African Proverb of the Month – Page 11 – African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories

October 1, 2017

October, 2017 Who loses the first born throws away his or her gods. Bwisha (Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC) Proverb

Ubuza imfura ata ibiheko. (Bwisha)
Mwenyi anapoteza mtoto wa kwanza hutupa miungu. (Swahili)
Qui perd son fils aîné jette ses dieux. (French)
Who loses the first born throws away his or her gods. (English)

Bwisha (Democratic Republic of Congo -- DRC) Proverb

August 30, 2017

September, 2017 It is wise to keep checking. Haya (Tanzania) Proverb

Aheleka atashulize bamwetera okubaga. (Haya)
Ukiwekesha kitu bila kufatilia utashutukia kimeharibika. (Swahili)
C'est très judicieux de continuer à controller. (French)
It is wise to keep checking. (English)

Haya (Tanzania) Proverb

August 1, 2017

August 2017 You milk someone else’s cow while watching the gate. Tachoni (Kenya) Proverb

Okhama ing’ombe nolengela iketi. (Tachoni)
Ukikamua ng’ombe ya wenyewe huwe ukiangalia langoni. (Swahili)
Tu extrais la vache de quelqu'untout en regardant à la porte. (French)
You milk someone else’s cow while watching the gate. (English)

Tachoni (Kenya) Proverb

July 1, 2017

July, 2017 A cow does not lack a spot. Tugen (Kenya) Proverb

Mapatien tisian tany. (Tugen)
Ng’ombe haikosi madowadowa. (Swahili)
Une vache ne manque pas une tache. (French)
A cow does not lack a spot. (English)

Tugen (Kenya) Proverb

June 5, 2017

June, 2017 There is no rush. Take it easy. Sukuma (Tanzania) Saying

Nduhu wangu wangu. (Sukuma)
Hakuna haraka. (Swahili)
Pas besoin de courir, prens-le modément. (French)
There is no rush. Take it easy. (English)

Sukuma (Tanzania) Saying

May 2, 2017

May, 2017 It is better to be poor when one is young rather than become poor in old age. Teso (Kenya, Uganda) Proverb

Adio kopali palite eroko ijo edite akilanya arauni ijo lokopala plani kimojong ijo. (Teso)
Ni heri kuwa maskini ukiwa kijana badala kuwa maskini katika uzee. (Swahili)
Mieux vaut d’être pauvre quand on est encore jeune que de devenir pauvre à la vieillesse. (French)
It is better to be poor when one is young rather than become poor in old age. (English)

Teso (Kenya, Uganda) Proverb

April 1, 2017

April, 2017 The cow that has milk will never lack someone milking it. Runyankore (Uganda) Proverb

Egabire tebura kikama. (Runyankore)
Ng’ombe yenye maziwa haikosi mtu wa kuikamua. (Swahili)
La vache qui a du lait ne manquera pas quelqu’un pour la traire. (French)
The cow that has milk will never lack someone milking it. (English)

Runyankore (Uganda) Proverb

March 1, 2017

March, 2017 A small house will hold a hundred friends. Duruma (Kenya) Proverb

Chumba chidide chinaidima kuphenya atu mirongo kumi. (Duruma)
Chumba kidogo huweza kuwa na marafiki mia moja. (Swahili)
Une seule maison peut avoir cent amis. (French)
A small house will hold a hundred friends. (English)

Duruma (Kenya) Proverb

“Chirondoni” “Tseka” (Duruma)
“Chumba chidide china atu anji?” “Payu.”

“Kitendawili.” “Tega.” (Swahili)
“Chumba kidogo chenye watu wengi?” “Papai.”

“Je ai une énigme." " Laissez-le venir." (French)
“Une petite maison avec beaucoup de gens?” “Une papaya.”

“I have a riddle.” “Let it come.”
“A small house with many people?”… “Pawpaw.”

Duruma (Kenya) Riddle

February 6, 2017

February, 2017 The parent who corrects his or her child with a rod does not sin. Bangubangu (Democratic Republic of the Congo — DRC) Proverb

Atika mutosi ndaaluhega mwana. (Bangubangu)
Mzazi arekebishaye mtoto wake makosa kwa kiboko, hajakosea. (Swahili)
Le bâton d’un parent qui corrige son enfant ne lui fait du mal. (French)
The parent who corrects his or her child with a rod does not sin. (English)

Bangubangu (Democratic Republic of the Congo -- DRC) Proverb