Kikesa kia makesa nkuma za lusânga utûnganga kio.
It is the experience transferred by public forums that builds the (community) military courage.
Wölöf
Bala nga xam luw taat di jariñ, mbate toog jote.
You only learn the value of your butt when it is time to sit down.
On ne connaît l'utilité des fesses qu'au moment de s'asseoir.
Gikuyu
Andu matari ndundu mahuragwo na njuguma imwe
People who have not secret agreement are beaten by a single club.
A group of men not bound by a secret will be easily beaten by a single man
Lack of union spells weakness
Gikuyu
Ageni eri matiri utugire
Two guests (at the same time) have no welcome.
Bapedi Proverb
GOYA MORAGO GASE GO TSHABA FELA GOYO TSEA MATLA A MASWA
This means that to make backward steps does not mean that we are running away but only to go fuel our strength and power.
Gikuyu
Agikuyu moi kuhitha ndia, matiui kuhitha uhoro
The Kikuyu know how to conceal their quiver, but do not know how to conceal their secrets.
The Kikuyu, though very clever in concealing their arms, cannot keep secrets from the members of their tribe.
Gikuyu
Gukira kuri ngatho
To keep one's tongue is worthy of praise
Silence is golden.
Kuria
Hano wangere iyomokoro oregeenda bwire.
Swahili
Kama ukikataa la mkuu utatembea mpaka machweo.
If you refuse the advice of an elder you will walk until sunset.
Swahili
Baada ya dhiki, faraja.
No matter how hard it may get, a way out or eventual comfort will be provided. (Literal English)
After hardship comes relief. (Figurative English)
Swahili
Maji ya moto hayachomi nyumba.
Hot water does not burn down the house.
Gusii
Modera i'se mono tanakomora mwando.
Swahili
Anayejiweka mstari wa mbele kumuhudumia babake hukosa urithi.
The person who tends to ingratiate himself to his father without involving others never inherits the father's property.
Haya
Amaisho gomukuru gakila orumuli kumulika.
Swahili
Fumbo mfubie mjinga mwerevu huling'amua.
The eyes of the wise person see through you.
Dagbani
Naawuni yi kabigi a gbali, o ni wuhi a ni yen kpahi shem.
If The Creator breaks your leg, He/She will teach you how to limp.
Toposa
Kitacakari nyakook ewonit ngibaren.
An empty stomach can make a person lose his or her cattle; that is, when the stomach is empty the legs become weak and you can't run after your animals.
Ga (Ghana)
Anyeminu ni le kusum le, ledzi moni ke onukpai yeo nii.
The brother or sister who does not respect the traditions of the elders will not be allowed to eat with the elders.
Swahili (Kenya)
Akili ni mali.
Knowledge is power.
Mafa (Cameroon)
Kud mbelawa a hada a hwad
The tears of the orphan run inside.
Soga and Ganda (Uganda)
Amaadhi amasabe tigamala ndigho.
Water that has been begged for does not quench the thirst.
Fipa (Tanzania)
Ichifulala uka si chitisi kulemesha inzuusi.
One who bathes willingly with cold water doesn't feel the cold.
Sheng (Kenya)
Akili ni ndonge.
Use of brains begets wealth.
Yorùbá
Bí iró[ch61481] bá sáré fún ogún [ch7885]dún, [ch7885]jó[ch61481] kan ni òótó[ch61481] máa bá a
If lies run for twenty years, in one day, truth will catch it.
Akan
[ch390]torofo de mfe apem tu kwan a, [ch596]nokwafo de da koro tiw no to no.
Whereas the liar takes one thounited snakesnd years to go on a journey, the one who speaks the truth follows and overtakes the liar in a day.
¿ni t'á fê sun j÷ têlë kò gbædö fepo para kí ó jókòó l'êbàá iná.
"A person who they wanted to roast and eat anyway had better not rub palm oil on and go sit by the fire."
Obi tan wo a, ma [ch596]nya wo atany[ch949].
If someone hates you, at least give them a reason to.
Nea [ch596]da anyan mu nsere nea [ch596]da ogya mu.
The one in the woodpile does not laugh at the one in the fire.
Igbo proverb
"When brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father's estate."
Akan
Obi ba b[ch949]y[ch949] wo ya a, [ch949]nte s[ch949] wo yafunu mma.
If someone's child hurts you, it's never as painful as if it is the child of your own womb.
KiSwahili
Mjinga akierevuka mwerevu yupo mashakani.
When a fool becomes enlightened, the wise man is in trouble.
Akan
Wo nsa akyiri b[ch949]y[ch949] wo d[ch949] a, [ch949]nte s[ch949] wo nsayam.
Even if the back of your hand is sweet to you, it's never like the palm of your hand.
KiKôngo
Ma ku Mbôngi, ka matômbulawanga za ko.
The Community's political institution does not borrow foreign dialects to discuss its political matters or to educate its members.
Akan
Kosua se: mete s[ch949] tumi, wos[ch596] me mu yie a, memm[ch596], woans[ch596] me mu yie a, m[ch949]b[ch596] fam.
The egg says: I am like power, if you hold me too tightly i should break, if you don't hold me tightly enough, i'll fall on the ground.
Haunited snakes proverbs
Kafin rijiya bai ji dadi ba
The fish of the well is not happy.
Tsattsagar hakori ta kan kawo jini
Cutting teeth brings blood.
In kida ya sake rawa sai ta sake
If the music changes so does the dance.
Akan
Y[ch949]soma 'banyansafo[ch596], na [ch949]ny[ch949] anamm[ch596]n-tenten.
We send the wise child on an errand, not the child with long feet.
KiSwahili
Kila ndege huruka na mbawa zake.
Every bird flies with its own wings.
KiSwahili
Kamba hukatika pabovu.
A rope parts where it is thinnest.
Bamana/Bambara
Ji be do ko la, dooni, dooni.
Water flows down the river, slowly, slowly.
Bamana/Bambara
Sa kogolen be dogo.
The hidden serpent grows large.
Ngoni
Nihumili kutali, lunikomi lugendu.
KiSwahili
Nimetoka mbali, safari imenichosha.
I have come a long way; the journey has exhausted me.
Tugen
Takipar bich che meloljinge ma.
How easy it is to defeat people who do not kindle fire for themselves.
KiSwahili
Heri pazia kuliko bendera.
Better a curtain hanging motionless than a flag blowing in the wind.
Buli
Pein dan kan jo ya, di voorika an tua.
If an arrow has not entered deeply, then its removal is not hard.
Twi (Akuapem)
Kotoku tew a, na mmati adwo.
When the bag tears, the shoulders get a rest.
KiSwahili
Ijambo rigukunze riguma mu nda.
Translation: The word that loves you stays in the belly.
Meaning: Bad words should not be spoken.
Ewe
Ne tekpoðoe mekpÇ eðokui fe geme o la meðoa ñku o
Literal Translation: 'Tekpoðoe, which is a small roundish yam, always assesses its sprouting ability before it does so'.
Moral Teaching: Know what you can do well and do just that and do not attempt what is beyond your powers.
Ewe
Devi ðÇ ame tsitsi kuku efe ta ðe wòbuna ðe eme.
Literal Translation: 'The head of a child who wears an adult's hat is always all covered up to his face'.
The truth of this experience is used to teach children not to attempt what is beyond their powers.
Ewe
Asi tu nyede metua agÇðÇ o.
Literal Translation: 'The hand can be used to pull out the tender branch of a date-palm, but cannot be used to pull out the tender branch of a fanpalm'. The branches of a fanpalm are tougher and rougher than those of the datepalm.
Moral Teaching: Do not presume that because you can do certain things therefore you can do everything. Be modest in the estimation of your powers.
Ewe
Agbe nyañe (ðÇe) metia agbetÇ o.
Literal Translation: 'The man with a miserable life is never tired of it'.
Moral Teaching: Appreciate what you have by knowing its real value and do not undervalue it through unhealthy comparison.
Ewe
Lã si le arnegbÇ lã lolo woyÇna net
Literal Translation: 'The game that you miss, i.e. runs away from a hunter, is always a big one'.
Moral Teaching: There is always a tendency to over-value things that we want but we do not have, and so this proverb is warning against the danger of over-valuing the real worth of what we want badly but cannot get. We must rather learn to appreciate whatever we have.
Ewe Proverbs
Fu kple dzidzÇ la nÇviwo wonye.
Literal Translation: 'Suffering and happiness are twins'.
Moral Teaching: Life is a mixture of joy and suffering and so we must learn to accept both, and the acceptance of both is a sign of maturity.
Agalã be ne yele axa dzi zÇm hã menye mÇ yebu o.
Literal Translation: 'The crab says that when you see it walking clumsily it does not mean that it has lost its way'.
Moral Teaching: This proverb can be used by anybody whose actions are misunderstood, to warn those who judge him that he has not forgotten the essential principles that guide his behaviour. The proverb warns against the practice of misjudging the basic principles that guide the behaviour of people.
KÇdzo Dei be yele Blu fiam gakeyeþe ñku le Ewegbe ñu.
Literal Translation: 'Kodzo Dei—the Paramount Chief of Peki—says that he is speaking Twi but he has not forgotten that Ewe is his mother tongue'.
Moral Teaching: As in proverb above.
Baþa medoa kalê ha ða o.
Literal Translation: 'A cripple does not start a war song'.
Explanation: Usually when war songs are sung they arouse a fighting spirit in men or arouse them to do some daring deeds; thus the leader of the song must be strong enough to take part in any war-like activity that may follow the singing. A cripple can lead a war song but cannot take part in the war-like activities that mav follow from it and this will expose his infirmity.
Moral Teaching: 'A Cripple starting a war song means a person who claims certain qualities that he does not have and such people's empty claims are exposed in due time. This proverb is, therefore, a warning against empty boasting and recommending the virtue of humility.
ÚutÇtrÇ ñue wotrÇa ýeðuðu ðo.
Literal Translation: 'You change your steps according to the change in the rhythm of the drum'.
Explanation: During the course of drumming and dancing the rhythm of the leading drum causes the steps of the dancers to change.
Moral Teaching: Adapt yourself and your conduct to changing circumstances and do not be unreasonably rigid in your thinking and behaviour.
Nandi (Kenya)
You cannot use a wild banana leaf to shield yourself from the rains and then tear it to pieces later when the rains come to an end.
Sukuma
Nalukolekejaga sonda (ng'weli) walola lwala.
KiSwahili
Nilikuonyesha nyota (mwezi) na uliangalia kidole tu.
I pointed out to you the stars (the moon) and all you saw was the tip of my finger.
Haya
Bahana owo gulimu.
KiSwahili
Aonywaye na kufuata ni yule mwenye roho tulivu.
A person who is not disciplined cannot be cautioned.
Reewalal sa jabar ak sab jaam, te yar sa doom.
(translation) You should spoil your wife and your servant, but discipline your child.
(alternate translation) Spare the rod and spoil the child.