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,” “community”, “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 Sixty Fifty Round that covers April-June, 2025. You can vote as many times as you want, but not more than once in a 24 hour period. Welcome.
- 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
- 419 votes 64%419 votes - 64% of all votes
- February-March, 2021 The pursuit of grasshoppers is done in the morning. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 13%, 84 votes84 votes 13%84 votes - 13% of all votes
- October, 2020 One who associates with a person with bad behaviors risks falling into them. Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb 8%, 49 votes49 votes 8%49 votes - 8% of all votes
- December, 2020 It is lame, but now it is a big ox and able to graze with its lameness. Kalanga (Botswana and Zimbabwe ) Proverb 8%, 49 votes49 votes 8%49 votes - 8% of all votes
- January 2021 Your elder sibling’s pocket or bag does not contain your savings/contents. Ganda (Uganda) Saying 8%, 49 votes49 votes 8%49 votes - 8% of all votes
- May, 2004: After hardship comes relief. Arabic (Egypt and other North African countries) Proverb 33%, 176 votes176 votes 33%176 votes - 33% of all votes
- 146 votes 28%146 votes - 28% of all votes
- July 2000: Do not insult the hunting guide before the sun has set. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 16%, 86 votes86 votes 16%86 votes - 16% of all votes
- February 2001: God is a great eye. God sees everything in the world. Balanda/Belanda Viri, Arabic (Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan) Proverb 15%, 82 votes82 votes 15%82 votes - 15% of all votes
- January 2009: The hunger that has hope for its satisfaction does not kill. Igbo (Nigeria) Proverb 4%, 20 votes20 votes 4%20 votes - 4% of all votes
- June 1999: When an enemy digs a grave for you, God gives you an emergency exit. Rundi (Burundi) Proverb 4%, 20 votes20 votes 4%20 votes - 4% of all votes
- September, 2020 When a bird builds its nest it uses the feathers of other birds. Ganda/Kooki (Uganda) Proverb 34%, 211 votes211 votes 34%211 votes - 34% of all votes
- June 2020, Goat droppings (that later become manure) are mainly found in a loafing shed (barn). Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 16%, 97 votes97 votes 16%97 votes - 16% of all votes
- 96 votes 15%96 votes - 15% of all votes
- May 2020, Alone, alone, one cannot produce history. Yao (Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania) Proverb 15%, 96 votes96 votes 15%96 votes - 15% of all votes
- July, 2020 There are not big horns, they are all horns. Nuer (South Sudan, Ethiopia) Proverb 10%, 62 votes62 votes 10%62 votes - 10% of all votes
- August, 2020 A climbing plant with tendrils cannot grow on its own without a tree’s support. Rufumbira (Uganda) Proverb 10%, 62 votes62 votes 10%62 votes - 10% of all votes
- June, 2009: “Go in that direction” does not mean that you go. To go means, “let’s go together!” Sena (Mozambique) Proverb 32%, 205 votes205 votes 32%205 votes - 32% of all votes
- June, 2000 Proverb: Even haplochromis (name of a small fish) employs tilapia (name of a large fish). Luo (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 32%, 205 votes205 votes 32%205 votes - 32% of all votes
- April, 2007: If you provoke a rattlesnake, you must be prepared to be bitten by it. Gikuyu (Kenya) Proverb 12%, 75 votes75 votes 12%75 votes - 12% 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 8%, 54 votes54 votes 8%54 votes - 8% of all votes
- December, 2019: When the fool gets enlightened, the shrewd get into trouble. Pare (Tanzania) Proverb 8%, 54 votes54 votes 8%54 votes - 8% of all votes
- June, 2003 Proverb: Like vomit and shit under your feet (the rumormonger spreads scandal). Sumbwa (Tanzania) 8%, 54 votes54 votes 8%54 votes - 8% of all votes
- October 2019, Even an elephant, that is, an important person, can be sent. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 42%, 273 votes273 votes 42%273 votes - 42% of all votes
- 167 votes 26%167 votes - 26% of all votes
- February 2020, Two geniuses will successfully roast a fly. Manyika, (Zimbabwe, Mozambique) Proverb 11%, 72 votes72 votes 11%72 votes - 11% of all votes
- November, 2019 Too many fishing baskets in the water cannot prevent you from dipping yours. Toro (Uganda) Proverb 7%, 46 votes46 votes 7%46 votes - 7% of all votes
- December, 2019 When the fool gets enlightened, the shrewd get into trouble. Pare (Tanzania) Proverb 7%, 46 votes46 votes 7%46 votes - 7% of all votes
- January, 2020 Although he is materially poor, at his house was found a housefly cord. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb 7%, 46 votes46 votes 7%46 votes - 7% of all votes
- June 2009: “Go in that direction” does not mean that you go. To go means, “let’s go together!” Sena (Mozambique) Proverb 33%, 204 votes204 votes 33%204 votes - 33% of all votes
- September 2017: The hoes of two people cultivating together in a field sometimes clash (hit) against each other. Sukuma (Tanzania) Proverb. 17%, 103 votes103 votes 17%103 votes - 17% of all votes
- 102 votes 17%102 votes - 17% of all votes
- December 2014: It takes a whole village to raise a child. Igbo and Yoruba (Nigeria) Proverb 17%, 102 votes102 votes 17%102 votes - 17% of all votes
- May 2020: Alone, alone, one cannot produce history. Yao (Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania) Proverb 8%, 50 votes50 votes 8%50 votes - 8% of all votes
- 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 8%, 50 votes50 votes 8%50 votes - 8% of all votes