The use of proverbs in nigerian culture information parlour. Some nigerian proverbs are cultural, and others are general. The wisdom of african proverbs get inspired from 300 african proverbs from all around african continent heres a list of african proverbs from around african the continent. Nigerian proverbs have deep meanings to them, some you may not. Akintunde akinyemi, author of yoruba orature and riddles arts of being yoruba is timely and strategic. Oxford advanced learners dictionary defines proverb as a short wellknown sentences or phrase that states a. The paper shows that to fully understand the functions of yoruba interrogative proverbs. Philosophical issues in yoruba proverbs adegboyega. In every division of yoruba land great importance was attached to a bride.
In a yoruba city you quickly feel like watching a theatrical performance, while people are just negotiating the price of some vegetables or exchanging the latest gossip. Traditional yoruba names and their meanings by nobody. The study shows that yoruba interrogative proverbs have two basic forms. The comparative nature of yoruba proverbs is relied upon in bringing out their potency in contributing to and promoting in good health and hygiene in this 21st century. Doc philosophical significance of yoruba proverbs onifade. Meaning and translation of yoruba proverbs with pronunciations and pictures. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. The yoruba constitute about 44 million people in total. Their written heritage is kept in numerous proverbs. Some warn their children, relatives and people around them with proverbs.
The worlds of the elders do not lock all the doors. This article provides you with yoruba proverbs and their meanings. The grass is always greener is a proverb that teaches us its not good to be jealous to want what other people have. Therefore, below you will find top 30 african proverbs and their. To the yoruba, the primary purpose of marriage is sustaining the yoruba race through legitimate and responsible procreation. When you get to understand the literal translation of yoruba proverbs and the meaning derived, you would see that the yoruba culture is very rich. Problem of meaning and translation in yoruba proverbs in the western conception of philosophy. If you pay attention to what your elders are telling you and follow their advice, you wont have to learn things the hard way through experience. Pdf the nature, form and functions of yoruba proverbs. A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. Pdf the pragmatics of yoruba proverbs in ahmed yerimas.
May 24, 2017 yoruba proverbs are full of expressive, bodily images. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language. You dont jump straight into a situation without thinking about it first. A study of selected yoruba proverbs and proverbial expressions int. The paper is motivated by the ingenuous deployment of yoruba proverbs to facilitate effective communication and interaction in the plays. May 20, 2015 out of the three ethnic groups in nigeria, the yoruba and the igbo ethnic groups are known to be the richest in the use of proverbs. Some examples rituals and rites abound in yoruba traditional religion. This is the collection of yoruba proverbs for yoruba people only.
Proverbs in yoruba land is called esin oro meaning the horse of words. Proverbs play an important part in african cultures all across the continent. Yoruba has over fifteen dialects and standard yoruba is the written form of the language and the standard variety learnt in school. Yoruba proverbs are wise sayings passed through generations to teach historical lessons, highlight good morals, and instil social values. Following oyekan owomoyelas introduction, which provides a framework and description of yoruba cultural beliefs, the proverbs are arranged by theme into five sections. Seeks to propagate yoruba proverbs and increase their usage thereby preserving the yoruba language and the wisdom of the yoruba.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Some yoruba proverbs and idioms should be found on every social media page of nigerians as they shows real wisdom. Communicative role of yoruba names oladipupo abdullahi akinola department of general studies federal polytechnic. This paper examines the pragmatics of yoruba proverbs in ahmed yerimas plays, igatibi, ajagunmale, and mojagbe. Without proverbs the language of the igbo would be but a skeleton without flesh, a body without a soul. African proverbs 300 inspirational proverbs and quotes. Yoruba proverbs handbook download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Iran yoruba are an african ethnic group that inhabits western africa especially nigeria and benin. The majority of this population is from nigeria and benin, where the yoruba make up 16% of the countrys population, making them one of the largest ethnic. Rastapatois dictionary and phrasesproverbs phrasesproverbs. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. It may very well be that proverbs have never attracted from us the notice they deserve. Lest i not derail from the topic being discussed i will be showing you the owe yoruba you should know what this means already and its various meaning in no time.
Request pdf the logic in yoruba proverbs this paper examines the question of logic in african philosophy through a systematic exploration of yoruba proverbs as a useful cultural resource. Yoruba proverbs and their meaning eera ko fe poroporo denu. Owe ile yoruba some lovely yoruba proverbs and their meanings. It could cause a good laugh and give you an insight into how deep the culture is. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. This is, however, not important, because virtually all names, even appellations, can also do this. It has different answers to important questions and wise words. Such statements as the one above who in themselves are considered proverbs affirm the assertion that culturally conscious nigerians especially the yoruba s believe that the heart of nearly all conversational engagements is the use of proverbs. Some proverbs are not even unique to nigeria, they are part of the many funny african proverbs said across the continent. On humility, selfcontrol, selfknowledge, selfrespect, and self. If you read these proverbs thoughtfully, you will surely find all the necessary knowledge you have been looking for long ago. Young people perfectly realize that sayings of our elders are a real understanding.
The nature and meaning of igbo proverbs for the igbo, achebe 1958 avers that proverbs are vegetables for eating speech. Yoruba proverbs is the most comprehensive collection to date of more than five thousand yoruban proverbs that showcase yoruba oral tradition. Yoruba proverbs are as old as the users of the language itself. In fact, proverbs are the vehicle for understanding the depth of the language. The beauty of proverbs is the universality of their meaning, everyone can relate to them in some way and on some level. The baale otherwise known as oloriebi is the head of the family, mostly extended and compound.
It means necessity is mother of invention, creativity is often achieved after overcoming many difficulties. This notwithstanding, answers africa brings you some of the greatest and most famous african proverbs and their meanings. Yoruba proverbs and their meaning foriti foriti lomu ki ori agba pa translation. Owe ile yoruba some lovely yoruba proverbs and their. New idioms and idiomatic expressions, which are modern stock expressions. All of these are part of the yoruba art of being, and thus, are a configuration of culture. Hence, proverb must be analysed in each of its unique social contextsv. Rastapatois dictionary and phrasesproverbs dictionary phrasesproverbs sources rastapatois dictionary compiled by mike pawka 1292 added phrases section 112895 sources moved to the back 011996 last update 414 abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwyz a.
Their meanings include sweetness and happiness in life, longevity of life, accident free life, successes in all ramifications among others. Standard yoruba has its origin in the 1850s, when samuel ajayi crowther, the first african bishop, published a yoruba grammar and started his translation of the bible to yoruba more languages. Here is a collection of proverbs attributed to the zulu of south africa. The paper discusses some of these hidden beauties of yoruba proverbs. Igbo proverbs as embodiments of igboafrican philosophy.
The vast majority of this population is from nigeria, where the yoruba make up 16% of the countrys population, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in africa. Earlier in this article, we mentioned that in most african traditions, it is unacceptable to tell an african proverb and still be the one to explain the meaning. In the earliest times, great importance was attached to virginity. When a kings palace burns down, the rebuilt palace is more beautiful. This is translated to mean that proverb is the vehicle of words, if words get lost. Moja mosa laa mo akinkanju loju ogun discretion is a better part of valour. An essential feature of owe yoruba proverb is that it gives expression to the major method of inquiry on africa philosophy, which includes. Collectively, they form a genre of folklore some proverbs exist in more than one language because people borrow them from languages and cultures similar to theirs. The use of a yoruba proverb by a younger person is prohibited in the presence of an older person, without prior permission to do so. It is in the spirit of african culture that we left some of them uninterpreted to enable you enjoy their richness and wisdom. Proverbs are the core of the culture, they help to guide the normal ways of life and thus form the center of living a healthy life. The understand of yoruba proverbs language of the play. The owe yoruba series is designed to help yorubas worldwide learn the proverbs that have been handed down from one generation.
These poets are tayo olafioye, tunde olusunle and bayo adebowale. Owe yoruba yoruba proverbs, its usages, english meanings and lessons best article so i present to you this interesting topic on yoruba proverbsowe yoruba, indeed the nigerian culture is very much vast and wide with each tribes having its own laws and traditions. Its obvious that its in english but the concept of it is a yoruba proverb, meaning that elesin. The head of an old man is bald because he has taken on so much trouble on his head in his lifetime. Some are known to come from specific african tribes, ethnic groups, or african countries, and others have an unknown source and are listed simply as african proverbs.
In particular, african proverbs are full of wisdom and deep meaning. Nigerian proverbs have deep meanings to them, some you may not understand from the getgo and others you may understand as you age. The absence of writing in precolonial africa has often befuddled indigenous african jurisprudential thoughts about law and related concepts. Oct 31, 2018 nigerian proverbs are funny, but the majority are usually very deep and said in native dialects. A kin fi oju o loju shewo ka jare one does not succeed by handing over his affairs to someone else.
Seeks to propagate yoruba proverbs and increase their usage thereby preserving the yoruba language and the wisdom of the yoruba people for posterity. Proverbs help to dispel the belief that african people are barbaric and uneducated african proverbs offer wisdom and poetry in just one sentence. Proverbs are the horses words ride, when word is lost, proverb is used to detect it. The yoruba great fathers in the past composed these proverbs based on their wisdom, deep thoughts, observations and conditions. Philosophical issues in yoruba proverbs adegboyega oyekunle. Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet. Traditional yoruba names and their meanings culture. He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad manhimself. Apr 29, 2011 yoruba proverbs and their meaning eera ko fe poroporo denu. But yoruba proverbs relating to health matters can do more. Aseju ni irun aya, irun abe tito hairy chest is oversabi, pubic hair is enough. These punchy quotes inspire, illuminate, and humor as they teach.
Proverbs and gender equalities and equities in african. No matter how beautiful and well crafted a coffin might. Our ancestors have always been wise and allknowing people. It means everyone looks the same on the outside but everyone has problems that are invisible to outsiders. This article attempts a reconstruction of indigenous african jurisprudential thoughts on the concept of justice through a prescriptive exploration of yoruba proverbs. A new mode of expression in political arena dayo akanmu school of languages, adeniran ogunsanya college of education, ottoijanikin p. The beauty of african proverbs lies in their mystery. Let us do it, the way it is usually done, so that we may have the usual result. African proverbs, which are oldage adages often referring to the earth, animals, and everyday activities, convey life lessons.
It may seem like everyone around you has greener grass, meaning nicer cars, better jobs, etc. Proverbs are very significant in traditional africa, hence the saying among the yoruba owe lesin oro, oro lesin owe. Where you will sit when you are old shows where you stood in youth. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The first proverb can literarily be understood to mean that the name of a child is the only means of catching the attention of the child when in the midst of multitude. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The eunuch cannot make fun of the person with gonorrhea. By virtue of the exegesis of the nigerian terrain, some of the indigenous yoruba proverbs which have been translated into english in their poems would constitute our data. Its foundation is embedded in the moral wisdom of the yoruba culture and world view. The paper, therefore, urges yoruba language speakers to be conscious of the influence of these postproverbials on the use of the sexrelated yoruba proverbs and their distorted meanings. It is a commendable output, which makes pronouncements that further rekindles hope and sustained interest in african cultural studies. The yoruba expression, e g n gb, meaning literally, e g n the incarnated spirit of the ancestors has appropriated it, is a way of saying, it is lost to people. Watch one of the lowquality nollywood telenovelas on youtube to get an idea of the gesturerich form of language.
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