Proverb of the week: Chicken that keeps scratching the dunghill will soon find the mother’s thigh bones.
Koklo ka koli dzi, eno fe atafu nue wokena do. (Ewe) Un poussin qui fouille trop les tas des déchets (d’une poubelle) finit par rencontrer les os de sa mère. (French) Kifaranga kichokoracho mlima (lundo) wa uchafu hukutana na mifupa …
Proverb of the Week: The hunger that has hope for its satisfaction does not kill.
Agụọ nwere nchekwube/olịleanya a dịghị egbu egbu. (Igbo, Nigeria) Njaa ambayo ina matumaini ya kuridhirisha, haiuwi, (Swahili) La faim qui a l’espoir de sa satisfaction ne tue pas. (French) The hunger that has hope for its satisfaction does not …
Proverb of the Week: The pursuit of grasshoppers is done in the morning.
Isunga ng’humbi lili dilu. (Sukuma, Tanzania) Utafutaji wa panzi ni asubuhi. (Swahili) La poursuite des sauterelles se fait le matin. (French) The pursuit of grasshoppers is done in the morning. (English) This common Sukuma proverb reflects on the importance …
A log in the river will never be a crocodile.
Mũgogo wĩ rũũĩ ndũrĩ hĩndĩ ũgatwĩka kĩng’ang’i (Gikuyu) Gogo mtoni halitageuka kuwa mamba. (Swahili) Un rondin dans l’eau ne deviendra jamais un crocodile.(French) This important African proverb is very popular amongst the Gikuyu tribe of Kenya and the Bambara people …
Proverb of the Week: To lose the way is to find the way.
Kuhubha nzila hu gumana nzila. (Sukuma) Kukosea njia ndiyo kujua njia. (Swahili) Perdre le chemin, c’est trouver le chemin. (French) To lose the way is to find the way. (English) This important Sukuma proverb encourages one not to give up in …
I hear you: Proverb of the Week.
“You cannot use a wild banana leaf to shield yourself from the rains and then tear it to pieces later when the rains come to an end.” – Nandi (Kenya), Sukuma (Tanzania).· Makiume sasurwet ak kebet. (Nandi)· Huwezi kutumia majani …
Proverb of the Week: What is in the stomach carries what is in the head.
Siemunda sisute siekhumurwe. (Bukusu, Kenya) Kilicho tumboni ndicho hubeba kilicho kichwani. (Swahili) What is in the stomach carries what is in the head. (English) The above African proverb, typical of the Bukusu community in Western Kenya, talks about the importance of …
The Proverb of the Month: The water of the sea is only to be contemplated.
The water of the sea is only to be contemplated. (English). Waleba mengi komenzi genyanza. (Longo, Tanzania).Maji ya bahari ni kwa ajili ya kutazama. (Swahili).L’eau de la mer, c’est pour regarder. (French). The above African proverb is typical of the Longo people …
Proverb of the Month: A stubborn person sails in a clay boat. (English)
Proverb of the Month: A stubborn person sails in a clay boat. (English) Entagambirwa esabala bw’aibumba. (Haya, Tanzania)Asiyehambilika hujabiri mto kwa mtumbwi wa udongo mfinyanzi. (Swahili)A stubborn person sails in a clay boat. (English) The proverb, widely known among the Haya ethnic …
Proverb of the Month: How easy it is to defeat people who do not kindle fire for themselves.
How easy it is to defeat people who do not kindle fire for themselves. (English)Takipar bich che meloljinge ma. (Tugen, Kenya) How easy it is to defeat people who do not kindle fire for themselves. (English)This proverb of the Tugen …