Voices of wisdom from Africa

African proverbs are full of wisdom and guidence for daily living. Here are a few collected by Steward Julia in the book "Words to the wise: A collection of African proverbs."

• A horse owns only the grass in its stomach. Setswana, South Africa
• Flowing water makes stagnant water move. Somalia
• A man's deeds are of greater importance than the facts of his birth. Maasai, Kenya
• A man wo takes advice is still a man who acts on his own free will. Nigeria
• A louse bites after hiding in your blanket. Setswana, South Africa
• When an ape cannot reach a banana with its hand, he says it is sour. Bambara, Mali
• When one person on the street kills a dog, the whole street is called "the street of dog killers". Nigeria
• A good thing sells itself; a bad thing advertises itself for sale. Swahili, East Africa.
• Caution is not cowadice; even the ants march armed. Baganda, Uganda
• Live with him who prays, and thou prayest; live with the singer, and thou singest. Egypt
• The eye crosses the river before the body. Ndebele, Zimbabwe
• A louse bites after hiding in your blanket. Setswana, South Africa
• Quarrels end, but words once spoken never die. Sierra Leone
• No elephant is ever burdened by its own trunk. Xhosa, South Africa
• However long the night might be, there will be a morning. Morocco
• The reward of life is death. Anyuak. Sudan
• Copying everyone else all the time, the monkey one day slit his throat. Zulu, South Africa
• If you see someone riding a log, compliment him on his beautiful horse. Tunisia
• The goat is not big in cowtown. Vai, Nigeria
• One who enters the forest does not turn back on hearing twigs breaking. Bemba, Zambia
• The family is like a forest; if you are outside, it looks dense. If you are inside, you see that each tree has its own position. Akan, Ghana
• You cannot turn the wind, so turn the sail. Swahili, East Africa
• A sinking vessel needs no naviagtion. Swahili, East Africa
• My country is my country even though it is unjust to me. Morocco