Riddles are part of our lives or at least they were. They are simple puzzles that have a involve two people one as the proposer and the other as a respondent. They are based on the local environment. I don’t know if they are that common now but they were a very common form of teaching lessons to people. They also exercise the mind and enable one to relate life to nature and entertain.

They sometimes feel like you are trying to solve a puzzle or find your way out through a maze every time one is posed especially if you have no idea what they are supposed to signify.

We found some in the book Ui Wiji Atia and here they are:

1. Nyomba yakwa iti mwari? Nkara ya nguku

2. Mukanda jwa taata jutikunjika? Njira

3. Biiri biiri bingu’anene? Kigumba na njuthi/ Kiria na inoro

4. Muntu wakwa uri gatigati ka maitha? Ruume

5. Kaniini gakurukitie nyakwe gukia? Njuki

6. Kwa bakaini nigukwinu na gwetu gutikwinua? Ithumbi bia miti

7. Ndairiga rwego rwakwa na thaara nceke? Nciruri cia metho

8. Ita na ndeji, tucioge mwari wa nyakwe nguu? Rwo rwa nyomba

9. Nthaka cieta, ciatiga akuru nyuma? Ruuji na maiga

10. Ciatuniyia kaungu? Meenyua/ Mugwu/ Ncang’i cia mithumbi

11. Muntu wakwa muraja utintuirikia ntaratare? Njira/ Mukanda

12. Baba bonthe baturaithiritie, turibarumia mbi? Makutho ja nyomba

13. Ndaitiania na muuro ngwicwa karuithania akuru? Mithiri/ Miraa

14. Ndairiga rwego rwakwa na ikongoro itheri? Maigo

15. Naa no nku, na naa no nku? Nturume cia muthoni/ Nkundi cia nkenye

16. Mucii jwakwa kwa aka atheri? Muunda jwa marigu

We are on the look out for more so if you know more leave them in the comment section and we will be sure to add on to this list. If these are new to you, enjoy torturing brains.