Ghanaian Proverbs
Here are some of the very best of Ghanaian proverbs.
1. Asɛm sɛ bɛ. literally (Problems deserve proverbs)
This is considered the greatest proverb. Don't say a proverb, unless it is absolutely necessary. Proverbs must be apt to the situation.
2. Apɛtuprɛ se ɛnyɛ ne su nyinaa na ɛyɛ nisuo. ɛbi yɛ sereɛ. literally (The bird "Apɛtuprɛ" says not all her tears are tears of sorrow. some are tears of joy)
Every cloud has a silver lining. Amidst misfortune, or problems, there are often happy times. It also means that when people complain, they often hide the benefits they gained.
3. It is the stubborn goat that gets the best fodder.
People who complain, get their problems solved.
4. Nyansapɔ wɔsane no badwemma. literally (Wise knots are loosened by wise men)
The symbol conveys the idea that a wise person has the capacity to choose the best means to attain a goal
5. Ɔkusie nya fufuo a anka ɔbɛdi nanso wɛdro na ankɔ ne buo mu. literally (Rat wants to eat fufu, but the mortar is too big for a rat hole)
Rat pretends not to like fufu, but the truth is that rat loves fufu, but he cannot pound fufu in his rat hole. People often say some good things are bad, not because they are bad, but only because they do not have the means to acquire those very things.
6. Yɛn kɔte ahahan, nɛnso ahahan no wɔ wura mu. literally (We are looking for some herbs, but the herbs are found deep in the forest)
Solutions to problems are rarely found at home. Solutions to problems come through hard work, or by traveling to distant lands.
7. Yareba wɔtɔn. literally (Diseases are advertised)
When you have a problem, tell as many people as you can, until you come by a solution
8. Abaa a yɛ de bɔ Takyi no, enoaa na yɛ de bɔ Baah. literally (The cane that was used to beat Takyi is the same cane that was used to beat Baah )
People often treat others the same way, so don't think you will be given preferential treatment.
9. Sankofa yɛn kyi. literally (Bringing back, isn't hated)
When you forget to perform a task, it is not a crime to perform it now. It is not a crime to resort to old, tried, and tested solutions.
10. Nsɛm keka yɛ musuo. literally (Many words are blasphemous)
Gossiping or saying terrible things about other people can be destructive.
11. Sɛ wode wonsa baako kyerɛ obi a, na mmiɛnsa kyerɛ woaa wo so. literally (When you point one finger at someone, three fingers of the same hand point towards yourself)
Whenever you say terrible things about someone, you end up harming yourself three times.
12. Aboa a oni dua no, Nana Nyame na ɔpra ne to. literally (An animal without a tail, gets his buttocks cleaned of insects for him by the Almighty God)
Providence smiles on the needy. God helps people in need, especially when all who can help him desert him.
13. Nnipa ti nyɛ brɔfrɛ, na wo apae mu a kaen aba a ɛwɔ mu. literally (The human head is not like a pawpaw fruit that can be opened so that the seeds can be counted)
There is no art to find the minds construction in the face. It is impossible to know the intentions of a human being simply by looking at his face.
14. Nea ɔhwehwɛ yɛ ɛnya. Nea onyaa yɛ nso anhu so hwɛ. literally (The one who wanted it didn't find it, but the one who had it couldn't take care of it.)
You never really know what something is worth until you lose it.
15. Nnamfo sɛm nti na aboa kɔtɔ ni ti. literally (It is because of friends that the animal crab lost its head)
Beware of friends. Friends can lead to one's downfall.
16. Se antie ɛne ɔwam atikɔ pɔ. literally (Refusal to heed to advice led to the ugly protrusion on the head of the animal "owam")
People who don't heed to advise end up in trouble.
17. Sɛ wani te bebree a, wo hyia apɔnkye a, wo kyea no "Maakye". literally (When a cunning man meets a goat, he greets the goat "Good Morning")
Cheating is not good. Cheats end up betraying themselves.
18. Sɛ wo bo fu anadwo a, twɛn mma adeɛ nkye. literally (When you get angry at night, wait until morning)
We must always exercise patience, especially when we get angry.
19. To wo abodoo no ɛngu nsuo no ani, na daakye bi wonsa bɛ ka. literally (Throw your food into the river; you will get it back one day)
There is blessing in giving. Be generous.
20. Twene ani da hɔ a, yɛn bɔ nkyɛn. literally (When a drum is fully exposed, we don't beat the sides)
One must be direct, and avoid going about in circles.
21. Sɛ akokɔ sa kyerɛ akroma a, ɛnyɛ no fɛ. literally (When a hen dances in front of a hawk, the hawk doesn't find it amusing)
When a person hates you, no matter what you do, he/she won't appreciate it.
22. Sɛ apopɔkyikyi firi nsuo ase bɛ ka kyerɛ wo sɛ ɔdɛnkyɛm awu, yɛn gye no akyinye. literally (If the fish (apopɔkyikyi ) comes to tell you that crocodile is dead, don't doubt him)
When someone who is closer to another person, because he lived with him in a place you never visited, comes to tell you anything about that person, or that land, do not doubt it, or argue with him, because you have never been there.
23. Prayɛ wo hɔ yi, sɛ wo yi baako a ebu, nɛnso sɛ wo ka bɔ mu a embu. literally (With brooms, when you remove one it breaks, but it is impossible to break the whole broom)
Unity is strength. There is strength in numbers.
24. Sɛ wo hu sɛ mrɛkɛnso asi ni tiri ase a, na ɛwɔ nea asaase aka kyerɛ no. literally (If you see the bud or palm fronds bending towards the ground, then it means the soil must have said something to it)
When you see someone doing something other than what he usually does, then something is at stake.
25. Nea otwa asa no, enim sɛ asa no akyea. literally (The person ahead trying to create a footpath does not know that the footpath is bending)
A leader cannot tell whether his policies or laws are working or not. It is the followers who can.
26. Opanyin na obi nyɛ bi da, akwadaa deɛ obiaa ayɛ bi pɛn. literally (Not every one has ever been an elderly man, but everyone has ever been a child)
We must always listen to the council of our elders, because they have the experience.
27. Pɔɔl amba ntɛm, nɛnso ɔkyɛn adikanfoɔ no. literally (Paul didn't come early, but he was better than the pioneers)
Young people can sometimes be better than people who are much much older.
28. Brɔfrɛ a ɛyɛ dɛ na abaa da aseɛ. literally (It is only a sweet pawpaw tree that has a stick lying below it)
People are attracted to good things.
29. Adepa na ɛtɔn ne ho. literally (A good thing sells itself)
Every good thing draws people to itself without anyone's help.
30. Sɛ akwadaa hunu ne nsa hohoro a, ɔne mpaninfoɔ didi. literally (A child who has learnt to wash his/her hands well can eat with the elders)
Well trained children and young adults go to greater heights. Well trained children, easily intermingle with adults.
31. Ɔketrɛ ɛnwo anomaa. literally (A lizard does not give birth to bird)
A bad mother or father will pass on his or her bad character to his or her children.
32. Ewiase a yɛ wɔ yi, ɛnyɛ obi biribi ne obi. literally (In this world people don't care about just anyone)
Generally, people tend to care about people who have helped them in some way.
33. Sɛ kwaterekwa se ɔbɛkyɛ wo ntoma, tie ne din. literally (If a man called "Naked" tells you that he will dash you a cloth, pay attention to his name)
A man cannot give you what he doesn't have. A man cannot dash you what he lacks, or hasn't been able to achieve.
34. Nea ɔfro dua pa na yɛ piaa no. literally (It is the person who is climbing a good tree that we push up)
A person showing early signs of success receives help from the public. Heaven helps those who help themselves.
35. Dua a Ananse adi na aba ama akum no no, Ntekuma ɛnkɔ tɔ nko wɔ ase. literally (You would not find Ntekuma, Ananse's wisest son, dozing below a tree whose fruit killed his father Ananse)
Wise children learn from the mistakes of their parents. Society must learn from mistakes made.
36. Sɛ wo hunu sɛ abrewa dada ne akɔkora dada ɛkono ntɔkwa wɔ efie dada mu a, na kyerɛ sɛ ɛyɛ asɛm dada. literally (When you see the same old man quarreling with the same old woman, in the same old house, then the issue could only be the same old issue)
There are rarely new issues, so think of the common explanations.
37. Hwimhwim ade kɔ srɔsrɔ. literally (light things rise up and up)
When people don't work for money, they tend to spend it foolishly, because they don't know what it is worth.
38. Esiane ho ɔtro. literally (Accidents are slippery)
One must always be cautious, never careless, or playful, because accidents easily occur. This proverb is usually said when someone is playing with danger.
39. Anomaa ɛntu a, obuada. literally (If a bird doesn't fly, it goes hungry )
If you don't work, you will go hungry.
40. Sɛ wo hunu sɛ obi abɔdwe ɛhye a, na w'asa nsuo agu wo deɛ nkyɛn. Literally (When you see someone's chin burning, fetch water and place it by yours)
We must learn from the experiences of other people.
41. ɔba nyasanfoɔ, yɛ bu no bɛ, yɛn ka no asɛm. literally (We speak to wise children in proverbs, not literally)
Wise children heed to advice. You don't have to repeat them over and over again.
Advertisement: Boachsoft Landlord is an excellent landlord software. Boachsoft Lowrider is an excellent work order and repair shop management software .
Ghanaian proverbs were collated by: Yaw Boakye-Yiadom
Well done boss
ReplyDelete