Abagusii Wisdom Revisited is a collection of proverbs and metaphors in Ekegusii, one of the forty one languages spoken in Kenya. It includes naming conventions in the calendar, the traditional homestead, cattle (which were a symbol of wealth in traditional Gusii society), currency and traditional brew. The book captures wisdom told over generations and observations intertwined with profound meaning.
In order to avail the work to a wider audience than Ekegusii readers and speakers, the author has attempted to put the necessary context, giving the English equivalent and, in some cases, using story-lines to establish the meaning. Here is an example:
Abanda 'mbairokaine; Onchong'a agatama ekworo Kimaiga kayebwate:
The rich revere/fear one another as in the case of Onchong'a who fled on noticing Kimaiga's cloak.
Storyline: Once there were two rich men who unknowingly met at the home of a beautiful girl, whom they both intended to woo. Mr. Onchong'a reported earlier. However, when Mr. Kimaiga also arrived for the same purpose, Mr. Onchonga, who was less wealthy, stealthily walked away without ado.
What others say:
"Renowned novelist Ngugi wa Thiong'o has fought to restore the place of African languages and especially his language, Gikuyu. Time has come for Abagusii to take up this good fight. Mr. Atemba makes an impoortant contribution in this journey." - Prof. Ochoki Nyamori, Professor of Accounting, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
"This is a great attempt at documenting what otherwise would have passed down generations as oral tale; wisdom that is threatened with extinction in a rapidly changing world, dispersion of Abagusii beyond their ancestral environment and adoption of dominant languages such as English and Kiswahili among others." - Anonymous
About the Author
Mr.. Nemwel Mogere Atemba was born in 1956, to young peasant parents at Boking'oina village in the then larger Kitutu Location, Kisii District. He relocated to Nyansiongo settlement scheme in 1965 and after school in 1977, moved to Nairobi for training and employment, where he has resided to date.
He went to school at Tambacha and Nyansiongo primary schools, Nyanturago Secondary school (where in 1975, he set a record of being the very first student in the school to attain Division one (1) in "O" levels). He proceeded to Machakos Boys High School, Eastern province, where he sat for his "A" levels in 1977. Thereafter, he taught for two years at Manga Girls High School before joining the Kenya Railways Corporation for training in Management and Administration fields.
Mr.. Atemba is currently a practicing Human Resource Consultant with C.P.S (K) and Management Diplomas qualifications.
His early experiences with rural elders and colleagues gave him an urge to learn the art of conversation, of which proverbs and other wise sayings form the core determinants in eloquence. Mr. Atemba hopes that this book will be of particular interest to students, teachers, researchers, public speakers, preachers, politicians and Kisii people both in Kenya and those in the Diaspora.
