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.

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

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

March 3, 2014

March 2014 – A faithful woman is a crown to her husband. Gusii (Kenya) Proverb


Omokungu omwegenu nogoseseni ase omosa cha oye. (Gusii).

Mke mwema ni taji kwa mumewe. (Swahili).

Une bonne femme est un diademe ou une couronne a son mari (epoux). (French).

A faithful woman is a crown to her husband. (English).

Gusii (Kenya) Proverb