Compiled and edited by Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Moyo. The original collection includes English renderings for some proverbs and Kalanga explanations for others. Source numbers are retained for reference.
It (death) now belongs to the wild cat (nhilili), for the one which has climbed the tree has died.
English meaning
This proverb illustrates a situation of hopelessness were somebody is completely besieged and has got no way out. In a court case, it expresses the position of a defendant who has got no chance of winning the case
Background
A wild cat on a tree stand no chance of escaping from a hunter with his dogs underneath the tree
