Mon nyol ku mon wadi. (Alur)
Wanawake wanazaa na wanawake wengine. (Swahili)
Les femmes accouchent avec d’autres femmes. (French)
Women give birth with other women. (English)

Background, Explanation, History and Everyday Use

The Alur is a Nilotic ethnic group found in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.  The Alur traditionally receive their education from elders and peers. Boys accompany their fathers in different activities related to men such as farming, hunting, fishing, basket-making, etc. while girls assist their mothers in domestic works like cooking, washing, cleaning, harvesting, etc. During these activities people learn by doing. Another context of learning is in the peer group (men to men, women to women, boys to boys, girls to girls, youth to youth, children to children, etc.). For these different social activities such as dance, funeral, play, and work, etc., people are suppose to acquire skills, knowledge, wisdom and experience.

Women have also a special life experience which is giving birth. Men (even spouses) are prohibited to be present where women are giving birth. Participation in the event or assistance to the woman delivering is allowed to women only. Giving birth is therefore an activity where women absolutely need other women. Generally older women become expert in assisting others women in their delivery process from their own experience or from the assistance they have provided to other women. Thus women are inspired in giving birth when they observe other women giving birth. They give birth successfully because of the assistance of other women who are experienced in giving birth.  They get inspired for their own further deliveries as they watch or assist women who are giving birth.  Overall women get wisdom from other women.

This proverb helps people to understand the importance of peers as in some contexts the right response to a particular need cannot come from any other source.  It is also an interpretation to see that for some issues only a woman can provide the right help to another woman; thus women need to be respected and considered in the society. In a broad sense it is an invitation for mutual assistance.

This proverb can be translated in Lingala (DRC) as: Basi babotaka na basi basusu.

Biblical Parallels

The Bible encourages interaction, collaboration, and cooperation.  Emphasis is given on mutual love, mutual assistance, mutual edification, etc. as we can see in the following verses:

1. John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
2. Romans 12:16 – “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
3. Romans 14:19 – “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
4. Romans 15:7 – “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
5. Galatians 5:13 – “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
6. Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
7. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
8. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”
9. Hebrews 3:13 – “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
10. Hebrews 10:24 – “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”
11. James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”
12. 1 Peter 4:9 – “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
13. 1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

But the most similar verse is that of Proverbs 27: 17 that says “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  We need each other to grow in our faith. Christian cannot grow in isolation. This is what is emphasized in the Book of Hebrew 10: 25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Contemporary Use and Religious Application

This proverb is presented to encourage communalism and cooperation for mutual edification and enrichment. Within the church context, it is important to acknowledge the gifts of each one and to make use of it for the edification of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:11, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:28). The gospel should also be inculturated in Africa so that each context can exploit to the maximum what it has and root the Gospel in the culture and context of each social group.

For related Alur proverbs see Insights from Proverbs of the Alur in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Collected and interpreted in French and English by George Pirwoth Atido
Nairobi, Kenya: Privately Printed. September, 2011. This is one booklet in the series of Endangered African Proverbs Collections. It is posted as an eBook on our website at: http://afriprov.org/index.php/resources/e-books.html

George Pirwoth Atido
Africa International University
Centre for World Christianity
P.O. Box 24686, Karen
00502 Nairobi, Kenya
Cellphone: 0732-789712
Email: george.atido@gmail.com

Université Shalom de Bunia
P.O Box 304
Bunia
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Photographs provided by:

Professor Cephas Yao Agbemenu
Department of Fine Arts
Kenyatta University
P.O. Box 43844
Nairobi, Kenya
Cellphone: 0723-307992
Email: cyagbemenu@yahoo.com