Discover the most popular African proverbs that share timeless wisdom and valuable life lessons passed down through generations.
Many of the most popular African proverbs emphasize values such as patience, perseverance, community, and respect. They remind us that wisdom often comes from experience and that understanding others is key to harmony and success. Whether shared around a family fire or in formal gatherings, these proverbs carry the voice of ancestors, offering guidance for making thoughtful decisions and living with integrity.
By reflecting on these proverbs, we can gain insight into not only African traditions but also universal truths that resonate across cultures. Their lessons encourage us to approach challenges with courage, embrace cooperation, and appreciate the richness of life’s journey. Exploring the most popular African proverbs allows us to connect with a profound heritage of knowledge and apply these teachings to our own lives.
Top Famous African Proverbs
[1]. War is just like a pregnant woman you hardly predict the outcome.
[2]. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.
[3]. When a tortoise began to its journey, it doesn't ask for any direction because of its enemy.
[4]. The sound of the bitter cola does not portray its taste.
[5]. The penis that is uncultured will always put the fortune of a great man in jeopardy.
[6]. No matter how careful you might seem to be in life, you can't escape the seat of mistakes.
[7]. No matter how the condition of the forest is, the lion will never eat grass.
[9]. When you marry for the wrong reason you get the wrong reason.
[10]. It is only a child that washes his or her hands clean that would eat and drink with the elders.
[11]. A goat that walks into the lion den will not live to tell what transpired.
[12]. The foolishness of God is greater than the wideness of a man
[13]. No amounts of clothes a child have, he can never have as much rags as an adult.
[14]. In the country of blind men one eyed man is a King.
[15]. When a tiger is crippled a lizard can pay him a visit.
[16]. The place you were today is the choice u made yesterday.
[17]. Termites do not build its home on the surface of water.
[18]. Big head with empty brain is overload.
[19]. Work in silence let your success make the noise.
[20]. Never tell your ex, that he or she is not good for marriage, if you do, you might just announce your obituary.
[21]. The legs that are always going about are always seen by the eyes that always move about.
[22]. All the talk you hear in the market is all about less the price and adds the price.
[23]. He who urinates in the river either the people from his paternal home or people from his maternal home will drank from the same river.
[24]. Gentility without morality is stupidity.
[25]. The road to success is never crowded when it comes to an extra mile.
[26]. An empty drum makes the greatest noise.
[27]. When you play with your morning afternoon will tell which result you would get in the evening.
[28]. Frequent visitation brings negligence.
[29]. The wriggle face of a tortoise does not mean an old age.
[30]. Show me your friend and I will let you know who you are.
[31]. A man who uses his mouth to speak but not his ears to listen invites trouble.
[32]. Patience can cook a stone.
[33]. When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
[34]. The moon moves slowly but it crosses the town.
[35]. Even the best dancer on the stage must retire sometime.
[36]. If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
[37]. Wisdom does not come overnight.
[38]. No matter how tall a tree grows, it must bow to the wind.
[39]. The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.
[40]. A river does not flow backwards.
[41]. The fool who knows he is a fool is wise at least to that extent.
[42]. The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.
[43]. A good name is better than riches.
[44]. A man who runs after two hares will catch neither.
[45]. The axe forgets, but the tree remembers.
[46]. When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.
[47]. Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.
[48]. He who learns, teaches.
[49]. A child who is not taught by its mother will be taught by the world.
[50]. The bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground.
[51]. Even the best cooking pot will not produce food.
[52]. One does not become a king without killing a king.
[53]. If the lion does not tell his story, the hunter will.
[54]. The strength of the crocodile lies in the water.
[55]. A tree cannot stand without its roots.
[56]. A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning.
[57]. The crab does not give birth to a bird.
[58]. Your name will be forgotten if your deeds are not remembered.
[59]. The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.
[60]. The fool speaks, the wise man listens.
[61]. A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.
[62]. A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.
[63]. When the cock crows at the break of dawn, the hen lifts her head and says, “My time has come.”
[64]. Leaders who do not listen will soon find themselves alone.
[65]. One does not tie a dog by the neck twice for the same offense.
[66]. A house built on the foundation of lies will soon collapse.
[67]. The child that is not trained well will be a trouble to the family.
[68]. You cannot climb a tree with one hand.
[69]. When a king has good counselors, his reign is peaceful.
[70]. The heart of the wise man lies quiet like limpid water.
[71]. When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
[72]. The strength of the wolf is in the pack.
[73]. What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
[74]. If a child washes his hands, he could eat with kings.
[75]. The sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.
[76]. Rain does not fall on one roof alone.
[77]. When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
[78]. A man who sells eggs should not start a fight in the market.
[79]. You learn how to cut down trees by cutting them down.
[80]. A fool and water will go the way they are directed.
[81]. The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.
[82]. What is in the palm of your hand is better than what is on the roof.
[83]. Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.
[84]. A man who defecates in a neighbor’s mouth should expect retaliation.
[85]. If the lion doesn’t tell his story, the hunter will.
[86]. The grasshopper that is always near the frog learns to croak.
[87]. No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.
[88]. Money can’t talk, yet it can make lies look true.
[89]. Even the best cooking pot will not produce food.
[90]. A person who sells eggs should not start a fight in the market.
[91]. When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby.
[92]. If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
[93]. The river does not flow backwards.
[94]. He who learns, teaches.
[95]. The child that is not trained well will be a trouble to the family.
[96]. If you close your eyes to facts, you will learn through accidents.
[97]. A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.
[98]. No matter how tall a tree grows, it must bow to the wind.
[99]. When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.
[100]. The moon moves slowly but it crosses the town.
COMMENTS