to debase and torment, It would never be enough to make me relent. Where I see truth I’ll speak it, I won’t be gagged.
16 Mateso yao yangawa, nda kuumiza mtima Hayatakuwa ni dawa, ya kutonipa kusema Ni bure wajisumbuwa, nilipo nnasimama Si ‘mi wa kurudi nyuma, kweli ilipo ‘tasonga	16 Their abuses wound me, but my heart is unmoved. My will to speak is strong; truth can’t be disproved. They’re wasting their time. I will not be moved. I’ll only go forward, only toward truth.
17 Ama hakika mwendani, kwa mwenye moyo wa sawa Mateso ya duniani, wakati kijaaliwa Hushukuru Rahamani, kajikaza kutukuwa Nami yangawa yakuwa, hikaza moyo si ila	17 Those with worthy hearts, unbound by fear, When the pain they are destined to suffer draws near, Look to Merciful God, give thanks, and persevere. I too stand firm, take strength for what comes.
18 Mateso humbadili, aso na moyo thabiti Apawapo idhilali, japo ingawa katiti Huona ni afadhali , awate yakwe ya dhati Ela langu siliwati, nshishiyelo ni lilo	18 Torture will cause an unsteady will to dissolve. Without strength of heart matters quickly devolve, A man can lose faith, forget his resolve. But I won’t let it go; this is what I hold fast.
19 Wangi washasumbuliwa, waneni wa kweli hiyo Na wangi washauliwa, kwa kutobadili nyoyo Na mimi nimeradhiwa, ku’yandama sera hiyo ‘Tafuwata zao nyayo, n’shishiyelo ni lilo	19 Many have been victims, I’m not the first. Many have been killed who resisted the worst. I’m ready to join them, my path can’t be reversed. I’ll follow their footsteps; this is what I hold fast
20 Atwambizile Rasuli, kipenzi cha Bwana Mn’gu Ya kwamba tuseme kweli, japokuwa i utungu Na mimi siibadili, ni yiyo imani yangu Nililoamini tangu, ni lilo hilo sil’ati	20 The Prophet Mohamed, cherished by the Lord, Told us: speak truth, however bitter your reward. This is the core of my faith, it cannot be stirred. These beliefs of a lifetime, I won’t let them go.
21 Kweli naitiya tamma, nikuage ndugu yangu Kweli si mwenye kukoma, kuwambiya walimwengu Kweli si’yati kusema, katika uhai wangu Nami kwa upande wangu, hi’yambiwa ‘takubali	21 Truly, let me end here; let this be my goodbye. Truth will not go unspoken while I’m standing by. Truly, in my lifetime, I won’t cease my cry. And if my own turn should come, I’ll accept what is true.
-          Septemba 1979	Translated by Meg Arenberg

Mamba/ Abdilatif Abdalla

Nami nambe, niwe kama waambao

Niupambe, upendeze wasomao

Niufumbe, wafumbuwe wawezao

Kuna mamba, mtoni metakabari

Ajigamba, na kujiona hodari

Yuwaamba, kwamba ‘taishi dahari

Memughuri, ghururi za kipumbavu

Afikiri, hataishiwa na nguvu

Takaburi, hakika ni maangavu

Akumbuke, siku yake ikifika

Roho yake, ajuwe itamtoka

Nguvu zake, kikomoche zitafika

Afahamu, mtu hajuwi la kesho

Hatadumu, angatumiya vitisho

Maadamu, lenye mwanzo lina mwisho

 Crocodile

I too have words; I’ll join those already speaking;

I’ll gild my verse so it pleases those who’re reading;

Untwist these words, for their sense may be misleading.

There’s a croc gliding smugly down the river,

A boastful sop who believes he’s brave and clever.

He loves to talk, tells the world he’ll live forever.

With fool’s conceit he strings himself along,

Sustains belief that he’ll always be this strong,

But self-deceit and pride can only last so long.

He should know, someday he’ll breathe his last.

He too will go, once his die’s been cast.

Time will show his power finally passed.

What lies ahead none of us can comprehend;

What fate has set, no show of fierceness can transcend.

Don’t forget: what has a start must have an end.

Translated by Meg Arenberg