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

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

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