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30 African Proverbs And Their Meaning
Proverbs are an integral part of African culture, passed down through generations to impart wisdom and teach important life lessons.
Our forefathers were wise and knowledgeable individuals. They expressed their wisdom through various proverbs, which hold great significance. African proverbs, in particular, are abundant in profound meaning. The youth acknowledge that the words of our elders offer genuine insight. By reading these proverbs attentively, you can discover the essential knowledge you have been seeking for a long time.
In this article, RNN will explore 30 African proverbs and their meanings, providing a glimpse into the richness of African wisdom.
Here is a list of 30 African proverbs with their meanings, translated for you:
1. An elder can see things sitting that a youth cannot see while standing.
Meaning: Older people have more wisdom and knowledge than young people.
2. The day I want a wife, the market is full of unbelievable people.
Meaning: When you desire something, you often find obstacles or undesirable options. It’s a proverb that signifies bad luck.
3. You can judge a man’s wisdom by observing how he builds a fence.
Meaning: A person’s intelligence and knowledge become evident in their actions.
4. A fowl never forgets who trims its feathers during the rainy season.
Meaning: An individual will always remember the assistance received during difficult times. In Africa, the rainy season poses challenges for fowls as they struggle to find food while their feathers continue to grow.
5. Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.
Meaning: Do not insult someone who is capable of taking responsibility or taking care of you.
6. If you offend, ask for a pardon; if offended, forgive.
Meaning: This is as simple as it sounds: If you upset someone, apologize to them.
7. If someone upsets you, forgive them because what goes around comes around. Don’t set sail using someone else’s star.
Meaning: Avoid copying someone else. Just because someone has been successful in what they do should not be what will make you do the same thing and expect to be successful.
8. You don’t expect to find a virgin woman in a maternity ward.
Meaning: You can never get pregnant without having intercourse. So you are the major cause of some of your problems right now.
9. A man who always says the truth will find himself being expelled from 9 villages.
Meaning: The truth hurts, and everybody feels uneasy about being told life realities that concern them. This explains why some people do not always trust those who say to the truth.
10. Dying poor and long is better compared to dying rich and young.
Meaning: The proverb addresses matters concerning getting clean money that is not associated with illegal jobs or businesses. If you earn your wealth in a clean manner is always the best than earning it from illegal means like theft.
11. An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb.
Meaning: This proverb means that your mind will judge you when you are guilty of some crime, and it is being said now.
12. He who sleeps with an itchy an*s must wake up with smelly fingers.
Meaning: There is nothing dirty that you do privately that won’t come out.
11. If life has beaten you severely and your face is swollen, smile and act like a fat man.
Meaning: In life, you should always try your best to make the best out of it, no matter the circumstances that you are going through.
12. Hot anger cannot cook yams
Meaning: The Nigerian proverb means that no matter how much you feel someone has angered you, it will surely come down. It is better to learn to forgive those who wrong you because you will also one day need forgiveness from them.
13. He who does not know one thing knows another.
Meaning: No one knows everything, but everyone knows something.
African Proverbs
14. A roaring lion kills no one.
Meaning: You cannot achieve or gain anything by merely sitting around and just talking about it.
15. Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.
Meaning: Do not insult someone who is taking care of your responsibility or taking care of you.
16. When a king has good counsel, his reign is peaceful.
Meaning: What defines a man is the circumstances and people around him and if they are good, he turns out good.
17. It takes a whole village to raise a child.
Meaning: The society is responsible for the moral characters it creates and everyone in a community should be responsible for helping to train a child irrespective of who the parents are; offering correction where they are needed.
18. If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.
Meaning: If you prepare and allow yourself to be well trained when you have the opportunity, you will achieve a lot and be favoured in due course.
19. The Rain does not fall on one roof.
Meaning: Trouble comes to everyone at one time or another.
20. Life is like a mist or a shadow; it quickly passes by.
Meaning: Life is too short, and you only live it once.
21. Wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes with him.
Meaning: What defines a man is his character which is, inseparable from him and follows him everywhere he goes.
22. Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.
Meaning: Don’t look at your mistakes; look at what caused your mistakes, otherwise you may repeat the same mistake again.
23. You cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pocket.
Meaning: You have to work hard in order to be successful.
24. A restless foot may walk into a snake pit.
Meaning: Anyone who is busy, especially with other peoples’ business can easily get into trouble.
25. A roaring lion kills no one.
Meaning: You cannot achieve anything by merely talking about it. Action is needed.
26. Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet.
Meaning: You don’t jump straight to a conclusion without thinking about it first.
27. Rain beats the leopard’s skin but it never washes out the spots.
Meaning: You cannot change a person’s true character, no matter how hard you try.
28. He who drags a goat to the market also finds himself in the market.
Meaning: Anyone who is trying to tarnish the image of another person will also tarnish his/her image.
29. He likes burial ram’s meat but recovers when sickness visits him.
Meaning: Someone who wants other people to spend for him but is indisposed to spend.
30. A boy who perseveres in asking what killed his father before he has enough strength to avenge may be asking for his father’s fate.
Meaning: You should never start a battle if you are either not ready for it or old enough to become a winner.
Conclusion
These African proverbs provide timeless wisdom that can inspire and guide us in various aspects of life. By reflecting on their meanings, we can gain valuable insights into human nature, relationships, and personal growth. Let us embrace the wisdom of these proverbs and apply their teachings to our own lives.