WHERE THERE IS A GAP, THE TONGUE WILL PASS THROUGH

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

On May 26, 2026, Mwanakwetu contacted an engineer who asked him:

“Brother, what topic do you have today?”

Since Mwanakwetu understood the intention behind the question, he smiled slightly. The engineer insisted on getting an answer, and Mwanakwetu responded:

“Engineer, you should understand that when you are at the cooking place, you have already placed your beans on the fire and properly stoked the firewood. On top of the pot of beans, you place another pot with water. Once the beans are fully cooked, what is the need to continue adding firewood? What remains is to remove the top pot of boiled water, pour it into the beans, then prepare your ugali. Once everything is ready, eat peacefully because the work is complete. There is no need to waste time looking for more firewood or tiring yourself with unnecessary smoke.”

After this explanation, the engineer said goodbye to Mwanakwetu and left.

Mwanakwetu continued with his activities and later arrived at another place where he was warmly received. One of the people present said:

“Today Mwanakwetu has come to visit us? What a surprise! Or perhaps he has come because Asha has returned?”

Mwanakwetu defended himself:

“My friends, I come here often! Where had Asha gone?”

Another person replied:

“Asha had gone to a conference of Office Operations Writers. You know she is also involved in that field.”

Mwanakwetu was surprised:

“I didn’t know that.”

Those around laughed, and one of them said:

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You and Asha are very close. Maybe you’ve come today to prepare for the Eid celebration, because as the Swahili say:Pale penye Pengo Ulimi Unapita (Where there is a gap, the tongue will pass through).”

That statement sparked a brief discussion. One person asked:

“My friends, what exactly does that proverb mean?”

However, before the discussion could continue, visitors arrived and the conversation was interrupted. Mwanakwetu said his goodbyes and left. When he reached a quiet place, he decided to write down his thoughts as they came to him.

Mwanakwetu’s Reflection

Mwanakwetu says that these two incidents—the story of cooked beans and the proverb “Where there is a gap, the tongue will pass through”—gave him deep reflection.

He explains:

“This proverb means that wherever there is a weakness, even a small one, something significant can pass through and cause unexpected consequences. Just like the human tongue, it passes through a gap, not a closed space. In the same way, in life, a small weakness can open the door to major problems.”

Conclusion

Mwanakwetu asks:

“Should this article be titled ‘Once the Beans Are Cooked, There Is No Need to Add More Firewood’ or ‘Where There Is a Gap, the Tongue Will Pass Through’?”

In the end, he chooses:

“Where There Is a Gap, the Tongue Will Pass Through.”

Have a nice day