Below are famous examples categorized by theme. Kitendawili: Kuku wangu aliporuka, ulimi wake ulibaki chini. (My chicken flew away, but its tongue remained on the ground.) Jibu: Uyoga. (Mushroom.)

Ndugu zetu wazungu wamevaa kanzu ndefu. (Our white relatives have worn long robes.) Jibu: Mahindi. (Maize – the white kernels in green husks.)

Nimekiona kiumbe mwenye macho manne, lakini haoni. (I have seen a creature with four eyes, but it cannot see.) Jibu: Sindano. (Needle – the “eye” of the needle.) 2. Vitendawili kuhusu Mimea na Matunda (Plants & Fruits) Kitendawili: Nyumba yangu imefunikwa na makapi, lakini ndani ni vito. (My house is covered in chaff, but inside are jewels.) Jibu: Dengu. (Green gram – the pods hide the seeds.)

Niliona mti ukiwa na matawi kumi na mawili, kila tawi lina nyumba nne. (I saw a tree with twelve branches, each branch has four houses.) Jibu: Mwaka. (Year – 12 months, 4 weeks per month.) 3. Vitendawili kuhusu Vitu vya Nyumbani (Household Items) Kitendawili: Nina mke wangu, kila ninapotoka mimi humpiga. (I have my wife, whenever I leave, I beat her.) Jibu: Kikapu na mteja. (Basket and strap – you tap the basket to tighten the strap.) Note: Some modern audiences find this violent, so use the traditional wording carefully.

Asubuhi miguu minne, mchana miguu miwili, jioni miguu mitatu. (Morning four legs, noon two legs, evening three legs.) Jibu: Binadamu. (Human being – crawling as a baby, walking adult, using a cane in old age.) 4. Vitendawili vya Mazingira na Anga (Nature & Sky) Kitendawili: Ninachokichoma hakiwezi kuwaka, ninachokiwasha hakiwezi kuchoma. (What I pierce cannot light, what I light cannot pierce.) Jibu: Taa na utambi. (Lamp and wick.)

Do you know the answer? (Answer: Kobe – Tortoise.) Karibu tena! If you’d like a PDF of 50 vitendawili with answers, leave a comment below.

Hulia mbali, hulia karibu, lakini hana sauti. (It cries far, it cries near, but it has no voice.) Jibu: Kenge. (Bell.)