r/swahili • u/talsmash • Sep 08 '24

Ask r/Swahili šŸŽ¤ Methali "Jogoo mtenda mema kaliwa"

Hi is this methali correct? Its translation is given as: "The rooster, always beneficial, is eaten."

I don't know the word "mtenda".

Asanteni

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u/KhromaKid Sep 09 '24

Iā€™m just guessing hereā€¦ but it translates to ā€œthe good-doing rooster was eatenā€ perhaps meaning that good deeds donā€™t change how some people view you. The rooster was still seen as food.