SOME COMMON AFRICAN PROVERBS
AND THEIR MEANINGS
1. When God cooks, you don't see smoke.
Meaning: God is powerful enough to do
the impossible in our lives.
2. The day you need a wife, the market is
filled with mad people.
Meaning: things become scarce, the day
you need them.
3. No matter how good you are to a goat, it
will still eat your yam
Meaning: some people will always be
ungrateful, no matter how helpful you are
to them
4. No matter how far you urinate, the last
drop always falls at your feet
Meaning: there will always be
consequences for your action
5. A roaring lion kills no game.
Meaning: bragging or talking about your
dreams alone can't make you achieve your
dream
6. Only a fool tests the depth of a river
with both feet
Meaning: don't jump into a situation
without first thinking about it
7. You don't teach the path of the forest to
an old gorilla
Meaning: our elders have more experience
in this life, so we should learn to respect
them and listen to their advice.
8. A restless foot may walk into a snake
pit
This means: a busybody or idle person will
always get into trouble.
9. He who swallows a complete coconut
have absolute trust in his anus
Meaning: before taking a crucial decision,
you must make sure you have all it takes to
bear the consequences.
10. A man who sees a hen scattering
excreta should stop it. Who knows who
will eat the leg?
Meaning: when you see something going
bad around you, try and rectify it; you'll
never know who gets harmed by it.
11. If a man swears that he wants to harm
you when you're asleep, you can go to
bed. If a woman says the same, stay
awake.
Meaning: women are not known to make
empty threats
12. Don't call the forest that shelters you a
jungle
Meaning: don't insult the person or
something you benefit from.
13. No matter how the buttocks hurry, she
will always remain behind.
Meaning: don't try to outrun your destiny
14. An army of sheep led by a lion can
defeat an army of lions led by a sheep
Means: a good leader can lead even a
group of incompetent persons to success.
15. Who is brave enough to tell the lion his
breath smells
Meaning: courageous persons are those
who can face difficult but necessary
tasks.
Thanks
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