African Proverbs

From the July 09 edition of "Ghana News Monthly," Vol. 1, No. 3.

     I had fun reading through these, and I think you will too. Some were familiar observations of life, which was quite delightful considering they're from another continent: Money is sharper than a sword.
     Others were quite obviously from very different life situations: The son shoots a leopard; the father is proud.
     And others were remarkably insightful when I thought about them, despite their unassuming premises: "Unless you call out, who will open the door?" and "Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight.

Enjoy!

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

Zaire - The Congo

• What is said over the dead lion's body could not be said to him alive.
• Little by little grow the bananas.
• A single bracelet does not jingle.
• Let him speak who has seen with his eyes.

Ashanti, Ghana

• When a woman is hungry, she says, "Roast something for the children that they may eat."
• He who cannot dance will say: "The drum is bad."
• No one tests the depth of a river with both feet.
• It is a fool's sheep who break loose twice.

Buganda

• He who hunts two rats, catches none.

Ethiopia

• A fool looks for dung where the cow never browsed.
• One who runs alone cannot be outrun.
• The frog wanted to be as big as the elephant, and burst.

     And one which immediately brought to mind my trip out West, where the difference between the desert-like ranches of Utah and the green pastureland of Nebraska was stark: "The cattle is only as good as the pasture in which it grazes."

     Thanks for reading!

And remember: You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla.