Proverbs are words or statements that have implied meanings. They have meanings other than their literary meanings. In Africa, Proverbs are given it's proud of place. It is regarded as the words of wisdom. An elder is regarded as being wise if he is known to be a good user of proverbs. Mostly, it is not condoned for teenagers to use it when conversing with elders. It is a special preserve for the mature mind. In Africa, it is always fun for one to be in the gathering of elders. Observing their artistry and mastery in the act is always a thing of great delight.
The main purpose of this discourse is to show the beauty of proverbs, the usage and meanings. Below are examples of some proverbs and their meanings.
The proverbs are the first statements in the sentences while the ones in brackets are their meanings.
Proverb is the oil by with words are eaten (proverbs are very important in expressions).
A toad does not run in day time for nothing (things do not just happen without a cause)
A child who stops his mother from sleeping will not sleep either (One who wants to be wicked towards others will also have a taste of wickedness).
When an old woman falls two times she will count the contents of her basket ( it is good for one to carry out self appraisal to be able to re-strategize).
A recalcitrant house fly follows the corpse to the grave (One who does not listen to advices will always live to regret it).
When the genitals are exposed, there is no reason to be shy again (When secrets are made public; there is no need for pretense).
When a divorced woman marries another man she will be able to know the better one (When one tries two options; one will know the better one).
The tortoise said that the spit by his wife has given him satisfaction whether it is a sign of pregnancy or not (a positive sign no matter how little denotes that the outcome may be favourable).
When the she-goat chew the chord her kid will always watch her mouth (the parent's behaviour influences their ward's behaviour either positively or negatively).
A calf must squat to be able to suck her mother's breast (one must stoop to conquer)
What an elder sees setting on a chair a child cannot see it even if he stands on a ladder (wisdom comes with age).
A man who has traveled to many places has more stories to tell than an a man with gray hair who never left his house (the more one goes to different places the more one acquires information and knowledge).
One who steals his neighbours gong can never make use of it without raising suspicion (an evil doer will always be exposed by his evil deeds).
A man who is loved by many women always has an empty pocket to show for it (a womanizer spends most of his money on women).
One who brings Ant-infested firewood into his house invites lizard for a feast (most people are the architects of their own problems).
If death does not kill a sacrificial yam it must surely germinate (as long as there is life there is hope).
When the bread fruit reaches its maturity stage it must surely fall down (when things reach the ample time they must surely manifest).
A pregnant woman can never conceal her pregnancy with her palms (truth can never be hidden for long).
When birds learn to fly without perching; hunters will also learn how to shoot without aiming (desperate situations need desperate measures).
It is only a mad man who chases after rats when his house is on fire (it is reasonable to be committed to the important issues not frivolities).
It is absurd to ask whether the fire that burnt a white man to death touched his mustache (it is unreasonable to doubt the obvious).
A masquerade that comes out in the afternoon should expect that both men and women will see him (one who disgraces oneself in the public should not be worried when people talk about it).
It is not good for one to wash ones dirty underwear in the public (it is better to keep personal and private matters so).
The main purpose of this discourse is to show the beauty of proverbs, the usage and meanings. Below are examples of some proverbs and their meanings.
The proverbs are the first statements in the sentences while the ones in brackets are their meanings.
Proverb is the oil by with words are eaten (proverbs are very important in expressions).
A toad does not run in day time for nothing (things do not just happen without a cause)
A child who stops his mother from sleeping will not sleep either (One who wants to be wicked towards others will also have a taste of wickedness).
When an old woman falls two times she will count the contents of her basket ( it is good for one to carry out self appraisal to be able to re-strategize).
A recalcitrant house fly follows the corpse to the grave (One who does not listen to advices will always live to regret it).
When the genitals are exposed, there is no reason to be shy again (When secrets are made public; there is no need for pretense).
When a divorced woman marries another man she will be able to know the better one (When one tries two options; one will know the better one).
The tortoise said that the spit by his wife has given him satisfaction whether it is a sign of pregnancy or not (a positive sign no matter how little denotes that the outcome may be favourable).
When the she-goat chew the chord her kid will always watch her mouth (the parent's behaviour influences their ward's behaviour either positively or negatively).
A calf must squat to be able to suck her mother's breast (one must stoop to conquer)
What an elder sees setting on a chair a child cannot see it even if he stands on a ladder (wisdom comes with age).
A man who has traveled to many places has more stories to tell than an a man with gray hair who never left his house (the more one goes to different places the more one acquires information and knowledge).
One who steals his neighbours gong can never make use of it without raising suspicion (an evil doer will always be exposed by his evil deeds).
A man who is loved by many women always has an empty pocket to show for it (a womanizer spends most of his money on women).
One who brings Ant-infested firewood into his house invites lizard for a feast (most people are the architects of their own problems).
If death does not kill a sacrificial yam it must surely germinate (as long as there is life there is hope).
When the bread fruit reaches its maturity stage it must surely fall down (when things reach the ample time they must surely manifest).
A pregnant woman can never conceal her pregnancy with her palms (truth can never be hidden for long).
When birds learn to fly without perching; hunters will also learn how to shoot without aiming (desperate situations need desperate measures).
It is only a mad man who chases after rats when his house is on fire (it is reasonable to be committed to the important issues not frivolities).
It is absurd to ask whether the fire that burnt a white man to death touched his mustache (it is unreasonable to doubt the obvious).
A masquerade that comes out in the afternoon should expect that both men and women will see him (one who disgraces oneself in the public should not be worried when people talk about it).
It is not good for one to wash ones dirty underwear in the public (it is better to keep personal and private matters so).
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