African Proverb of the Month – Page 22 – African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories

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.

September 1, 2009

Sep 2009: “The one who milks the cow is not the same person as the one who removes (plucks out) ticks from a cow.” – Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb

African Proverb for the MonthSeptember 2009 Mukami tiwe muruti nguha. (Gikuyu)Aanayekama no tofauti sana na anayetoa (ng’ombe) kupe/mbung’o. (Swahili)The one who milks the cow is not […]

August 1, 2009

Aug. 2009: “Nobody kills an ignorant person who begs for wisdom.” – Mafa (Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger) Proverb

African Proverb for the MonthAugust 2009 Ta kda ndo n’rezla’a man a tètèkè maya azbai. (Mafa) On ne tue pas l’ignorant qui mendie la sagesse. (French) […]

July 1, 2009

Jul. 2009: “There is no hyena without a friend.” – Meru (Kenya) Proverb

African Proverb for the MonthJuly 2009 Gũtirΐ mbiti itari mũnyanya. (Meru) Hapana fisi asiye na rafiki. (Swahili) There is no hyena without a friend. (English) […]

June 1, 2009

Jun. 2009: “Go in that direction” does not mean that you go. To go means, “let’s go together!” – Sena (Mozambique) Proverb

African Proverb of the Month June 2009 “Pita uko,” si kuenda. Kwenda ndi “Tiyende kuno!” (Sena) “Vai nesta direcção” não é andar. Andar […]

May 1, 2009

May 2009: “A thieving dog knows itself.” – Luyia (Kenya) Proverb

African Proverb of the Month May 2009 Imbwa inzifu yemanya. (Luyia) Mbwa aibaye yuajijua. (Swahili) A thieving dog knows itself. (English) Luyia (Kenya) Proverb Background, […]

March 31, 2009

Apr. 2009: “Alive, we live in the same house or under the same roof. Dead, we rest in the same tomb.” – Malagasy (Madagascar) Proverb

African Proverb of the Month April 2009 Velona iray trano, maty iray fasana. (Malagasy) Vivant, nous habitons sous le même toît. Mort, nous nous reposons dans […]

March 1, 2009

The rich farmer on the left gives maize to his brother and sister.

Mar. 2009: “If you get a fine harvest of maize don’t break your local brotherhood and sisterhood.” – Bembe (Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC, Tanzania) Proverb

African Proverb of the Month March 2009 Walya ékongyé tù kone m’moka. (Bembe) Ne rompez jamais la fraternité à cause de la bonne moisson du maïs. […]

February 2, 2009

Feb. 2009: “An elder’s handbag is never completely empty.” – Acholi (Uganda, Sudan) Proverb

African Proverb of the Month February 2009 Kicaa pa ladit pe dong nono. (Acholi) Mkoba wa mzee hauishiwi kabisa. (Swahili) An elder’s handbag is never completely […]

December 31, 2008

Jan. 2009: “The hunger that has hope for its satisfaction does not kill.” – Igbo (Nigeria) Proverb

African Proverb of the Month January 2009 Agụọ nwere nchekwube/olịleanya a dịghị egbu egbu. (Igbo) The hunger that has hope for its satisfaction does not kill. […]