2015 African Proverb of the Month – African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories

December 1, 2015

December 2015 Major problems have solution with the old men. Eton (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tome) Proverb

Botbeupeukbo be teunyen ban a boromevo’o (Eton)
Mambo makubwa inabadilishwa na wazee (Swahili)
Major problems have solution with the old men (English)
Les grands problèmes trouvent solution avec les vieux (French)

Eton (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tome) Proverb

November 3, 2015

November 2015 It is obvious when you receive a visitor and you cook for him or her you will eat too. Giriama (Kenya) Proverb

Giriama : Mjeni loka mwenyeji apone
English: It is obvious when you receive a visitor and you cook for him or her you will eat too
Swahili :Ni kawaida ukipata mgeni na umpikie,nawe pia utakula.
French: Ilest indubitable que le visiteurrégalebien le visité.

Giriama (Kenya) Proverb

October 9, 2015

October 2015 A good name is better than a nice scent.Burji (Ethiopia, Kenya) Proverb

Yessera itta kkalli iharali. (Burji)
Jina nzuri ni bora kuliko harufu nzuri. (Swahili)
Mieux vant un bonne nomque, une bonne adeur. (French)
A good name is better than a nice scent. (English)

Burji (Ethiopia, Kenya) Proverb

August 31, 2015

September 2015 A cow’s horn cannot kill its calf. Kalenjin (Kenya and Uganda) Proverb

Maborei kuinet ab teta moitantanyin. (Kalenjin)
Pembe ya ng’ombe haiwezi kuua ndama yake. (Swahili)
Une corne de vache ne peut pas tuer son veau. (French)
A cow’s horn cannot kill its calf. (English)

Kalenjin (Kenya and Uganda) Proverb

August 2, 2015

August, 2015 Tall stories destroy the family relationship. Luba–Katanga (Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC) Proverb

Ya basapudi yona bubutule. (Luba--Katanga)
Wambea wavunja mawasiliano kati ya familia. (Swahili)
Les bobards de gens detruisent les relations familiales. (French)
Tall stories destroy the family relationship. (English)

Luba--Katanga (Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC) Proverb

July 7, 2015

July, 2015 It is the boy who lifts up the fallen houses (ruins). Havu (Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC) Proverb

Omurhabana ye cinamula ezagwire. (Havu)
Muvulana ndiye husimamisha nyumba zilizoanguka. (Swahili)
C’est le garçon qui relève les maisons détruites (en ruines). (French)
It is the boy who lifts up the fallen houses (ruins). (English)

Havu (Democratic Republic of Congo -- DRC) Proverb

June 2, 2015

June, 2015 A water pot cannot stand on its own without a support. Luo (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) Proverb

Agulu kidiedi maonge tach. (Luo)
Nyungu ya maji haiwezi kusimama bila cha kuishikilia. (Kiswahili)
Le pot d’eau est necessaire pour la vie. (French)
A water pot cannot stand on its own without a support. (English)

Luo (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) Proverb

April 28, 2015

May, 2015 Brothers who get along will always defeat the enemy. Mashi (Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC) Proverb

Abaguma bobalwa amatumu. (Mashi)
Ndugu wakisikizana vizuri wanashinda adui kila mara. (Swahili )
Les frères qui s’entendent bien ils arrivent toujours à vaincre l’ennemi. (French )
Brothers who get along will always defeat the enemy. (English)

Mashi (Democratic Republic of Congo -- DRC) Proverb

March 31, 2015

April, 2015 A soft tree is never broken by wind. Haya (Tanzania) Proverb

Omuti ogwinamile tiguhendwa muyaga. (Haya)
Mwanzi hauvunjwi na upepo. (Swahili)
Un arbre flexible ne se casse jamais avec le vent. (French)
A soft tree is never broken by wind. (English)

Haya (Tanzania) Proverb

African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories