African Proverbs in Pidgin

[Smartgoat]

better kola last in the mouth of those that values it.
meaning:: anything wah you dey do, and put more effort on it. you we sure progress on it.

Never you troll stone inside market, E fit go touch your mother.
meaning::: any bad thing wah you do, must surely come back to you

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[Mpamaegbu]

Dem sey persin wey go frog house to ask for stool whether im see the one wey the frog sitdon put?
Meaning: You've to be circumspect while asking people for help.

[adultcrypto]

Na small small dem dey take lick hot soup
Meaning: delicate and complex tasks or situations require gradual and strategic approach

[Mpamaegbu]

Na from kneeling down goat dey take suck im mama breasts
Meaning: You've to stoop to conquer

[Dobabe]

THE STURBBON FLY FOLLOW THE CORPSE TO THE GRAVE
Meaning: he that does not listen follows the corpse to the grave

HE WHO FIGHT AND RUN, LEAVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Meaning: we didn't win this time, but live to fight another day

[Roseline492]

Picking way them carry for head no no say road far.
Meaning: a child that always depends on the parents for everything doesn't no what it takes for the parents to bring food on the table.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Morning: channeling all your investment on one direction is very bad were as if anything happens to it all your hard labour will be gone.

Cut your coats according to your size.
Meaning: don't try to leave another person lifestyle when you cannot.

What an old man can see while seating down a young man cannot see it even climbing a tree.
Meaning: an old man has seen life and experience before you were born

[Mpamaegbu]

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I take my last muscles hail una. Una too much. The only gbege wey I see for wetin una do be sey una use English write una yarns. For here, we nor dey use English drop proverbs. Na strictly pidgin things here but you fit explain d proverbs for English. Na so we dey take run am here. Una go try adjust.

[GiftedMAN]

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I take my last muscles hail una. Una too much. The only gbege wey I see for wetin una do be sey una use English write una yarns. For here, we nor dey use English drop proverbs. Na strictly pidgin things here but you fit explain d proverbs for English. Na so we dey take run am here. Una go try adjust.

My chief your observations dey always dey legit and I dey also like the way you dey advice and encourage the younger elders dem wey dey gather here you do well Baba.

I get small thing to add here based on wetin you don already yarn, abeg help us address this matter so that new elders wey dey come dis we corner go notice am, make dem try dey read the previous proverbs before dem drop new one because the proverbs wey Dobabe and Roseline492 drop don already dey for here I understand say dem no no.

[Mpamaegbu]

...the proverbs wey Dobabe and Roseline492 drop don already dey for here I understand say dem no no.

Na true you talk. Thank you. I see am too and nor be only dem I don observe wey don do am. I get some people wey dey my radar. I nor wan rush enta dem, make e nor come be like sey we dey hammer dem harshly. My investigation dey on. The main purpose wey I take create dis thread nor be to dey spam put; but na so we go dey share proverb ideas so dat any time wey we talk for where elders dem dey, dem go confirm sey we sabi wetin we dey do. I hope una dey use am for real oh and nor be to just post to increase post count.

[GiftedMAN]

I hope una dey use am for real oh and nor be to just post to increase post count.

Baba dis one na big question o but I no fit answer for everybody because na only my self I know I no no how every other person take dey relate for the proverb matter. Yes I dey use am on daily basis but I dey only use am if I dey with men wey get akonuche and my fellow elders wey fit understand and relate because my people talk say person wey dem speak parable to come explain am the money wey dem use marry the person mama na waste.

Like yesterday wey I been dey with some elders for office, e get something wey we bin dey discuss as another person come inside the room all of use come dey use proverbs dey talk instead of the normal English language wey we been dey communicate with and we still understood each other.

[Richbased]

Yes o African proverbs dey sweet well well o especially when you know their various meaning. Me I know so many African proverbs o but since Una don mention most of them make I mention the ones wey Una never mention.

African proverbs:
1. Before you see a blind man kon dey halla know say him don match stone for ground- meaning before someone is threatening you they have an evidence to use in fighting you.

2. Monkey dey smart na only when tree near tree -- meaning people seems to be smarter than you when they know your secrets or when they're close to you.

3. Any body wey dey ready for wrestling should also be ready to be falled by his opponent- meaning if your are ready for anything also be ready for the outcome.

4. Person wey kari bag no no wetin dey the other person bag -- meaning if you are confident of yourself your opponent is also confident of himself.

5. Lizard know dey talk no mean say in no no wetin to do -- meaning don't take people's silence for cowardice

6. No be who call police dey win case-- meaning sometimes we claim we're right when we're wrong in the sight of the law.

7. No body be Chike Obi--- meaning no one knows it all

8. Fly wey stubborn dey folo dead body enter grave --- not listening to advice can make one do lots of mistakes.

9. People wey dey dance surugede should know that surugede is the dance of the spirits--- meaning if you're taking critical decisions also be ready for the outcome.

[Mpamaegbu]

Old woman nor dey old for dance wey she sabi dance.
Meaning: No one forgets what they're skillful at doing.

[GiftedMAN]

Old woman nor dey old for dance wey she sabi dance.
Meaning: No one forgets what they're skillful at doing.

Deep word of wisdom from our own elder chief MPA. Baba I agree with you because even in old age my late granny been still dey dance waist dance especially when I dash her shine shine money and when she dey dance you seif go contact because she be correct dancer. Make I still relate dis proverb to mysel, I know sure say as I be baller now I go fit forgot how to ball when I become of age that one don become part of me I no fit forget am.

[sokani]

E don tay wey I post for this thread and I like how our boss Mpamaegbu and others dey try keep the thread active with words of wisdom. When I see some pidgin proverbs e dey funny me die and at the same time e dey make a lot of sense. So like this, I want drop this one make I see who go get the meaning of the proverb in English language. The proverb get biblical origin.

Proverb: E no far, e no far... Na wetin Moses been tell the children of Israel, play play dem com spend forty years for wilderness.

[Usasauki2004]

E no possible for a water to pass through forest wey e no go bring trees down.

Meaning: for total cleansing of land, be rest assured even if your flesh are involved they will be cleansed too.

[Okwara]

Proverb: “Nobody dey go native doctor to find out why he or she dey do well for life”

Meaning(1): It's only problem that makes you to look for a solution.

Meaning (2): When there's no problem, there won't be any need to look for solution

[Mpamaegbu]

Make fish sweet for you for soup.
Meaning: May glad tidings stream your path

[GiftedMAN]

Make fish sweet for you for soup.
Meaning: May glad tidings stream your path

Amen. I believe say this particular proverb wey you give na pure prayer because the blessing wey e carry too plenty. My prayer for you be say make you no see shame and make your family no lack anything good wey go keep the family shinning now and forever.


Proverb: Dem say pikin wey knife never cut dey always see knife like stick

Meaning:  Until you witness the consequences of evil you may not stop doing it.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Proverb:- Na only one time corn dey bear fruit and e go die, bcos e no get root for ground.

Meaning:- You can never get to the top and stay prosperous without a solid foundation.

[Mpamaegbu]

Make the eagle perch, make the kite also see where to perch. The wan wey talk sey make d orda nor perch, make im wings fall off .
Meaning: We should let everyone be on their own term without attempting to intimidate them for peace's sakes. Otherwise, let the consequences of hatred be meted on the aggressor.

Na late China Achebe bin popularize dis proverb for one of im novels and d yarn make sense well well in owa society today.