Proverbs

Igbo

Ị mara asụ sụọ n'odo. Ị maghị asụ sụọ n'ala.

Meaning:  The wise uses counsel wisely but the foolish abuse it.

Hausa

Kwadayi mabudin wahala

Meaning:  Greed is the key path to trouble. 

Yoruba

Bi a ba fi owo otun ba Omo wi, a fi tosi fa mora.

Meaning:  When a child is beaten with the right hand, we draw him/her closer with the left hand

Uganda

Luganda

“Okwambala obulungi si kuwasa, ssinga wakasanke amaze abakyaala emugga.”

Meaning: Dressing smartly doesn’t always imply that one is getting married otherwise “Kasanke” the bird with dazzling and beautiful feathers would have all the ladies for itself. 

Mozambique

O homem comum fala, o sábio escuta, o tolo discute

Meaning: The common man speaks, the wise man listens, and the fool argues.

Sierra Leone :

Krio

“Kill dog befo dog yai leh dog no sey di dae” 

Meaning: Kill a dog in front of another so that they would know that death exists.

Zambia

Language: Bemba

“Ubushiku ushliubobe ne chimbala chilocha” 

Meaning: The day your luck runs out, even cold leftover food can burn your throat

Gabon

“Ce sont les jeunes arbres qui héritent de la forêt”

Meaning:  The future belongs to the youths

Tanzania

Language: Swahili

“Hata maji huyachemshe namna gani hayatarudi kuwa ya baridi”

Meaning:  No matter how long or many times you boil water, it won’t get cold