Selected African Proverbs From the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria by Uzoma Azuonye - HTML preview

1.0     Agwa ogbenye ihe eji aba ogaranya, osi ka ora ka ora.

If a poor man is told what it takes to become rich he says he is satisfied with his present situation.

The road to fame, wealth and power is not an easy one to follow. Knowledge of what is required may discourage aspirants. This proverb is mainly used when held in awe of spectacular achievements.

2.0     Eziem ozi zie eze, agam ezi ya, mana asim kputa ya akputa agam asi mba.

If I am sent on an errand to the king, I will go. If I am sent to arrest him, I will say no.

It is always wise to know our limits and to know when we are being misled by others or our own ambitions

3.0     Onye fee eze, eze eruo ya.

He who worships the king becomes a king.

We are expected to be respectful to God, our elders and our superiors in our work places. Such respect is often rewarded in many ways by God and by our superiors.

4.0     Onye gara uno akwa gara uno akwa nke ya.

When a man attends a funeral, he is also attending his own funeral.

The benefits of staying close to families, friends and acquaintances cannot be overemphasized. This proverb is about relationship and the need to remain close.

5.0     Nwa mkpi si na umunwanyi ezuru ya oburu nke oji eme ogo.

The he goat says he has not got enough female mates to start worrying himself about sisters-in-law.

At times a man finds himself under pressure not only to satisfy himself and his family but to meet the needs of his extended family and community. This proverb is often used by people under such pressure to show their dilemma.

6.0     Onye nzuzu amaghi na nwanne ya nwanyi bu obia.

It is the foolish man who does not realize that his sister is a visitor to the family.

This painful proverb is about relationship and trust. It becomes necessary at times to call a spade a spade and to decide and define boundaries of relationships.

7.0     Ejighi ihe eji agba na nti agba na imi.

We do not employ what we use in cleaning the ear to clean the nose.

We should always be aware of danger and should avoid getting into situations with potential harm to ourselves.

8.0     Onye nwuru anwu si, "Ihe ibu, abugom. Ihe mbu ka i ka ga abu.

The dead man says, "What you are, I have been, what I am you are yet to be.

People who are boastful of their early achievements in life are often shortsighted. They fail to realize that for every achievement they boast about they are often a hundred challenges ahead of them.

9.0     Ebe enwe no ka olete cha ihe nile na erne ka mgbo ji tuo ya na isi.

It was while the monkey was insisting on seeing everything in a procession that a bullet hit his head.

This proverb is the Igbo version of the English proverb, "Curiosity killed the cat". The proverb also warns people to know when to let go and to always avoid digging too deeply into matters.

10.0    Enwe si na otu unere si atu ya egwu ka ya si kwa atu unere egwu.

The monkey says he is as scared of bananas as bananas are scared of him.

We should never make assumptions of our safety in any situation we find ourselves. A woman afraid of getting HIV from a man should realize that the man is also afraid of catching it from her.

11.0    Ikwe na aka gafee nku aka ya aghoo ihe ozo.

When a handshake goes beyond the elbow, it becomes a different thing.

Despite the liberal nature of the Igbo people, respect for age and hierarchy is not negotiable. Taking advantage of a humble gesture to become over familiar is often frowned at. This can also be extended to taking undue advantage of a trusting friend or colleague.

12.0    Onye ugha na agba oso, onye ama ana eso ya.

When a liar is on the run, a witness is following him.

It is very difficult to get away with wrongdoing no matter how we try.

13.0    Aga ekwo mgbagbu ghara ogu?

Should we for fear of being killed abandon a battle?

We should never abandon a project we have embarked on. The fear of failure should not discourage us to aspire. This proverb is used to inspire and to build up morale when doubt sets in.

14.0    Ana achu aja ikpe ana ama ndi mmuo.

When a man makes a sacrifice, blame is passed to the gods.

We should always make effort to achieve our goals. We should never leave anything to providence until we have tried. In the end what ever result that comes out of our efforts should not be for lack of trying but the will of God in his plans for us.

15.0    Uwa onye ujo adighi mma, isi egburu egbu na ogu akwuru laa.

The life of a coward is not good. He fails to realize that any head killed brings the end of a war nearer.

Get up and get on with the job. Whatever you achieve in a day adds to the cumulative of your eventual achievement in life.

16.0    Onye ara nyuru aru si na, "nka agaa."

The mad man farted and said, "That one is gone".

This is about project management. Every stage or phase successfully completed is gone and will not be revisited.

17.0    Nwa okuko anaghi echefu onye foro ya odu na udu mmiri.

The chicken does not forget the person who pulled off the tail feathers during the rainy season.

Being grateful for help or assistance received is often taken for granted. This proverb is about remembering to be grateful to people who go out of their way to do us a favour.

18.0    Mmadu anaghi anwu ugbo abuo.

A man never dies twice.

Courage is often the deciding factor in several achievements of man. This rather universal one liner encourages us to be daring.

19.0    Ebom ohi nwa okuko m'ezuru nne ya.

If I am accused of stealing a young chicken, I will steal the mother.

It is often very difficult to face the music and to accept our roles when things go bad. This courageous proverb is about being bold enough to accept our faults and also inspires us to look beyond little achievements.

20.0    Onye cho iri awo, ya erie nke gbara abuba.

If a man wants to eat a toad, let him eat a large fatty one.

Dreaming big is a universal goal. Toads are not eaten by anybody which symbolizes doing the impossible or embarking on a journey of faith. If you must dare, dare for the biggest glory as far as your vision can take you.

21.0    Nwa aturu choro ipu mpi, ekwo si kwa ya ike.

The little sheep that wants to grow horns let his neck be strong enough.

If you must take chances or compete, be prepared. This proverb is used when such action is considered of a very risky nature.

22.0    Ahu cha agba nkiti mere di na nwunye ji ebi na udo.

Seeing and keeping silent makes it possible for husband and wife to live in peace.

The diplomacy of relationship whether at home or in the office is best illustrated here with marriage. The English say that the truth is always bitter. There is also an ABBA song that says that one of us is lying, one of us is cheating. In every relationship the wisdom to avoid making an issue out of everything that happens eventually makes the relationship to prosper. This is applicable to business partnership, friendship and diplomatic relationship between nations.

23.0    Ndi nwere imi anaghi ahu anwuru.

Those who have the nose for snuff, do not find snuff.

It is a sad acceptance that in life we do not always get rewarded according to our efforts and aspirations. It is also sad to see less talented people with little or no efforts at all achieving success unimaginable.

24.0    Onye nwanne ya no n'eligwe anaghi aga oku mmuo.

He whose brother is in heaven will never go to hell.

Nepotism is a very African thing. It is unimaginable to suffer when a relative or a friend is in a position of authority.

25.0    Agaghi m ano na mmiri ncha aba m na anya.

I cannot stay inside water and allow soap films blind me.

Seize the day, take advantage of your circumstances and people you know who are in positions to enrich or empower yourself.

26.0    A na eji anya ama oka chara acha.

We know a ripe corn from the outside.

The ability to assess situations before getting involved is a very useful tool in the journey through life. Through careful assessment we know the viability of our interests.

27.0    Anaghi atupe ngwugwu aga emepe emepe.

We do not pinch the side of a parcel we are going to open eventually.

This proverb is about the virtue of patience. In Christian terms, it is about knowing how to wait upon God after we have packaged our prayers and devotion to him.

28.0    Anaghi aru ururu mgba ebe ala di nso.

We do not argue about our wrestling abilities while the ground is very near.

It unnecessary to argue or get embroiled in conflicts that can be easily resolved

29.0    Eji anya ama mkpuru nkwu chara acha.

We know ripe palm nuts with our eyes. (See proverb number 26).

The ability to assess situations before getting involved is a very useful tool in the journey through life. Through careful assessment we know the viabiliy of our interests.

30.0    Aka mgbe ayi huru ike di ochi, mmanya okuru anakwaghi ato uto.

Since we saw the buttocks of the famous palm wine tapper, his palm wine has become tasteless.

When a person respected by the community lets himself down with a poor conduct, he loses respect. This proverb is also about disappointment after high expectations prove to be an exercise in futility.

31.0    Awo anaghi agba oso ehihe na nkiti.

The toad does not run in the afternoon for nothing.

There is no smoke without fire. When an unexpected visitor comes to your house and starts by asking you about your well being, there is more to the visit. He has probably come for a favor or to warn you about something.

32.0    Ebe onye oso ruru, onye ije ga eru.

Where a runner reaches, the man who is trekking will also reach there.

Set a goal, make your preparations, focus on your goal and gradually work towards it. Never use the achievements of others to measure your progress towards your goal. Circumstances and resources are as diverse as goals.

33.0    Oso ndu anaghi agwu ike.

We are never tired when we run for our dear lives.

When pushed to the wall, we come out fighting. When ambushed, we fight our way out. Certain situations in life demand tireless efforts and sacrifice.

34.0    Oji oso agbakwu ogu amaghi na ogu bu onwu.

He who runs into fights does not realize that fighting is death.

We should always approach danger and confrontation with reason, caution and preparedness.

35.0    Eji ura elete onwu.

We get an idea of what death looks like each time we sleep.

Our fears are often explained and decoded by our own experiences without our knowing it. This proverb is about doing away with worry and making capital of every experience.

36.0    Uzo di mma eso ya ugbo abuo.

If a road is good we take it twice.

This is like the English saying that every good turn deserves another. It is about revisiting a good experience or event and building upon a good relationship.

37.0    Onye ajuru aju anaghi aju onwe ya.

He who is rejected by the public does not reject him self.

Self esteem is a very important weapon in life. Your judgment of yourself and your abilities must not be based on other people's perception of you.

38.0    Ejighi akwa ebitere ebite agbasi egwu ike.

You do not dance energetically when wearing borrowed clothes.

Be cautious how you flaunt wealth or boast about your success while depending on another person. He can pull the carpet on you.

39.0    Onye kwanyere onwe ya ugwu ajuo ya maka umu aka.

When you show respect to yourself, we ask you about your children.

Being able to achieve certain societal measures of success bring about respect and honor in the community.

40.0    Ejighi ahuhu etu onu.

Suffering is nothing to boast about.

Always focus your energy on the positive and progressive. Society has a way of looking down on non achievers no matter how interesting the stories they tell about their lives.

41.0    Nwata kwuo aka, ya na eze erie nri.

If a child washes his hands, he eats with kings.

No matter your age, if you are an achiever, you will find yourself in the company of kings.

42.0    Ihe mmadu amaghi anaghi egbu ya.

What a person is ignorant about does not kill him.

When a man is innocent, he can swear to it and will go to any length without any fear to prove his innocence.

43.0    Ekwe onye nchiche na aka ibi oma aguwa ya.

When a leper is allowed a handshake, he craves for an embrace.

Taking advantage of a humble and kind gesture is frowned upon in the Igbo society.

44.0    Nkita rie nsi, eze eree ewu.

When the dog eats shit, the goat develops rotten teeth.

When a man is blamed for the crime committed by another person or becomes a victim of something beneficial to another person.

45.0    Onwu cho igbu nwa nkita, onakwaghi anu isi nsi ozo.

When a dog is about dying, it no longer perceives the smell of shit.

Throwing caution into the wind often leads to danger and destruction. When caution is thrown to the wind, we expose ourselves to untold danger, unguarded statements and regrettable actions.

46.0    Nkita anaghi ata okpukpu anyara ya na olu.

A dog does not eat a bone hung to its neck.

It is wrong to betray any form of trust. It is even worse to betray a very close friend, family or community when put in a position of trust.

47.0    Nwoke na emere nwanyi, nwanyi ana emere onye ohuru na anya.

When a man is showing favor to a woman, she is showing favor to another man she loves.

At times we find ourselves wasting our favor and love on people who never return such favors or love to us. The reason is sadly that such people though accepting such favors from us are showing favor to others they prefer to us.

48.0    Mgbe okokporo ji lota, ntu abali no na eche ya.

Whenever a bachelor comes home, the overnight kitchen ash is waiting for him.

Certain problems never go away until resolved. It is always wise to try and solve problems as they come rather than allowing them to pile up.

49.0    Onye jim na ala ji onwe ya.

He who holds me down on the ground is holding down himself.

All our actions in life have consequences. When we hurt, we hurt ourselves. When we make people cry as a result of our actions, we also cry. We should always avoid counterproductive actions or stances.

50.0    Anaghi acho ihe na akpa onye na acho ihe.

You do not look for something in the pocket of some one who is looking for something.

Avoid directing your dreams and efforts towards sources that are not guaranteed to yield results. Use your good judgment, research and experience to decide the direction of your efforts.

51.0    Nwa awo si, obiara nga ya na acho oche, ohula nke ya nwa ji nodu odu.

The toad says that he who comes into his house a and asks for a chair, has the person seen him sitting on any.

You can only give out of your abundance. It is not right for people to expect from you what you do not have yourself. It is considered wrong judgment for instance, for a girlfriend to ask her boy friend who is driving a Nissan banger to buy her a Ferrari.

52.0    Ngwere isi ocha si na ya ga eto onwe ya ma onweghi onye choro ito ya maka garagara oji si na elu daa.

The red head lizard that fell from a tree says that if people would not praise him for his acrobatic display, he would praise himself.

This proverb made popular in modern times by Chinua Achebe in his best selling iconic novel "Things fall apart", is about self esteem and satisfaction with what we have. At certain moments in life, you will realize that out of envy, people did not tell you the truth about your worth and because you listened to them you were blinded to your own capabilities.

53.0    Wepu aka enwe na ofe tupu ya aghoo aka mmadu.

Remove the palm of the monkey from the soup before it turns into the palm of a human being.

Find a way of getting out of a tricky situation before it turns nasty. The proverb is also about early resolution of situations that have a potential to develop into wider conflicts.

54.0    Nwanyi ogbenye enweghi ego oji esi ofe si na ofe na aka uto na ntakiri ngwa ofe.

The poor woman who cannot afford a costly soup says soups taste better when cooked with minimal ingredients.

This rather mocking proverb is directed at people who chicken out of projects or give lame excuses for their failure.

55.0    Onye kpatara nku ahuhu si ngwere soro ya.

He who gathers firewood full of ants has invited lizards to follow him home.

Igbo people believe in reincarnation. They also believe very strongly in the law of karma. Whatever action you take in this life has its repercussions that will haunt you in this life and in your next life.

56.0    Na nwam eto la ogologo abughi na otoruola ima ihe.

That my child is tall does not mean he has grown up.

It is considered wrong to judge matters with first impression. Λ situation that looks sorted out on the outside may actually be a misrepresentation of facts and data.

57.0    Onye ara na uche ya yi.

The mad man moves about with his senses.

Do not ever underrate anyone. People who have been written off as not useful and untalented have turned things around to become great achievers. This proverb encourages us to judge people only through interaction.

58.0    Ihere anaghi erne onye ara, ndi ezi na ulo ya ka ihere na erne.

It is not the mad man who is ashamed but his family.

This proverb is about the ripple effect of our actions. We should always consider the effect of our actions on our communities and families before carrying them out.

59.0    Agbisi gba otile ya amuta ako.

When an insect bites the bottom, the bottom becomes wiser.

It is said that experience is not what happened to you but what you did with what happened to you. The lessons learnt from a bad experience can be very rewarding and invaluable.

60.0    Ma nwata arayi otile obia ira mgbowa aja?

If a child does not put his penis into a vagina, is he going to put it into a crack on the wall?

Even though societal norms dictate most of our actions, society is also flexible enough to accept certain actions that are not only natural but expected. Such actions though attracting caution are judged according to ultimate outcome.

61.0    Nwata rie ihe oji muru anya, ura atuo ya.

When a child eats what keeps him awake, he goes to bed.

When we achieve our goals after a long period of waiting and efforts, there is always a need to relax and count our blessings. This proverb is often used in a naughty way to describe the feeling of elation after finally bedding a girl who had played hard to catch for a very long time.

62.0    Otu aka ruta mmanu ya ezuo oha.

If one finger is dipped into oil, it spreads to the rest.

This rather obvious proverb is about the ripple effect of our actions in our community. If we are for instance the reason for an inter-tribal war or the reason for two families fighting themselves over a cross fence theft of chastity.

63.0    Otu onye anaghi achu agbachi.

One man does not chase and lie in ambush at the same time.

Delegation of power is very vital to the success of any organization.

64.0    Akpakwalam aka na otu uguru.

Never touch my vagina during the cold harmattan.

This proverb is about the potential danger of provoking a sleeping tiger or a vicious adversary.

65.0    Ujo anaghi atu mmam ya na akpa na abali.

If ghosts are not afraid, why do they move about only at night?

This proverb is about encouraging ourselves to dare and to do away with our fears and perceptions of danger. When wrongly applied this proverb may lead into unguarded confrontation.

66.0    Ihe ojoo na ato ochi mmam guru nwa ya.

Bad things make us laugh, that's the name a ghost gave to his son.

This proverb is used when we laugh at ourselves. When we laugh or smile at bad news it does not mean in any way that we are not truly hurt or sympathetic. It is natural but convenient to blame it on spiritual influences.

67.0    Μ were nnukwu ego sacha eze m, ego ole ka aga akwu m ma m chia ochi?

If I spend a fortune cleaning my teeth, how much will I earn each time I laugh?

This little proverb is about feasibility and viability. The project we are about to embark on, is it possible? If it is possible, is it worth it?

68.0    Ele bu uzo anuola mmiri oma.

The antelope that leads the herd drinks the purest water.

Even though a previous proverb says that where the runner gets to, the trekker will also get, this proverb encourages trail blazing. It also encourages us to be leaders rather than followers, players rather than spectators.

69.0    Onye anu ezughi si na ona ato aja aja.

He who does not get a share of meat says the meat tastes like sand.

This proverb is about refusing to accept our weakness and making mockery of other people's achievements. We have seen cases where someone who did not even have a bicycle asked with contempt, "Is it that his little Mercedes Benz that is making his head grow big?"

70.0    Ichi ochi enweghi isi na ebute asiri.

Laughter without cause is the prelude to gossip.

Whistle blowers often start by talking about things that initially seem innocent and irrelevant in order to gain attention.

71.0    Ike agwula ogba mgba nwanyi jie ya na mgba.

The great wrestler is weak and a woman has wrestled him to the ground.

When a man approaches the twilight of his years his potential takes a dip. This proverb can also be used in describing the situation surrounding a person who was once affluent and who has become vulnerable to mockery following a bad patch.

72.0    Ejide onye ohi ya asi na nkea bu ya mbu.

Whenever a thief is caught, he says it is his first attempt.

Finding excuses for failure is best illustrated by this proverb. Though not necessarily a valid excuse, inexperience is often blamed for failure to achieve a goal

73.0    Nwa mbo na agba oku si na ona aha mmanu.

The pigmy rat is burning and boasts that he is only shedding excess oil.

This proverb is about overindulgence in our rating of ourselves and our potentials. It is very dangerous to let such ratings blind us to such an extent we are completely unaware we are treading a path of self destruction.

74.0    Onye ulo ya na agba oku anaghi achu nta oke.

He whose house is burning does not start hunting rats escaping the fire.

This is about priority. It is foolish to pursue trivial goals when a lot is at stake. A good example is the story of a fanatic football fan that missed his degree examinations to watch a live football match.

75.0    Ana agwa gi na oku gbara fada gi na aju ma ogbara afu onu ya.

You are being told that the white Reverend Father got burnt to death and you are asking whether his beards also got burnt.

This proverb is akin to the last in the sense that they share the same views about how to handle priorities

76.0    Oburo m gburu nwa bekee.

I was not the one who killed the white man's son.

The son of a white man was killed during the colonial era. The whole community was punished in order to force them grass the killer. In modern times, if one found himself suffering unduly, he is most likely to be found sighing with this proverb.

77.0    Idi ka ozu nwa bekee, ebulie ya elu ya asi no! no! no!, ebudata ya, ya asi no! no! no!

You are like the corpse of the white man. When you try to lift it, it cries No! No! No! When you decide to drop it to the ground it shouts No! No! No!

This proverb describes the nature of very difficult people who cannot be pleased no matter how you try.

78.0    Kedu ihe foduru na asaa ma isii na awi ara?

What is left out of seven if six are declared mad?

This proverb can be used to gear people up when a little more effort is needed to complete a project. The proverb can also be used to question a greedy or covetous person who has claimed more than his fair share of what belongs to a group.

79.0    Mmadu abuo anaghi awi ara otu mgbe.

Two people do not run mad at the same time.

Conflicts cannot be resolved when two people insist on their positions. Somebody has to concede something in order to achieve peace.

80.0    Ihe egbe nwe, ugo nwe ya.

What belongs to the Kite belongs to the Eagle.

Community understanding and personal relationships blossom when sharing becomes the norm. Division and selfishness often lead to conflicts.

81.0    Okpatara aku erighi eri, ya lee ka onu di ndi nwuru anwu.

He who is unwilling to enjoy his money should look at the mouth of a dead man.

Quite unlike what people think of Igbo people, Igbo people love to enjoy their wealth while they are alive. They also bother about their descendants and their wellbeing. It is a combination of these attributes that make the Igbo person a work horse.

82.0    Onye kwe Chi ya ekwe.

If a man is willing, his God is willing too.

In Christian theology, a person wishing to find favour with God must first recognize God as the source of his help, he must then ask God for help which is followed by faith that God will answer his prayers. The willingness of God to help you must come from your willingness to have unflinching faith in God. Igbo people traditionally believed in a great creator God (Chukwu Okike) long before the coming of Christianity.

83.0    Mmadu bu Chi ibe ya.

Human beings are gods unto their friends.

In Mario Puzo's novel "The Godfather", the reward of keeping close to friends was clearly demonstrated on many occasions. Friends have made friends rich, famous and successful. As demonstrated in the novel, it is not about remembering a long lost friend when we are in need. It is about keeping close to friends and family.

84.0    Omerem akom emekwaranam ozo.

He who does me a favour and insults me about it should no longer do me a favour

When a king invited Socrates the ancient Greek philosopher to a dinner in the palace, Socrates declined the offer. His reason was that he would not accept an invitation from somebody who would not honor his own invitation. In life we soon learn that it is wiser for us to decline certain offers for assistance if such offers ridicule us in the end.

85.0    Aluta agbogho etufuo agadi.

When a man marries a young wife, he throws away the old one.

I am lost for words on this one. It is likened to not putting old wine into new skin.

86.0    Onweghi ihe anya huru gba obara.

There is nothing the eyes will see that will make them shed blood.

This proverb is another one for morale boosting. It places the user on a pedestal from which he sees no problem that is insurmountable. The proverb can also be used to console people who grieve or who have lost a fortune through a natura