For some years Don Sybertz has been meeting with a Sukuma Research Committee at Ndoleleji Parish in Shinyanga Diocese, Tanzania. The research team has revised a list of several thousand Sukuma proverbs. Now the team is ready to produce a series of booklets according to the "verb root" as follows:

Format of Each Proverb Alphabetically by Verb Root

1. Original Sukuma Proverb.
2. Explanation in Sukuma.
3. Swahili Translation.
4. Explanation in Swahili.
5. English Translation.
6. Explanation in English including the Christian teaching.
7. Biblical Parallels.
8. Dictionary Root Words.

The first booklet will be called List of Sukuma Proverbs With Verb Root B. The following is a sample from one of the proverbs.

Lusalago lwababa numho nakusigagwa. (Sukuma)

Uchale unawasha labda ninatetwa. (Swahili)

The incision is itching. Maybe [my enemies] are talking behind my back and planning to bewitch me. (English)

Among the Sukuma people incisions are made in various parts of the body and “bugota” (local medicine) is rubbed into these incisions. If the incision itches this is a sign to be on the alert because one’s enemies are making plans to bewitch the person. Instead of relying on local medicine we should put our faith in Jesus Christ for there is no other name in Heaven or on earth by which we can be saved.

See the Biblical references: Zab 27:1-6, Zab 23:16, Mk 4:35-41, Mt 11:28, Mt 10:28, Yoh 14:1, Lk 1:67-75

Don is being assisted by Maryknoll priests George Cotter (Debre Zeit, Ethiopia) and Joe Healey (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania). Already a great deal of research on Sukuma proverbs has been published in English in the book, Towards An Africa Narrative Theology.

In May 2007, Don published the Sukuma story, Tears of Joy: African Story about Heroes and Monsters. Below are a few photos from the book launch that was held at the Sukuma Cultural Center at Bujora, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Fr. Don explains about the story	Members of Fr. Don's Sukuma research committee
Guests and committee members listen to a reading from the book	Guests at the book launch

Don's Biography             Don's Reflections

Maryknollers in Shinyanga, Tanzania