1368. Kasaũ ka thĩna nĩ mwalimũ. A poor calf is a teacher.

An orphaned calf is a symbolic expression of human bereavement. This maxim is a post- independence coinage for the word mwalimũ, which appeared in Kĩkamba only after 1900. Since the 1910s, this adage has appeared in seven publications. As Lindblom explained, ‘The proverb is said of a poor orphaned youth, who has to fend for himself including finding the means of paying the bride-price and establishing his own family.’ An orphaned calf teaches itself how to survive while teaching humans that not all is lost, even in the worst tragedy encouraging self-reliance and hard work.

1369. Kũthĩna mũno tikwo Kũkw’a. Abject poverty is not death.

This emerged during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to encourage endurance, since poverty and suffering constitute only one form of trouble and will be over soon. As other proverbs demonstrate, people suffered to the point of despair but, as they readied themselves for death, their fortunes changed.

1370. Tei nĩ ũkya. Mercy is poverty.

This emerged with the capitalist penetration of the Kamba economy after the Second World War. It represents the emergence of a class that cared less about neighbours. Traders used the proverb to deny credit to those who requested loans but were unlikely to repay them. If they cannot repay, do not pity them.

1371. Thĩna ũyietawa nĩ kwathĩĩw’a. Poverty is not caused by dreaming.

Some blamed wizardry as the cause of their poverty but this proverb implies that such lame arguments are worthless. Positive thinking and hard work are the path to wealth.

1372. Thĩna ndwonaw’a methoi. Poverty is not shown tears.

This encourages people to keep their heads up during their duress. It encourages poor or needy people to work hard to pull themselves out of despondency.

1373. Thĩna ndũaa ũkĩtaa kũnyamasya. Poverty does not kill, it torments.

This adage emerged during the devastating famines of the nineteenth century and has appeared in several traditional songs. The moral of the adage is simple: hope. Keep hoping for a better tomorrow.

1374. Thĩna nĩ mũthũku ũkũindaa vathũku. Poverty is bad, it drives you into trouble.

This came from a popular song that pointed to the extremes one can get into because of want and distress. As Iliffe said in The African Poor, there are different ‘sources’ of poverty.