How to threaten someone in Maragoli – Growing up uvurogori, these are words your didn’t want to hear a peer utter while down in the herding fields

3

Ndakuhaa zikofi

Literally means ‘I will give you slaps’.

4

Ndakucharaza

In this word, we find the Maragloli version of the Swahili word charaza, which means “do something energetically, do something skillfully, hit with strength, lash.”

5

Ndakukuba zigundi

I will box you, or I will land punches on you.

6

Yenya zigundi

This phrase is rhetoric. The speaker comments to another or says to themselves: “This person is looking for a beating (by being punched).”

7

Ndakuhaa vvogo

I am going to give you (ndakuhaa) strokes of the cane (vvogo).

8

Ndampambusa mumoni

In Lulogooli means: I’m going to wipe your face. Clear the cobwebs so to say – with a slap or two.

9

Uhenza ndi?

Again another threat that utilizes the power of rhetoric. Growing up Luhya, if you happened to hear your mum say that to you, chances are she wasn’t to pleased by your behavior, maybe unconvinced by your explanation. Either way, lukhendu may soon reacquainted with your bottom. It means: how are you looking at me or why do you have that look on your face.

10

Ndamromba

I will make him/her is the literal meaning of this word. Kuromba is to make. I will fix them is the other meaning. In the context of Maragoli traditional circumcision, it means the initiate has undergone the do successfully and to a satisfactory result. In the context of death, it could mean the body of the deceased is well embalmed and/or has undergone our traditional death rituals. When used as a threat, it indicates the intention of one party to straighten another, i.e, khukololosia embulu as our brothers from the Mulembe house of Babukusu say.

11

Ndakunyweka

Kunyweka is to beat in Maragoli. Thus you can have ‘ndakunyweka zislap’, I will slap you. Or even ‘ndakunyweka zigundi’ , I will punch you.

12

Ndakurasa magina

I will throw stones at you/ I will stone you.

13

Turamhaa zibooti

We will kick you. To be precise, whilst we are wearing those heavy police boots.

14

Ndakuswaga

I will make mince meat of you.

15

Wenya urire?

Do you want to be made to cry?

16

Wenya mariga?

Are you looking for tears?

17

Ndakuhura

I will thrush you – in the manner one does to simsim or wheat.

17

Ndamrema

I will cut/hack them. Thus, you can have: ndamrema rubanga; meaning, I will hack them with a panga.

18

Toza mbano

Stab with a knife.

19

Kurarembana

We will cross swords or we will argue.