African proverbs 3.0

As the Sabbath comes to an end, with the new moon looming for tomorrow introducing another month - here comes yet another big gulp of African proverbs. Some are sourced some are not, some borrowed from the Bible, and some ain`t. I personally agree with some, while I disagree fervently with others. Either way - a great deal of these should give some sound advice - Enjoy :)

These proverbs are from the Yoruba tribe :

`A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches.`

`A child's fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which his mother puts into his palm.`

`An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb.`

`A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.`

`A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride.`

`As the dog said, 'If I fall down for you and you fall down for me, it is playing.`

'A wise man who knows proverbs, reconciles difficulties.`

`Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.`

`If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.`

`If you don't stand for something, you will fall for something.`

`It takes a whole village to raise a child.`

`Looking at a king's mouth one would never think he sucked his mother's breast.`

`People should not talk while they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way.`

`The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did.`

`The mouth which eats does not talk.`

`The sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.`

`Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.`

`When a man says yes, his chi (personal god) says yes also.`

`When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.`

`You can tell a ripe corn by its look.`

`You must judge a man by the work of his hands.`

Proverbs from South Sotho :

`A bird will always use another birds' feathers to feather its own nest.`

`A person is a person because of other persons.`

`A man's grave is by the roadside.`

`He that digs up a grave for his enemy, may be digging it for himself.`

`A bad name is like a stigma.`

The below are mostly Ashanti (Ghana) proverbs:

`By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed.`

`Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.`

`Even though the old man is strong and hearty, he will not live forever.`

`Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together.`

`Hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king.`

`If you are in hiding, don't light a fire.`

`It is Mr. Old-Man-Monkey who marries Mrs. Old-Woman-Monkey.`

`It is no shame at all to work for money.`

`It is the calm and silent water that drowns a man.`

`It is the fool's sheep that break loose twice.`

`It's a bad child who does not take advice.`

`Money is sharper than a sword.`

`No one tests the depth of a river with both feet.`

`One cannot both feast and become rich.`

`One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.`

`Only when you have crossed the river, can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.`

`Rain beats a leopard's skin, but it does not wash out the spots.`

`The moon moves slowly, but it crosses the town.`

`The poor man and the rich man do not play together.`

`The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.`

`There is no medicine to cure hatred.`

`Two small antelopes can beat a big one.`

`What is bad luck for one man is good luck for another.`

`When a king has good counselors, his reign is peaceful.`

`When a man is coming toward you, you need not say: "Come here."`

`When a man is wealthy, he may wear an old cloth.`

`When a woman is hungry, she says, "Roast something for the children that they might eat." `

`When the cock is drunk, he forgets about the hawk. When the fool is told a proverb, its meaning has to be explained to him.`

`When you are rich, you are hated; when you are poor, you are despised.`

`When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him.`

`Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight.`

The last one is indeed true. Not that hard to test either... Do you think the author is talking about wood or people? Sin or fire?

Uxolo lube nawe