Wisdom From Africa: Amazing Zulu and Yoruba Proverbs
Much of Africa’s history has been passed on through the generations orally. One consequence of this is that traditional wisdom has been crystallized in the form of proverbs. Here is a collection of proverbs attributed to the Zulu of South Africa and Yoruba from Nigeria.
- You can learn wisdom at your grandfathers feet, or at the end of a stick. Zulu of South Africa
- A walking man builds no kraal. Zulu of South Africa
- You can not know the good within yourself if you can not see it in others. Zulu of South Africa
- When you bite indiscriminately, you end up eating your own tail. Zulu of South Africa
- The lion is a beautiful animal, when seen at a distance. Zulu of South Africa
- The bones must be thrown in three different places before the message must be accepted. Zulu of South Africa
- Guessing breeds suspicion. Zulu of South Africa
- Even immortals are not immune to fate. Zulu of South Africa
- You cannot fight an evil disease with sweet medicine. Zulu of South Africa
- Old age doesn’t announce itself at the gate of the kraal. Zulu of South Africa
- Almost doesn’t fill a bowl. Zulu of South Africa
- Even the most beautiful flower withers in time. Zulu of South Africa
- The sun never sets that there has not been fresh news. Zulu of South Africa
- A man with sweet food before him can not understand the bitterness of famine. Yoruba people of Nigeria
- Even if the youth has as many clothes as his father, he has not worn so many out. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- However far a stream flows, it never forgets its origin. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- No God is more demanding than your stomach – it requires a sacrifice every day. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- One who defames another’s character, also defames their own. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- The man who waits for a perfect opportunity, will wait a life-time. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- The world has reached a sad state when a cracking an egg breaks the pot. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- Victory is achieved by he who forgives. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- What makes sense today may be madness tomorrow. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- Where you settle in old age depends upon where you stood in your youth. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- You may tell little lies, small as a thorn, but they will grow to the size of a spear and kill you. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- You will know who you love, you can not truly know who loves you. Yoruba people of Nigeria
- If you never give palm wine to your elders, you will never learn their proverbs. Yoruba people of Nigeria.
Samuel Darkwah Manu is young man from Ghana currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Samuel is passionate about blogging and is a social media enthusiast (popularly known as “sammyhawkrad”). Hobbies include listening to music (country, soul, RnB), playing FIFA and PES games, watching football and interacting on twitter.
