Itsandra Mdjini in the 19th century
Once upon a time a city known as Sankule or Itsandra Mdjini was ravaged by an epidemic disease called ‘mbelembe’. Many inhabitants of the city trembled and died. Doctors, experts, marabouts failed to find a cure. One day, a committee chaired by a notable called Mze went to consult a famous marabout who suggested changing the name of the city and replacing it by Mdjwazema(i.e. jerkwater of generosity).The committee accepted the proposal and went to see Mmadi Ali who was the man who called the shots in that time. The nobleman and the committee members were invited by the marabout to attend a solemn ceremony at the public place near the Friday mosque. As great notable Mmadi Ali did not swallow the new name, he took his baton, raised it and uttered: ‘‘ngefo Sankule, sha ketsufa Mdjwazema!’’ i.e. our city will die as Sankule not Mdjwazema. Thus, the charlatan’s proposal was rejected and since that day Mmadi Ali was nicknamed ‘ngefo sankule’. He was buried in Itsandra Mdjini at the cemetery known as the mausoleum Al-habib Omar Bin Sumeit. The idiomatic expression
ngefo Sankule means never give up to stand up for your rights.
The idiom
Mbe kali mbe (a bull does not eat a bull) was coined by Ahmed Abdallah Abderemane, the father of the Comoros’ independence. His policy was focused on the unity (udzima) of the men and women of the four islands of the archipelago of Comoros.
He nalayele was coined by prince Said Ibrahim. The verb huyela literally means to have a bath. In the volcanic islands, as a volcano always finishes in the sea, it’s like it takes a bath. Dzaha means volcano in the Comorian language. It can also mean catastrophe. During the internal autonomy under the French administration, the prince became the head of the government when president Said Mohamed Cheikh passed away. But, when his government was censored by the majority of the members of the parliament, the prince accepted to step aside. Nowadays, when you disagree with someone who is stubborn, you can say he nalayele and stay apart to avoid conflict.
Kafa bo liwali was a slogan used on the radio during the authoritarian revolutionary regime of mongozi (leader) Ali Soilih. When President Ali Soilih wanted to finish quickly the administrative buildings called mudiria in the mid-1970s, he ordered his prefects (liwali) and their team to assiduously follow the project timeline to ensure they met the tight deadlines. Otherwise, there will be a catastrophe (kafa) for them.
Now that you know the history of some Comorian idioms, do you know who coined
Mariama homwa ndro (Mariama has been well stung)? What about
ya liwusa na lariye (who lays egg, must hatch it)?
Some people think that history is written by the victors. This idea, attributed to the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, is that our understanding of history is never complete or objective but tends to privilege the version of events of those in power or those who are skilled at documentation or writing.
Chami Mouzawar, 1st /10/2024,
the Comorian Blog
