As we explore Afrocentricity, we must not forget to acknowledge the Proverbs that our ancestors left behind.
I've read hundreds of proverbs, some funny, many that make me question humanity & often times I even question myself. The words of our ancestors are full of wisdom, reminding those who read them of the importance of family, community, knowledge, strength, & cultural awareness.
I thought you all would appreciate it if I shared some of the proverbs used to encourage & guide us.
Take a look at the proverbs listed below and share them with your children or other young people that you know. It may even be a good idea to create a banner or two to hang up in your home or in your classroom as a reminder of the wisdom passed down through generations.
There are many, many more proverbs that can be found online, Google them, you will definitely enjoy learning more. Let's build a tribe & remember, "Wisdom is wealth!" ~Swahili Proverb
Wisdom:
Wisdom is wealth ~ Swahili Proverb
In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges, and the foolish build dams ~
Nigerian Proverb
If you are filled with pride then you have no room for wisdom ~ African Proverb
A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning ~ Kenyan Proverb
Wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden ~ Akan Proverb
Wisdom is like a Baobab Tree, no one individual can embrace it ~ African Proverb
Learning:
He who learns teaches ~ Ethiopian ProverbLearning expands great souls ~ Namibian Proverb
Instruction in youth is like engraving in a stone ~ Moroccan Proverb
When you learn the path of your father, you learn to walk like him ~ Ashanti Proverb
If you close your eyes to the facts, you will learn through accidents ~ African Proverb
Wealth, if you use it comes to an end; learning if you use it increases ~ Swahili Proverb
What you help a child love can be more important than what you help him to learn ~ African Proverb
By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed ~ Ashanti Proverb
You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla ~ Congolese Proverb
What you learn is what you die with ~ African ProverbEars that do not listen to advice, accompany the head when it is chopped off ~ African Proverb
Advice is like a stranger; if he's welcome he stays for the night....if not, then he leaves the same day ~ Malagasy Proverb
Traveling is learning ~ Kenyan Proverb
Where there are experts there will be no lack of learners ~ Swahili Proverb
Community:
It takes a village to raise a child ~ African ProverbUnity is strength, division is weakness ~ Swahili Proverb
Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable ~ Bondel Proverb
Many hands make light work ~ Haya Proverb
A single bracelet does not jingle ~ Congolese Proverb
A single stick may smoke but it will not burn ~ African Proverb
If you want to go quickly, go alone; if you want to go far, go together ~ African Proverb
Family:
A united family eats from the same plate ~ Baganda Proverb
A family tie is like a tree, it can bend but it cannot break ~ African Proverb
He who earns calamity, eats it with his family ~ African Proverb
When brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father's estate ~ Ibo Proverb
Children are the reward of life ~ African Proverb
(Afritorial)
Life Lessons:
We desire to bequeath two things to our children: The first one is roots, the other one is wings However far a stream flows, it never forgets its origin
Where you sit when you are old shows where you stood in your youth
If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do no harm
If you think you are too small to make a difference, spend a night with a mosquito
An intelligent enemy is better than a stupid friend
Even a lion, the king of the forest, protects himself against flies
Where water is the boss, there the land must obey
However long the night, the dawn will always break
The axe forgets but the tree remembers
Don't set sail on someone else's star
A lie has many variations, the truth has none
Don't look where you fell, look where you slipped
He that beats a drum for the madman to dance is no better than the madman himself (ScoopWhoop)