Saw an old Post from late last Yr about Kinyarwanda words that have survived in their original form. The post was addressed to shiny eyes, but I suspect the similarity index between Kinyarwanda and Some specific Western Bantu Languages (Gusii, maragoli) may be higher than that with Central bantus (GEMA). Old thread, but this is my food.
Original Post by @upepo
https://www.kenyatalk.com/index.php?threads/for-shiny-eyes-only-words-that-have-survived-in-their-original-form-in-rwanda.35441/page-4
Maragoli Versions for the words include (In Brackets)
Kwiga- to study > (Kwiga)
Kugamba- to talk > (Koyoga (Kugamba is from Old Maragoli speech))
Gukama-to milk > (Kokera)
Kurira- to cry > (Kurira)
Guseka- to laugh > (Koseka)
Kugenda-to travel > (Kogenda)
Kugwa-to fall > (Kugwa)
Kwifumbika-to cover oneself > (Kwifunika / Kwikunika)
Gucoka-to go down > Kweleka (Go Down a slope)
Kubira- to be boiling > Kuvira (Like Sufuria ya Ugali when the water boils), There’s also Kusarama
Nene-big > (Nene)
Kwambura-to take clothes off ()
Kuhamba- bury, take care ()
Dundu-mound()
Kwanika-to put out in the sun to dry (Kuvagara)
Kwahukana-to separate (Kwavukana)
Kwandika- to write (Kuhandika)
Kwanura-to bring in from the sun (Kwanura)
Iciaro-village (Sounds like Ishialo from other Luhya dialects)
Kubana-to live together (Kuva na : Be with)
Kuberereka-to move aside to allow passage ()
Gucagagura-to chop up (Kotemaga)
Gucucuma-to mash (Kuduva)
Gucukura-to dig a hole (Kuyava)
Gucumbika- to get lodging ()
Gucocora-to make fun of (Koseya)
Kwegeka-to lean against (Kwegeka)
Kwenda-accept (Kwenya )
Kwigurira-to give completely to (Kwigurira Mostly spoken Kwigulla : means to “make open”)
Nyina/Nyoko- mother to someone (Nyina or Mama)
Kwerekera-to turn toward ()
Gufunga-to close (Kufunga / Kuhana)
Kuganira-converse with, to visit (Kuiganira)
Kugaragara-to be visible (Kugaragara Means Kugaagaa in Kimaragoli : Like Elephants gaagaa in wet mud when its hot)
Kugetsa-to harvest (Kogesa)
Kungigimira-to stutter ()
Mugogo-foot bridge (The Mostly used word in Today’s Maragoli is iDaraja, Mugogo sounds more like the one tree accross the river used as a bridge)
Kugura-to buy (Kugura)
Kugurana-to exchange article, to borrow (Borrow is Kusava, Kuguranira would be to buy for each other)
Kwirigira-to trust, rely on, expect, hope ()
Kuira-to get late (Kuchereva)
Iguriro-market place (Ichitu)
Kuguruka-to fly (Kuburuka)
Kugwa-to fall (Kugwa)
Kuhagarara-to stand (Kusingira is too Stand in Maragoli)
Hamwe-together (Haala / Harara)
Kuhangara-to harm (Kuhangara means to argue against / Refuse)
Kuhanga-to introduce something (Kujaga)
Kuhanguka-to pass away, to end dry season ()
Haria-over there (Hara)
Kuharura-to scrape, scratch, dig just top soil (Kuharura)
Kuhekenya-to chew
Ihembe-horn (Urwiga)
Kuhemuka-to be unfaithful, to fail someone
Kuhinda-to thunder ()
Kuhihibikana-to follow earnestly ()
Kuhinduka-to change (Kuhinduka ?)
Kuhindukira-to turn around (Kuhinduka ?)
Kuhinga-to cultivate, hoe, dig (Kurima)
Kuhinguka-to arrive (To Arrive is Kuduuka)
Kuhinyura-to scorn, criticize (Kuhinyura in Mara as a word is close to Kuhinura, to lift)
Kuhirwa-to be fortunate, blessed (Kuhirwa in Maragoli would mean To be taken to, Kuhiirwa is Kuchomekewa)
Kuhitwa-to have diarrhea (Kunyarara :D:D)
Kuhobera-to embrace()
Kuhonoka-to survive (Kohononoka)
Kuhora-to cool down (Kuzila ?)
Kuhomboka-to speak without thinking (Hehehehe, this one mungu saidia)
Kuhotora-to twist cords (Kovoha / Kovohanya means to tie together, not sure if it applies to twisting cords)
Kuhuga-to forget for the moment, be busy (Kuhuga in Maragoli means Kushangaa)
Kuhuguka-to be intelligent, skilled, capable (kogeriha)
Ihuguriro-workshop, place of counsel ()
Kuhuha-to blow (Kuhuza)
Kuhungura-to marry brother’s widow ()
Kwigana-to imitate ()
Kwigaragura-to thrush around ()
Kwigendera-to go by oneself (Kwegendera / Kwegendiza)
Kwihorera-to be silent ()
Kwiherera-to be alone (kwevera)
Kwihuta-to hurry ()
Kwirata-to boast, be proud (Kwerora)
Kwiregura-to defend oneself (*)
@uncle nyam saidia hapo nimeeka asterisk
Some words in maragoli have completely been replaced by Swahili / Foreign language Variants like :
Luck : iBahati
Get late : Kuchereva
School : isukuru
Church : iRiganisa
Temple : iRitemberi
Horse : iBarasi
Donkey : iPunda
To Believe : Kwaamina
God : Nyasaye (Not sure if it was Luo first or Maragoli first but if the Kisii call God Nyasaye too, then the Luo must have an alternative Name for this fake invisible non-existent guy)
some of course are because, the items being refereed to are also foreign to the language. Like Horses, never seen one on Maragoli Hills.
and many more.
And here is a cultural concept am not sure if its practiced by other communities :
KUSAGARIKA
You are travelling somewhere, or you are not in a position to take care of your cow / Goat even Chicken. So you take it to your neighbor or some other boma, where they take care of it feed it and enjoy its products (Maziwa for Ng’ombe, Mayai for Kuku). But the animal remains yours, including its offsprings. When you come back, you go take your animal and its offsprings and give the caregiver something in return. Which could be some of the offsprings or even the Animal itself, depending on the levels of philanthropy in you at that moment. But siku hizi haiko saaaana. Niletee mbuzi yako nachinja ukirudi kama hatukuandaikiana mahali tembeza. Yea.