Poll
Welcome to a popular section of our website — African Proverbs POLLs — to encourage participation and interaction. During the last 25 years we have posted 293 ″African Proverbs of the Month” on our website. Every three months we post a POLL of six proverb choices that alternates between two styles. The first POLL uses the statement: “My favorite proverb in the last six months is…” The second POLL uses the statement: “My favorite proverb of the month on “________________” is… We have uses themes of “African Politics,” “animals,” “care of the earth,” “celebrating diversity,” “celebration/happiness/joy,” “children,” “determination,” “elephants,” “equality, inclusiveness and fairness,” “family and marriage,” “food,” “health care,” “hope,” “hopefulness,” “hospitality ,” ” human rights,” “journeying together,” ”mercy and forgiveness, (part one and part two)” ”mission and reaching out,” “music,” “patience,” “peacebuilding,” “relationships,” “synodality (walking together),” “togetherness,” “World Cup in South Africa,” “Youth/Young People,” etc. We change the poll every three months. The results of the Fifty-Seven Rounds are listed below.
We are now in the Sixthy Round that covers Jan-March, 2024. You can vote as many times as you want, but not more than once in a 24 hour period. Welcome.
- Like ants, eat little and carry the rest back to your home. (Bembe) DRC, Tanzania Proverb 17%, 68 votes68 votes 17%68 votes - 17% of all votes
- 68 votes 17%68 votes - 17% of all votes
- 68 votes 17%68 votes - 17% of all votes
- 68 votes 17%68 votes - 17% of all votes
- Alone, alone, one cannot produce history. Yao (Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania) Proverb 17%, 68 votes68 votes 17%68 votes - 17% of all votes
- 67 votes 16%67 votes - 16% of all votes
- October, 2003 Proverb: “The hen with baby chicks doesn’t swallow the worm.” – Sukuma (Tanzania).” Proverb 41%, 174 votes174 votes 41%174 votes - 41% of all votes
- Nov. 1998: It takes a whole village to raise a child. – Igbo and Yoruba (Nigeria) Proverb 41%, 174 votes174 votes 41%174 votes - 41% of all votes
- 21 vote 5%21 vote - 5% of all votes
- Nov. 2008: “It is only a male elephant that can save another one from a pit.” – Lega (Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC) Proverb 5%, 20 votes20 votes 5%20 votes - 5% of all votes
- Apr. 1999: “One person is thin porridge or gruel; two or three people are a lump (handful) of ugali (stiff cooked meal/flour from sorghum or millet). – Kuria (Tanzania and Kenya) Proverb 5%, 20 votes20 votes 5%20 votes - 5% of all votes
- October, 2003 Proverb: “ Oct. 2001 Proverb: ” Many hands make light work.” – Haya (Tanzania) 5%, 20 votes20 votes 5%20 votes - 5% of all votes
- June, 2023 African Proverb of the Month Learning has no end. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 68%, 276 votes276 votes 68%276 votes - 68% of all votes
- April 2023 African Proverb of the Month The grinder of sorghum sings to comfort herself . Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 6%, 26 votes26 votes 6%26 votes - 6% of all votes
- May 2023 African Proverb of the Month Many are good but when I share my food with them, I feel bad. Gusii (Kenya) Proverb 6%, 26 votes26 votes 6%26 votes - 6% of all votes
- July, 2023 African Proverb of the Month A tree looks beautiful when it is far, but seen near it carries a lot of branches Luba Katanga (DRC) Proverb 6%, 26 votes26 votes 6%26 votes - 6% of all votes
- August, 2023 African Proverb of the Month Today is today whoever says tomorrow is a liar Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 6%, 26 votes26 votes 6%26 votes - 6% of all votes
- September, 2023 African Proverb of the Month When a single finger is cut, all the fingers will have blood. Holoholo (DR Congo and Tanzania) Proverb 6%, 26 votes26 votes 6%26 votes - 6% of all votes
- 208 votes 54%208 votes - 54% of all votes
- August, 2020 A climbing plant with tendrils cannot grow on its own without a tree’s support. Rufumbira (Uganda) Proverb 9%, 36 votes36 votes 9%36 votes - 9% of all votes
- Nov. 2010: “One hand does not catch a buffalo” – Ewe (Ghana, Benin, Nigeria and Togo) Proverb 9%, 35 votes35 votes 9%35 votes - 9% of all votes
- June, 2015 A water pot cannot stand on its own without a support. Luo (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) Proverb 9%, 35 votes35 votes 9%35 votes - 9% of all votes
- 35 votes 9%35 votes - 9% of all votes
- 35 votes 9%35 votes - 9% of all votes
- October. 2022 African Proverb of the Month One hand does not raise a child. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 61%, 257 votes257 votes 61%257 votes - 61% of all votes
- November. 2022 African Proverb of the Month Walk on a fresh tree, a dry one will break. Bena (Tanzania) Proverb 8%, 33 votes33 votes 8%33 votes - 8% of all votes
- December 2022 African Proverb of the Month Blood is thicker than water . Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb 8%, 33 votes33 votes 8%33 votes - 8% of all votes
- January 2023 African Proverb of the Month A nice potato is never peeled Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 8%, 33 votes33 votes 8%33 votes - 8% of all votes
- February 2023 African Proverb of the Month Stumbling is not falling but going forward. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 8%, 33 votes33 votes 8%33 votes - 8% of all votes
- March 2023 African Proverb of the Month Give the hoe to the hard working farmer; if you give to the lazy person he or she stands with it. . Kalanga (Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa) Proverb 8%, 33 votes33 votes 8%33 votes - 8% of all votes
- 273 votes 58%273 votes - 58% of all votes
- 133 votes 28%133 votes - 28% of all votes
- February 2020: Two geniuses will successfully roast a fly. Manyika, (Zimbabwe, Mozambique) Proverb 4%, 17 votes17 votes 4%17 votes - 4% of all votes
- November 2019: Too many fishing baskets in the water cannot prevent you from dipping yours. Toro (Uganda) Proverb 4%, 17 votes17 votes 4%17 votes - 4% of all votes
- 16 votes 3%16 votes - 3% of all votes
- May 2000: How easy it is to defeat people who do not kindle fire for themselves. Tugen (Kenya) 3%, 16 votes16 votes 3%16 votes - 3% of all votes
- July 2022 African Proverb of the Month If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together. Agaw (Eritrea and Ethiopia) Proverb and Burkina Faso Proverb 34%, 195 votes195 votes 34%195 votes - 34% of all votes
- April 2022 African Riddle/Story of the Month “I have a riddle.” “Let it come.” A person went to the coast naked and came back/returned fully clothed?… groundnut/peanut. Sukuma (Tanzania) Riddle/Story 28%, 163 votes163 votes 28%163 votes - 28% of all votes
- June, 2022 African Proverb of the Month A friend is someone you share the path with. Dinka (South Sudan) Proverb 23%, 130 votes130 votes 23%130 votes - 23% of all votes
- August 2022 African Proverb of the Month Many pieces of firewood light the whole night. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 10%, 57 votes57 votes 10%57 votes - 10% of all votes
- September 2022 African Proverb of the Month A baby hawk does not eat vegetables. Suba (Kenya and Tanzania) Proverb 3%, 15 votes15 votes 3%15 votes - 3% of all votes
- May, 2022 African Proverb of the Month The day is never cursed before it finally comes to an end. Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb 3%, 15 votes15 votes 3%15 votes - 3% of all votes
- July, 2022 If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together. Agaw (Ethiopia and Eritrea) Proverb and Burkina Faso proverb 46%, 220 votes220 votes 46%220 votes - 46% of all votes
- 115 votes 24%115 votes - 24% of all votes
- 35 votes 7%35 votes - 7% of all votes
- February, 2016 Members of the same family are open to each other and can discuss anything. Samburu (Kenya) Proverb 7%, 35 votes35 votes 7%35 votes - 7% of all votes
- March, 2018 When you reap problems, you share with your family. Nande (Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC, Uganda) Proverb 7%, 35 votes35 votes 7%35 votes - 7% of all votes
- September, 2020 When a bird builds its nest it uses the feathers of other birds. Ganda/Kooki (Uganda) Proverb 7%, 35 votes35 votes 7%35 votes - 7% of all votes
- December, 2021 African Proverb of the Month The ant tried/made an effort to eat the rock (stone). Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 46%, 210 votes210 votes 46%210 votes - 46% of all votes
- January, 2022 African Proverb of the Month People realize that a cow gave us much milk only after it dies. Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb 19%, 88 votes88 votes 19%88 votes - 19% of all votes
- February, 2022 African Proverb of the Month The one who leads (usually in a herd of cattle) drinks clean and clear water. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 11%, 50 votes50 votes 11%50 votes - 11% of all votes
- October 2021 African Proverb of the Month The monitor lizard has stuck on a rock. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 9%, 41 vote41 vote 9%41 vote - 9% of all votes
- March 2022 African Proverb of the Month The green snake said, “Watching a person is better than biting.” Fon (Benin, Nigeria, Togo) Proverb 7%, 33 votes33 votes 7%33 votes - 7% of all votes
- November 2021 African Proverb of the Month If you sit on a hearthstone, you do not grow tall. Ganda (Uganda) Proverb 7%, 32 votes32 votes 7%32 votes - 7% of all votes
- May, 2004: After hardship comes relief. Arabic (Egypt and other North African countries) Proverb 67%, 372 votes372 votes 67%372 votes - 67% of all votes
- 36 votes 7%36 votes - 7% of all votes
- 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 7%, 36 votes36 votes 7%36 votes - 7% of all votes
- November -December, 2014 Any goat can serve as bridewealth unless it has a defect Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb 7%, 36 votes36 votes 7%36 votes - 7% of all votes
- Jan. 2009: “The hunger that has hope for its satisfaction does not kill.” – Igbo (Nigeria) Proverb 7%, 36 votes36 votes 7%36 votes - 7% of all votes
- 36 votes 7%36 votes - 7% of all votes