Mao ahila bhusuma bhumekela

Your mother is better than a slice of ugali given to you by someone else.

What it means

Someone else's hospitality can be generous, but it is not the same as what your own mother gives. What matters is who is giving, not the food. No one can replace her.

Luhya · East Africa

Source and context

From: Luhya, East Africa

Source: Luhya (Kenya) oral-tradition proverb (Mao ahila bhusuma bhumekela); documented in Tim Wambunya, "Luyia Proverbs (from Kisa, Marama, Tsotso and Wanga)" (2005) — mother/ugali entry

The meaning given here is our own reading, and has not yet been checked against a source. Other interpretations exist.

Family

Open in the app →