Sahibu: Friendship, the Way Our Languages Remember It
✍🏾 Friendship is a Covenant: A Vernacular Reading of “Sahibu”
Dear reader,
Today at Enjoy it Vernacular, we reflect on Sahibu, a Swahili poem by Agaba Witness that teaches us—gently but firmly—how friendship should feel. Rooted in East African imagery and rhythm, the poem doesn’t just define a friend. It reveals them—one line, one lesson at a time. Let’s journey stanza by stanza.
🌱 I. Friendship is More Than Laughter
“Sahibu si achekaye, ni achekaye na mana”
A friend is not just one who laughs—but one whose laughter carries meaning.“Siye nawe aliaye, ni akupaye amana”
Not one who weeps beside you—but one who leaves you with a blessing.
Depth over performance
This first stanza dismantles shallow companionship. A real friend’s joy and sorrow are not performative—they leave you changed. It’s not teeth and tears. It’s the heart that counts!
🕊️ II. Friction Without Fear
“Ni akupaye amani, si akwitaye kimwana”
A friend brings you peace—not one who flatters you like a child.“Na wewe hiki amini, pendo hakosi ‘kosana”
And know this: love does not avoid conflict.
Peace with truth
Friendship isn’t about avoiding disagreement—it’s about navigating it with tenderness. Beware of flattery. A good friend does not flatter. They congratulate you upon victory, and correct you with love when in wrong.
🌍 III. Ours, Not Mine
“Sahibu hasemi changu, chetu asema bayana”
A friend does not say “mine,” but clearly says “ours.”
Shared life
True friendship is not transactional. It transforms the individual into a collective being. Don’t say mine—especially those in marriage. Say, OURS!
💞 IV. Closeness Over Isolation
“Upendo hana upweke, ni bora karibiana”
Love knows no loneliness—closeness is always better.
Presence and proximity
No matter how distant the world becomes, true friends pull near. They don’t allow distance to deepen into disconnection. LOOK FOR YOUR OLD FRIEND TODAY!
⚖️ V. Kindness with Caution
“Sahibu ndiye mpole, siye anayetukana”
A friend is the gentle one—not the one who insults.“Jihadhali yu ngole, afichiaye fitina”
Beware of the charming one who hides malice underneath.
Gentle strength and discernment
This stanza contrasts surface sweetness with true gentleness. Not all who speak softly love you. But friends who care won’t cut you with their words. Set a guard upon your lips too!
🔄 VI. Mutual Growth, Not Magic
“Sahibu wako himiza, na yeye ingiana”
Your friend encourages you—and also grows with you.“Na pendo kuigiza, hapana si kulogana”
Love is not pretending; it is not witchcraft or manipulation.
Shared progress, not illusion
Friendship is not a performance—it’s a partnership. True friends don't cast spells; they keep showing up. Love alone is charm!
🎵 Refrain: The Friend You Need in Crisis
“Na yeye suhubiana, akufaaye dhikini.”
They are your true companion—the one who helps you in hardship.
The covenant of companionship
This refrain is the poem’s spiritual anchor. The sahibu is not for fair weather only, but for famine too. Not for photo ops, but for funerals as well. A friend loves at all times!
📬 Why Share This?
Because poems like Sahibu show how our languages carry wisdom traditions—not just words. In Luganda, in Runyankore, in Swahili, we find not only how to speak, but how to live. Why not share with us your piece today?
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A Note from the Author:
“I wrote Sahibu not as a lesson but a longing. A longing for the kind of friendship our languages still remember—though we often forget. Friendship mends. Love heals.”
— Agaba Witness
With purpose and love,
The Enjoy it Vernacular Team
Where language is home.
I am A A Adookorn I appreciate been here on substalk. My mother tongue is Khana. It's minority language hence I will prefer the use of Englsh to share my poetry. My hamle on substalk is ‘orchardofpoetry’ my regards to all.