This is a post on selected Igbo proverbs. I wrote in the Igbo language, translated into English, and then gave its meaning. I did a blog post on sayings used in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe sometime ago. You can access it here. Have a great day!
1.
Igbo: Nwaanyi mụta ite ofe mmiri mmiri, di ya amụta ipi ụtara aka were suru ofe.
English: If a woman decides to make the soup watery, the husband will learn to dent the foofoo before dipping it into the soup.
Meaning: One should learn to change tactics to suit a situation.
2.
Igbo: Onyeụbịam adị(ghị) aza “Omeọkachie.”
English: An indigent does not take the title of “Omeọkachie” (i.e., one who completes whatever he puts his hand to)
Meaning: Don’t make false claims.
3.
Igbo: Agwọ emeghi nke o jiri bụrụ agwo, ụmụaka achịrị ya hie nkụ.
English: If a snake fails to show its venom, little kids will use it in tying firewood.
Meaning: There are times when one defends one’s capability.
4.
Igbo: Ụkpana okpoko gburu ntị chiri ya.
English: The grasshopper that is killed by a Crow is deaf.
Meaning: Once forewarned of danger, flee except one is deaf.
5.
Igbo: Ọ na-abụ akọta ihe ka ubi, e lee ọba.
English: while farming, if one encounters what is more significant than the farm, one sells the barn.
Meaning: One who incurs what is beyond one’s ability may sell all one has.
6.
Igbo: Okirikiri k’ana gba ukwu ose, anaghị arị ya-elu
English: The pepper shrub is not climbed but circled.
Meaning: When faced with a dicey situation, approach it with caution.
7.
Igbo: Egbe bere, Ugo bere, nke sị ibe ya ebena nku kwaa ya
English: Let the eagle perch, let the kite straddle; if one does not want the other to perch, may his wings break.
Meaning: Live and let live.
8.
Igbo: Ugo chara acha adị(ghị) echu echu
English: A mature eagle feather will ever remain pure.
Meaning: One well trained will stand the test of time.
9.
Igbo: Anaghị eji na agụụ na-agụ noo ụkwara.
Meaning: No one swallows phlegm to appease the pangs of hunger.
10.
Igbo: E gbuo dike n’ọgụ ụlọ, e ruo n’ọgụ agụ e lote ya.
English: Kill a warrior during skirmishes at home, you will remember him when fighting enemies.
Meaning: Don’t destroy your leaders.
11.
Igbo: Aka a na-ana dike bụ itube ya (abụba) ugo.
English: Appropriate handshake for the brave is to cap him with an eagle feather.
Meaning: Noble deeds should be appreciated.
12.
Igbo: Oke soro ngwere ma mmiri, mmiri gụọrọ ngwere agaghị akọ oke.
English: When a rat swims with a lizard, his hairs won’t dry as the lizards.
Don’t do what others are doing; you are not the same.
Meaning: We shouldn’t copy others just for the sake of copying. Every human has a distinct identity.
13.
Igbo: Eze mbe sị na olu ọha dị mma, mana oriri ọha na-aka ahụ.
English: The tortoise said that many hands at work are enjoyable, but many mouths to feed can be embarrassing.
Meaning: It is not easy to feed many mouths.
14.
Igbo: Nkụ onye kpara n’ọkọchị ka ọna anya n’udu mmiri.
English: One’s actions today will determine his position in the future
Meaning: Good or bad; today’s acts may either come back to bless or to haunt.
15.
Igbo: Ngwere nile makpu àfọ n’ala, mana onweghị onye ma nke àfọ n’asa.
English: All the lizards lay on ground, but no one knows the one with a runny stomach.
Meaning: Everybody in this world have one or two problems; it’s only our dressing that covers it.
16.
Igbo: Onye tétárà n’ùra na-atụ mkweke, ọ bụ mmadụ kpọtere yá?
English: Someone who woke up from sleep and still staggers around was he/she forcefully woken by someone else?
Meaning: Don’t be found wanting on his/her statutory obligation.
17.
Igbo: Eze mbe sị na e jighi ehi kwa nne ya di na nsọ, mana a sị ya wete na ya enweghi.
English: The (king) tortoise said it is an abomination not to conduct his mother’s funeral with a cow, but if asked to produce one, he couldn’t afford it.
Meaning: Emphasizing the importance of the necessity of an object even though one cannot afford it.
18.
Igbo: Eze mbe si na nsogbu bụ nke ya, ya jiri kwọrọ ya n’azụ
English: The tortoise said that trouble is its own; that’s why it carries trouble on its back.
Meaning: One should try and shoulder one’s burdens and responsibilities.
19.
Igbo: Ada agwa ochi nti n’agha esula.
English: You don’t tell the deaf that war has broken out.
Meaning: Some things need not be announced. Their occurrence stands as enough announcement.
20.
Igbo: Ụkwa rue oge ya, ọ daa.
English: There’s time for everything.
Meaning: Things should be done when the time is right for them.
21.
Igbo: Udele na egbe anaghị azo nri: udele na-eri ozu; egbe na-ebu na nkike.
English: The vulture and the kite do not scramble for food: the vulture is a scavenger; the kite, a predator.
Meaning: Don’t demean yourself by competing below your level.
22.
Igbo: Sị kele onye ntị chiri; elu anụghị, ala anu.
English: Salute the deaf; if the heavens don’t hear, the earth will listen to.
Meaning: Let’s endeavor to do right even if no one is watching.
23.
Igbo: Oboloko abụghị aha ejiri lụta nwanyị, kama ọ́bụ aha ọnwụ di guru ya.
English: Widow is not a woman’s maiden name, but it is due to her husband’s death.
Meaning: Nobody likes suffering, but it is always a dire circumstance that leads to it.
24.
Igbo: Onye tétárà n’ụra na-atụ make, ọ bụ mmadụ kpọtere yá?
English: Someone who woke up from sleep and still staggers around was he/she forcefully woken by someone else?
Meaning: Don’t be found wanting on his/her statutory obligation.
