African Proverbs

~Botbeupeukbo be teunyen ban a boromevo’o.~ "Major problems have solutions with the old me." ~The elderly know a little of everything: from youth to a certain age, they have passed through different situations, events that had made them wiser.~

Etre ve no tsi dzi megbea nui ka wonoe wo o. Two calabashes floating in a basin of water will touch each other, but not damage each other. Clashes and disagreements are inevitable in every relationship, but these can be overcome without destroying each other.

Døø wøk adhienga teek. The beer is difficult to strain. It is common for the women preparing the local beer to remind the "uninvited guest" how hard it was to strain.This is used to caution people not to presume to involve themselves in other people's affairs unless they are invited to do so.

Chinonyenga chinokotama chinosimudza musoro chawana. (One courting bows down and raises his head when married.) ~When it's something you desire, you humble yourself until it is yours~

~Entagambirwa esabala bw’aibumba~ -Asiyehambilika hujabiri mto kwa mtumbwi wa udongo mfinyanzi- ~A stubborn person sails in a clay boat~ "Directed towards people who only want to do things their own way and do not follow advice or caution given to them by others.

~Moloi ha a mele boya~ "A witch does not grow fur." An evil doer has no distinguishing mark.

~Isihlahla saziwa ngezithelo zaso~ "A tree is known by its fruit." One's success is shown by his/her deeds.

~Koklo metsoa pu adika soa avu o~ "The dog does not worry when the chicken runs over to the bones" This is against picking up needless fights. There are some causes worth fighting for and some that are better to let go. The dog knows that chicken do not have the teeth for bones, thus there is no need to engage in an intense fight (as it would with another dog). We should not feel insecure/threatened by the gifts and talents of others for we all have our own unique strengths.

~Ụsụ ma ka ọ jọrọ wee jiri uchichi aga~ "The bat recognizes that it is ugly, hence it chooses to be nocturnal." The wise choose to operate within their limits.

E nenie nwa ite, Ọ gbọnyụọ ọkụ "If you overlook a tiny pot, it will boil over and douse the fire" When you overlook/ underestimate the seemingly minor issues, they will in time aggregate and overwhelm you.

Ngai arimaga na hiiu nduuhu. "God cultivates with a blunt machete." It reminds us of the frailty of our human condition. To prepare one's plantation for the new season, a farmer had to ensure all his tools were sharp and ready. Here, it shows that, for God, having blunt tools is not any hindrance whatsoever. He is omnipotent.

~Kamu Kamu Gwe Muganda~ "One by One makes a Bundle" It is from singular efforts that a large successful collective can be achieved.