October 1, 2026
Mumo igakulila ing’huni idulipundula ili hima. (Sukuma) Hata kisogo kikue, hakitatoboa kofia. (Swahili) Même si l’arrière de sa tête grandissait, il ne percerait jamais le chapeau. […]
Introduction
A special feature of this website is to circulate worldwide an “African Proverb of the Month.” Our plan to is post an important proverb from a different African country every month. We use a simple format that includes: first, meaning and use of the proverb; second, biblical parallel; and third, application of the proverb. African proverbs of previous months are found under “Resources” starting with the June, 1998 “African Proverb of the Month.” You are invited to send an African Proverb to the moderator@afriprov.org to be posted on this website. We hope this can be a participatory website. Welcome.
September 1, 2026
Egbe bere, ugo bere; nke sị ibe ya ebela, nku kwaa ya. (Igbo) Mwewe aketi na tai aketi; yeyote atakayesema mwenzake asiketi, bawa lake livunjike.” (Swahili) […]
August 1, 2026
Nyoni cia gĩthaka kimwe ciũraga hamwe. (Gikuyu) Ndege wa msitu mmoja huruka pamoja. (Swahili) Les oiseaux de même plumage volent ensemble. (French) Birds of the same […]
June 1, 2026
Jalindobhaka ni ndoto ali njumu ginehe (Sukuma) Zinawaka zilizombish, itakuwaje kwa zile kavu (Swahili) Ils s’apprêtent à brûler le bois de chauffage frais (humide); qu’adviendra-t-il alors […]
May 5, 2026
Mutima wa mwâmi mwema wabisa byîngi. (Lega) Moyo wa kiongozi ni ganda la karanga ambalo huficha mambo mengi. (Swahili) Le cœur du chef c’est la gousse d’arachide qui cache beaucoup de choses. (French) The heart of the leader is the pod of the groundnut that hides a lot of things. (English) Lega (DRC) Proverb Background, Meaning and […]
April 1, 2026
Yalabha ilatula. (Sukuma) Imetoa mwanga itanyesha. (Swahili) Si ça clignote, il va pleuvoir. (French) It flashes, it will rain. (English) Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb Background, Meaning […]
March 2, 2026
Inda yowejanyu ni mufuko gwaye. (Kara) Tumbo la mwenzio ni chombo chake. (Swahili) Le ventre de ton voisin est son propre outil. (French) The belly of […]
January 31, 2026
Uishige imbula ulushige na lume? (Sukuma) Umeikimbia mvua waweza kuukinkimbia na umande pia? (Swahili) Vous avez fui la pluie, pouvez-vous aussi fuir la rosée? (French) You […]
January 1, 2026
Agwata ma tek mac kaku re. (Alur, Uganda and DRC) Moto pekee ndio unaweza vunja calabash. (Swahili) Seul le feu peut briser une calebasse solide. (French) […]