Nigerian and African elders have long been the guardians of wisdom, preserving knowledge and cultural values through powerful proverbs. Thes...
Nigerian and African elders have long been the guardians of wisdom, preserving knowledge and cultural values through powerful proverbs. These timeless sayings capture essential truths about life, guiding individuals on how to live with integrity, patience, and respect. Rooted in generations of experience, these proverbs serve as moral compasses that continue to influence daily decisions and community interactions.
The depth of these proverbs lies in their ability to communicate complex ideas through simple, memorable phrases. They emphasize important virtues such as perseverance, humility, and cooperation, which are vital for personal growth and social harmony. Elders use these proverbs not only to teach but also to inspire reflection and understanding, ensuring that important life lessons are passed down effectively.
Today, these proverbs remain relevant, offering insight and guidance that transcend time and culture. They remind us that wisdom often comes from listening and learning from the past, and that growth is a continuous journey. By reflecting on the messages conveyed by these elders, individuals gain valuable perspectives that help navigate challenges and build meaningful relationships.
Nigerians and Africans Elders Proverbs
[1]. When an elder is talking and sweating invariably that elder is crying.
[2]. Dig a well before you are thirsty, and plant a seed before you are hungry.
[3]. A problem shared is still your problem.
[4]. Anyone who cuts a big pieces of meat from pepper soup with his eyes wide open is not afraid of anything.
[5]. It is only the person who goes to the river in the night that knows how a bat manages to drink water.
[6]. A bird at hand is more than one thousand birds in the forest.
[7]. No matter the thickness of the forests it cannot prevent snake from entering it.
[8]. No matter how beautiful and handsome you are on earth you are nothing.
[9]. It is better to live in thatch house than to spend your whole life in the boat.
[10]. No matter how tall a man is, he can never see tomorrow.
[11]. If you want to relax under a tree during your old age, plant one during your youthful age.
[12]. There are so many stars in the sky but few sparks light.
[13]. Let the peaceful and patient child enjoy the throne of his father.
[14]. A blind person cannot be a judge in a dancing competition.
[15]. A man who married a beautiful woman is like a farmer who grows crops along the road.
[16]. The fastest way to lose a good friend is by lending him money expecting him to pay back.
[17]. When the fire dies the ashes will remain to bear the testimony.
[18]. Don’t tell a woman to close her laps because you don’t know where she receives air.
[19]. When a snake bites a child if he sees the head of a lizard he will start running.
[20]. No matter how tall you are, you can't be taller than the road.
[21]. There is no smiling face in time of ejaculation.
[22]. If you don’t like noise making while cooking, don't buy food stuff on credit.
[23]. The monkey that wants to see the hunters face will one day receive a bullet in its face.
[24]. A cow does not know the value of its tail until it is cut off.
[25]. Responsible people respond to responsibility.
[26]. He who wants the rain should not be afraid of thunders.
[27]. A roundabout movement of two lizards cannot be comprehended by human imagination.
[28]. A fisherman without a boat is like a man wanting to have children without marriage.
[29]. He who failed to plan, has already planned to fail.
[30]. We need elders even if not for anything but for the sake of tradition.
[31]. The excreta smell much when it is dropped in another person's door step.
[32]. When a hand shake goes beyond the elbow it becomes another thing.
[33]. No matter how far a stone travelled the ground is still his destination.
[34]. To attract attractive people, you must be attractive.
[35]. Great houses are not built with cheap materials.
[36]. He who knows not the law of life would always walk astray.
[37]. There is no connection between vulture and salon.
[38]. Snake says for it to avoid commuting an offence it gets to remove it hands and legs.
[39]. Delay is what makes the hen not to fly like other birds.
[40]. For something to happen in life, something must happen for it to happen.
[41]. Don't take risk, on what you cannot handle. The you, in you, makes you, the you, you are.
[42]. When others are trying to bring you down, it means that you are above them.
[43]. Design your life or someone else will use you to design his own.
[44]. If the wise can't recognize the footstep of the wicked on a dry sand, how much more the foolish.
[45]. It is only the wise that count their teeth twice before reacting to anger.
[46]. Wisdom is like a bag every person carries its own.
[47]. The person you love so much will always be the one to hurt you the most.
[48]. It is ignorance that makes rat invite cat for a fight.
[49]. A man without a savings is a naked man.
[50]. A butterfly thinking himself as a bird.
[51]. When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.
[52]. Rain does not fall on one roof alone.
[53]. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
[54]. No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.
[55]. A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.
[56]. The axe forgets, but the tree remembers.
[57]. One does not become a king without killing a king.
[58]. When the lion walks, the hunter hides.
[59]. The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.
[60]. Even the best cooking pot will not produce food.
[61]. A river does not flow backwards.
[62]. Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it alone.
[63]. Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.
[64]. He who learns, teaches.
[65]. The child who is not taught by its mother will be taught by the world.
[66]. A bird will always use another bird’s feathers to feather its own nest.
[67]. The fool speaks, the wise man listens.
[68]. A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.
[69]. The river that forgets its source will dry up.
[70]. If you close your eyes to facts, you will learn through accidents.
[71]. A good name is better than riches.
[72]. No matter how tall a tree grows, it must bow to the wind.
[73]. When the cock crows at the break of dawn, the hen lifts her head and says, “My time has come.”
[74]. You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla.
[75]. Even the best dancer on the stage must retire sometime.
[76]. A tree cannot stand without its roots.
[77]. He who is destined for power does not have to fight for it.
[78]. The crab does not give birth to a bird.
[79]. A man who runs after two hares will catch neither.
[80]. He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself.
[81]. The fool who knows he is a fool is wise at least to that extent.
[82]. Your name will be forgotten if your deeds are not remembered.
[83]. A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning.
[84]. It takes a whole village to raise a child.
[85]. Leaders who do not listen will soon find themselves alone.
[86]. A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.
[87]. When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
[88]. One does not tie a dog by the neck twice for the same offense.
[89]. A house built on the foundation of lies will soon collapse.
[90]. The child that is not trained well will be a trouble to the family.
[91]. Patience can cook a stone.
[92]. The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.
[93]. When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
[94]. The heart of the wise man lies quiet like limpid water.
[95]. A man who uses his mouth to speak but not his ears to listen invites trouble.
[96]. You cannot climb a tree with one hand.
[97]. The strength of the crocodile lies in the water.
[98]. When a king has good counselors, his reign is peaceful.
[99]. Wisdom does not come overnight.
[100]. The moon moves slowly but it crosses the town.
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