Aside from the numerous reasons I love being African, one part of us that I adore is the poetic way we talk. When it comes to speaking metaphorically, no one comes close to us. Remember when, as a kid, you would ask your mum where to put an object, and she would say, “Come and put it on my head” or when you were hungry and you’d ask what to eat, and she’d say, “Come and eat me.” Of course, we all knew better not to ever take any of those statements literally, but if you were bold enough to have ever done that, please share with us how that day went down. Our poetic way of speaking is evident in our proverbs. Proverbs are words of wisdom that have been passed down from generations. Let’s share in this wisdom by looking at ten African proverbs and their meaning.
1. “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.”
Meaning: True wisdom is vast and multifaceted, requiring the collective understanding and contributions of many people.
2. “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”
Neglect and isolation can lead to destructive behaviour as a means of seeking attention and care.
3. “Even if the cock does not crow, the sun will rise.”
Meaning: What is meant to be will be.
4. “The battle of grasshoppers is a feast for the hawks.”
Meaning: If you are not united, you open doors for attacks.
5. “A bird will always use another bird’s feathers to feather its own nest.”
Meaning: People often rely on the contributions and efforts of others to achieve their goals.
6. “The rain does not fall on one roof alone.”
Challenges and hardships are a universal part of life and affect everyone.
7. “However long the night, the dawn will break.”
Meaning: No matter how difficult or enduring the challenge, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
8. “He who learns, teaches.”
Meaning: Knowledge and wisdom should be shared; teaching others is a natural extension of learning.
9. “What an elder sees sitting down, a child cannot see it even if he climbs an iroko tree.”
Meaning: Wisdom comes with age.
10. “A single bracelet does not jingle.”
Meaning: You can’t succeed on your own; you need collaboration and support.
Now tell me, if these aren’t words on marble. African proverbs show us that wisdom comes from the everyday experiences and stories shared by people over time, not just from books or technology.
Read Also: 5 Unique African Traditions
