Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: proverbs

  • Quote on Perspectives

    We need to realize how big but little everything is, how deep and shallow arguments can go, and that perspectives matter. We might be wrong or right, but we should give people grace. ~ Oke Iroegbu

  • Ojibwe Proverb: On Resilience and Gratitude

    May you be strengthened by yesterday’s rain, walk straight in tomorrow’s wind and cherish each moment of the sun today– Ojibwe Proverb

  • Muse: Albuquerque

    Celebrating uniqueness is a valuable treasure; it creates a unique refuge in one’s soul for peace and self-discovery. Now, let’s take part in a fun word challenge. Think of a term or expression and replace the emphasized words in the sentence below with their closest synonyms and then with their antonyms. Afterward, reread it. Nothing…

  • Quote: Kings and Kingmakers

    When you become a King or Queen, do not forget those who helped you to the crown — Oke Iroegbu

  • Proverbs

    What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in? Proverbs are sources of wisdom. They are the oil with which the Igbo eat their words. In this post, I wrote in Igbo, translated into English, and then gave its meaning. Sometime ago, I did a blog post on proverbs used…

  • Quote: Never Give Up

    Every great oak was once a nut that held its ground – Unknown

  • One People

    Many colours, one people

  • Like Vs Love

    When you like a flower you pluck it, but when you love a flower, you water it – Japanese quote

  • African Proverb: On Ignorance

    It is out of ignorance that a goat will attend a leopard’s party Meaning: It is no tragedy or shame to be ignorant. As someone has rightly said, “everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects.” We often make the mistake that because someone is very knowledgeable in one area, they are also knowledgeable in other…

  • Quotes on Perseverance

    A Japanese proverb says “fall seven times, stand up eight.” Vince Lombardi said, “There’s only one way to succeed. In anything, and that is to give it everything.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.” ALWAYS REMEMBER…

  • African Proverb: However black a cow is…

    However black a cow is, the milk is always white – Gambian Proverb Background Traditionally, Gambia is an agrarian society. The country which falls in a fertile valley keeps a lot of farm animals, cattle being the predominant livestock. Senegal borders the state, from the north down to the south. Senegambia, a short-lived confederation was…

  • Igbo Proverb: Sound of The Bitter Cola

    Igbo: Ùda akùilu abùghí ùtō ya English: Bitter Cola doesn’t taste like its sound (literally). Background: Just like the name, bitter cola is a very bitter fruit! Sometimes I do wonder why it’s not called a ‘very bitter cola.’ Alongside the kola nut and garden egg, it is commonly used as a ‘welcome fruit’ in…

  • Quotes on Unity

    When spiders unite they can tie down a lion – Ethiopian Proverb. None of us is as smart as all of us – Ken Blanchard.

  • Quote: Compassion & Confidence

  • Humility Vs Pride

    Humility and pride are two brothers that see the world from different perspectives. In this blog post, I’ll compare them to see how they differ. Humility apologizes first even when he is not wrong but pride is the longest distance between two people. Pride is concerned with who is right, humility is concerned with what…

  • Quotes on Kindness

    ‘Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.’ St Augustine. ‘If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.’ Arabian Proverb. ‘To fold the hands in prayer is well, to open them in charity is…

  • Self Reflection 31: Faith 2

    To believe a thing impossible is to make it so. French Proverb. Indeed, the positive thinker of faith in God, sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible. Start a stunning WordPress blog here.

  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Published in 1958, its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans during the late nineteenth century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, one of the first to receive global…

  • African Proverbs 15

    A tree is straightened while it is still young. Proverb from Burundi

  • African Proverbs 14

    Consider this proverb from Ethiopia; The mouse is silent while laboring, but when the baby is conceived, she cries.

  • African Proverbs 13

    The moon and the stars are not above us, the Earth is on the other side of our feet. -Moroccan proverb

  • African Proverbs 12

    Here’s from Bahumba people of Congo: To engage in conflict, one does not bring a knife that cuts but a needle that sews.

  • African Proverbs 11

    This is a Bambara proverb: No matter how long a log stays in the water, it doesn’t become a crocodile.

  • African Proverbs 10

    Here is an interesting Akan tribe (Ghana) proverb: a rat says, what belongs to me, is in my stomach and not in my mouth. Explanation: True ownership of something needs no advertising.

  • African Proverbs 9

    We should put out fire while it is still small… Kenyan proverb. There’s an Igbo version for this proverb: Remove the Monkeys hand from soup pot before it turns to a man’s hand. Explanation: This proverb is the English version of nip it in the bud.

  • African Proverbs 8

    What do you make of this Ovambo saying? A Parasite can not live alone.

  • African Proverbs 6

    Every Dog is a Lion in his own gate. -Ghanaian Proverb Explanation: This metaphorical statement translates to every man is King in his own house.

  • African Proverbs 5

    He who shows himself at every place will someday look for a place to hide. Explanation: Anyone who is always available to everyone will find it hard to keep a private life.

  • African Proverbs 3

    Consider this proverb for the day: What has horns must not be hid in a sack. – Zulu (South African) Proverb Explanation: Something’s are not meant to said or done in the public. This is an African version of the English saying “Don’t wash dirty linen outside”.

  • African Proverbs 2

    Here’s a Guinean Proverb: Knowledge of leadership is not plucked from the air, one is born with it. Explanation: Selflessness, honesty, compassion and every other qualities of Leadership are groomed from good home training, personal decisions to live upright and treat others right.

  • Tradition: Breaking the Igbo Kola nut 2 (Iwa oji Igbo)

    Onye wetara oji, wetara ndu. Ndi be anyi ekelem unu oo. God, our tryst maker! Chinekem ke b’nigwe! One that holds the Earth with bare hands And causes the winds to soar where You wills My God, we have gathered once again to celebrate To enjoy the life which you have blessed us with! Nna…