Book Review of African Proverbs on Peace and War

Reviewed by Joseph G. Healey

Collected and compiled by Annetta Miller. Mennonite Central Committee, Nairobi, Kenya: Privately Duplicated, 1998. 41 pp. A collection of 1,031 African proverbs in English (with the original African language or country cited) “on the general theme of peace and its immediate corollary, conflict … these proverbs are in the service of all people – instructing, guiding and generally reflecting the wisdom of the continent.” There are proverbs on 13 themes: peace, war, fighting and friction, quarrel, abuse, enemy, revenge, anger, caution, reconciliation, diplomacy, justice and cooperation. Two examples: “It is peace that provides milk (Somalia).” “War has no eyes” (Swahili). This booklet is presently in draft form. The Nairobi Peace Initiative will be publishing it.