QUOTES- AFRICAN PROVERBS By BANIRE MISTURA OLOLADE

 

Proverbs are an integral part of African culture. Passed on from generation to generation for centuries, they are still in wide use today and are very much part of everyday speech.

Proverbs are used to illustrate ideas, reinforce arguments and deliver messages of inspiration, consolation, celebration and advice.

Below are proverbs Originated from Africa and are full of wisdom. Many of them are short but contain wisdom that can be applied to daily life. They have provided motivation and guidance to many over the years. You may find yourself thinking about the short sentence only to realize the truth that some few words can mean. 

•         A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.

•         If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree.

•         Don't set sail on someone else's star. 

•         There are no shortcuts to the top of the palm tree. 

•         When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it. 

•         For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. 

•         Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand. 

•         Being happy is better than being king. 

•         To try and to fail is not laziness.

•         If you offend, ask for a pardon; if offended forgive. 

•         A person with too much ambition cannot sleep in peace. 

•         Even the best dancer on the stage must retire sometime.

•         A good deed is something one returns.

•         Those who accomplish great things pay attention to little ones. 

•         Ugliness with a good character is better than beauty.

•         The laughter of a child lights up the house. 

•         Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. 

•         He who learns, teaches.

•         Patience is the mother of a beautiful child.

•         He who refuses to obey cannot command.

•         A single strict may smoke, but it will not burn.

•         Seeing is different than being told.

•         By crawling a child learns to stand.

•         Hope does not disappoint.

•         If you want to go quickly, go alone. if you want to go far, go together.

•         There is no medicine to cure hatred.

•         A quarrelsome chief does not hold a village together.

•         If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

•         You can tell a ripe corn by its look.

•         When I think of the other's misfortunes, I forget mine.

•         If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom.

•         A Stream cannot rise above its source.

•         Every misfortune is a blessing.

•         Love is like a baby; it needs to be treated tenderly.

•         A man who pays respect to the great paves his own way for greatness.

•         Lack of knowledge is darker than night.

•         Wood already touched by fire is not hard to see alight.

•         One must talk little and listen Much

•         Having a good discussion is like having riches.

•         A friend is someone you share the path with.

•         Confiding a secret to an unworthy person is like carrying grain in a bag with a hole.

•         One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.

•         Every fame has a foundation.

•         A feeble effort will not fulfill the self.

•         Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle

Every Culture has its share of wise proverbs or saying usually a single sentence passed down from one generation to the next while these sayings may vary from one language, culture and country to another the wisdom they convert is universal.

Africa, in particular, is overflowing with inspirational sayings, many of which provide a captivating insight into the rich and vibrant culture that crafted them.

 

ABOUT THE WRITER

Banire Mistura Ololade

OS/19B/1673