African Proverb of the Month – Page 13 – African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories

February 27, 2015

March, 2015 A good person (goes to God) with his or her clothes?” … “Potato.” Sukuma (Tanzania) Riddle

“Kalagu.” “Kize.”
“Ng’wiza akajaga ngobo jakwe?”… “Numbu.” (Sukuma)

“Kitendawili.” “Tega.”
“Mtu mwema huenda (kwa Mungu) na vazi lake”… “Kiazi.” (Swahili)

“Je ai une énigme." " Laissez-le venir."
“Une bonne personne (va à Dieu) avec ses vêtements….“Pomme de terre”(French)

“I have a riddle.” “Let it come.”
A good person (goes to God) with his or her clothes?” … “Potato.”

Sukuma (Tanzania) Riddle

February 3, 2015

February, 2015 One will always return to an axe or hoe handle that the woman shows them. Bemba (Zambia and DRC) Proverb

Umupini ukulangile umwanakashi kabwelelo (Bemba)
Sauti yaliyotolewa na mwanamke kuhusu jembe au shoka ina umuhimu yake. (Swahili)
La parole dite par la femme sur la houe ou sur la hache a toujours des impacts. (French)
One will always return to an axe or hoe handle that the woman shows them. (English)

Bemba (Zambia and DRC) Proverb

December 31, 2014

January, 2015 The elephant can be tripped by a creeping plant. Maasai (Kenya, Tanzania) Proverb

Erruesh olenkaina enaimurruai. (Maasai)
Ndovu anaweza angushwa na mumea anayetambaa. (Swahili).
L'éléphant peut être déclenché par plante rampante. (French)
The elephant can be tripped by a creeping plant. (English)

Maasai (Kenya, Tanzania) Proverb

November 7, 2014

November -December, 2014 Any goat can serve as bridewealth unless it has a defect Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb

Gutiri mburi itangiracio tiga inawathe. (Gikuyu)
Mbuzi yeyote hukubalika kama mahari, lakini asiwe na dosari. (Swahili)
Toute chèvre peut servir de dot, à moins qu’elle ne présente un défaut. (French)
Any goat can serve as bridewealth unless it has a defect. (English)

Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb

October 7, 2014

October, 2014 A wife is the wealth. Tembo (Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC) Proverb

E mukazi Buli Buaare. Tembo)
Mwanamke ni utajiri. (Swahili)
Femme est une richesse. (French)
A wife is the wealth. (English)

Tembo (Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC) Proverb

September 1, 2014

September 2014 Why do you behave like a woman whose son has just gotten married? Maasai (Kenya, Tanzania) Proverb

Ainyoo pee iton enaa enkitok nayamishe? (Maasai)
Kwa nini unakaa kama mwanamke ambaye mwanaye ameoa karibuni? (Swahili)
Pourquoi vous comportez-vous comme une femme dont le fils vient d'épouser? (French)
Why do you behave like a woman whose son has just gotten married? (English)

Maasai (Kenya, Tanzania) Proverb

August 1, 2014

August 2014 Two calabashes floating in a basin of water will touch each other, but not damage each other. Ewe (Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria) Proverb

Etre ve no tsi dzi megbea nui ka wonoe wo o. (Ewe )
Vibuyu viwili juu ya maji lazima zitaguzana. (Swahili)
Deux calebasses sur l’eau se toucheront de toutes les façons. (French)
Two calabashes floating in a basin of water will touch each other, but not damage each other. (English)

Ewe (Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria) Proverb

June 25, 2014

July, 2014 A mother is the cornerstone of the family. Somali (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia) Proverb

Guri ann hooyo lahayni aaa, lama degaan. (Somali)
Mama ni nguzo ya familia. (Swahili)
Une mère est un noyau de la famille. (French)
A mother is the cornerstone of the family. (English)

Somali (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia) Proverb

June 3, 2014

June, 2014 The house that is built well (like a fixed faith) doesn’t move any longer. Lwalu (Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC) Proverb

Nzubu iku kuimatenke kuende vu. (Lwalu)
Nyumbani mara moja kujengwa wanapaswa kuwa na harakati. (Swahili)
La maison une foi fixée ne se déplace plus. (French)
The house that is built well (like a fixed faith) doesn’t move any longer. (English).

Lwalu (Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC) Proverb