As excerpted from the list of Yoruba proverbs researched, translated and submitted by students of my foreign language class in their first homework assignments back in August.
- A small kola nut is superior to a large stone.
- Snuff that is not pleasant, the mouth cannot sell.
- ‘Mine is not urgent’ always prevents the son of a blacksmith from owning a sword.
- The soup does not move around in the elders’ belly.
- The pig’s nose enters the yard little by little.
Blog Question: Can you tell what the original Yoruba version of these proverbs are, and what they mean in simple, non-proverbial 21st century English?
(Picture source: the cover of a greeting card I received during my birthday last September)
1
Yemi Adesanya at http://YourWebsite
Lemme try.
5. Yoruba: Kere kere, imu elede n wo ogba. Current day English: One thing leads to another.
4. Obe kii mi n’ikun aga. Current day English: Keep your cards to your chest.
3. Not sure of the Yoruba proverb. Current day English: The nearest man to church is the enemy of God.
2. I’ll pass on this one
1. Not sure of the Yoruba proverb. Current day English: Make love, not war.
Posted at October 21, 2009 on 4:15am.
2
Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
5. Correct. – 1 point
4. Correct – 1 point
3. Correct – half point
2. Wrong
1. Correct – half point.
Total= 3 points.
You tried, indeed!
Posted at October 21, 2009 on 8:19pm.