1316. Andũ maemie Ngai me elĩ tyo mũndũ? Two people defied God, how much more for a man?

This ancient axiom means that the quest to control people is futile. There is a long history of human defiance of law since humanity began. The axiom alludes to the biblical story of creation in Genesis where Adam and Eve disobeyed the creator. That original defiance, the maxim suggests, involving two people against a stronger supernatural force, is a lesson that mere mortals cannot easily control people.

1317. Ĩthaa mũndũ nĩ nzuke ya Ngai. One’s father is an age-mate of God.

Around 1970, a musician wove this axiom into a song calling his countrymen to return to the farms, shun idleness and drinking, and respect their fathers. The proverb means a father deserves the utmost respect and reverence from children.

1318. Kula ya Ngai ndĩ mũlolongo. God’s vote does not queue.

This emerged during the second half of the twentieth century, when massive voting by queuing was introduced. People stood in long lines (mũlolongo) behind the candidate of their choice. They were counted but did not cast a vote. Appearing in traditional songs, the proverb means that if fate should be on your side, it will be so. One does not have to queue for God’s blessings.

1319. Ngai nde kĩmena na ndaĩsaa ongo. God has no hatred and does not take bribes.

This is a recent coinage given the word ongo (bribe), a concept of the postcolonial era. Colonial society was full of hate, conflict, corruption, and bribery. Religion played a key role here as the place of escape. While every administrator and police officer had to be bribed to render services, sages condemned these vices through such idiomatic expressions.

1320. Ngai nĩ mũnene kwĩ Mũthũngũ. God is greater than the white man.

This is drawn from colonial culture, racially organized with the white man at the top, Asians in the middle, and Africans at the bottom. European leaders had all the power to the extent that colonial subjects confused divine and human powers. This proverb was crafted to separate the two: human power is limited.

1321. Ngai nĩ mũĩ kwĩ wenzi. God’s mind is sharper than a blade.

The hidden part of the proverb is making the audience confuse sharpness and wit, as the word for both is ũĩheboth wit of the mind and the sharpness of a blade.