Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 December 2009
§1 1. Kale ilyo pali BaMwamba na BaNkulu baletuma fita,
2. fileya ku mishi ya bantu aba Mambwe.
3. Babasanga, baikatana, balapikana no kulasana na mafumo.
4. Awishyo mubiye panshi, amumo mutwe, amumo mutwe,
5. asenda, atwala ku mfumu. Balaimba amalaila, baleti,
6. “Sompa, sompa, sompa, sompa, sompa,” ne mitwe ya abantu
7. Mfumu aiti: “Mwasalipeni.” Yalabanaila ubwali.
1 Is this a genuine vemba word or borrowed from the Swahili piga ? Piga bunduki is the recognized expression in the latter language, and piga hodi means to announce one's presence at a door by crying “Hodi!” (from the Arabic). The change from g to k is what might be expected in vemba, where the former sound only exists in combination with its homorganic nasal (i.e. as yg)–A W.