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By
Kofi Asare Opoku
African proverbs express the wisdom of the African people and are
a key to the understanding of African ways of life in the past and in
the present.
All people are believed to possess wisdom, and the Akan (ahkahn)
people of Ghana (gah'nuh) tell an interesting story of how it spread to
all parts of the world:
Long, long ago there lived a man called Kwaku Ananse (Kwah'koo
ahnahn'sih). Ananse possessed all the wisdom in the world, but so
selfish was he that he did not want to share it with anybody. He decided
to collect it in a big pot and hide it at the top of a big, tall tree in
the forest. Ananse's wife got him the largest pot she could find, and
Ananse began to fill it with wisdom. He told no one what he was doing.
When he had finished, he fastened a rope around the pot, tied the
rest of it around his neck, and sneaked out of the house in the dead of
night the pot hanging on his belly. Ananse walked clumsily into the
thickest part of the forest until he came to the tree that he thought
would serve his purpose and stopped.
Ananse did not think that any of the members of his house had seen
him, but he was mistaken. Flis son, Ntikuma (nteemah), had been awakened
by the noise his father made and had followed Ananse, curious to see
just what Ananse was going to do. Ntikuma hid himself behind a tree a
good distance away and gazed intently at his father.
After pausing for a while to steady the pot Ananse began to climb
the tree. But with the pot in front of him it was very difficult for him
to get a good grip on the trunk. He tried several times to climb the
tree but could not, and so he paused to think.
As Ananse scratched his head in search of a solution to his
problem, he was startled by a loud laugh behind him, and he turned
around to find, to this utter amazement, his son. Ntikuma suggested to
his father that if he would put the pot on his back instead of on his
belly he would find it easier to climb the tree. Ananse was furious that
it took his son to show him this simple solution. Filled with great
frustration, he threw down the pot, and the wisdom from it spread to all
parts of the world.
It is part of the wisdom scattered from Ananse's pot that appears
in African proverbs. Proverbs have many uses in African societies. They
may express an eternal truth. They may be a warning against foolish acts
or a guide to good conduct. They may also bring special meaning to
certain situations and may even solve particular problems.
Proverbs are expressed not only in words but also in the language
of the drums and the sound of the horns blown by the attendants of
chiefs. Even patterns woven in cloth by weavers may express proverbial
saying. One example is the Kente (kan'tay) pattern Tikoro nko agyina (tih
koro nko ahg'yee'nah) "One head does not go into council (It is
better if two heads make a decision)" which the Republic of Ghana
presented to the United Nations. It may be seen hanging on one of the
walls in the delegates' lounge in the United Nations Building in New
York City.
The Yoruba (yo'roobah') ofNigeria (niejeer'eeuh) emphasize the
value of proverbs by saying "A proverb is the horse that can carry
one swiftly to the discovery of ideas". The following proverbs will
give some insight into an important aspect of African culture and help
to increase human understanding.
- What uses do proverbs have
in African societies? Do you think proverbs may have some of the
same uses in your own society? Tell why you think as you do.
- What do you think the
Yoruba of Nigeria meant by saying, "A proverb is the horse that
can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas"?
- In what other ways besides
words are African proverbs expressed? Do you think the proverbial
saying that was presented to the United Nations by the Republic of
Ghana was appropriate? Why do you think that?
- Why, do you think, did the
author include the African story about how Kwaku Ananse spread
wisdom to all parts of the world in this selection?
- Using your own words,
explain the meaning of a proverb that you feel gives good advice.
Can you think of a situation in which to apply that advice? If so,
describe that situation.
- According to the author,
African proverbs are a key to the understanding of African ways of
life. How do you think understanding the proverbs of different
peoples might help to increase international understanding among
peoples?
Some
Favorite African Proverbs
About the Author
Kofi Asare Opoku is a Ghanaian whose primary work has been
researching African culture, religion, and oral literature. A graduate
of the University of Ghana, Mr.. Opoku spent six and a half years in the
United States, where he studied at Yale University Divinity School, as
well as a year in West Germany at the University of Bonn. He has
traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa.
Mr. Opoku's hobbies are photography, traveling, and collecting
African stories and proverbs. He says that his book Speak to the Winds:
Proverbs from Africa is an attempt to introduce young people to the
traditional wisdom and values of Africa. (This information from The
Drum: Rites of Passage copied here without permission and will be
removed if requested)
Check these Internet Sites to learn
more about African Wisdom (Proverbs)
African Proverbs from different
regions of Africa and links:
http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Discourse/Proverbs/African.html
From 19th C. African Wit and Wisdom
http://www.yoga.com/raw/readings/african_proverbs.html#2
Proverbs for the month- click on explanation
to find out meanings http://www.afriprov.org/resources/proverbs.htm
Daily proverbs from Missionary News Agency
http://www.afriprov.org/resources/dailyproverbs.htm
A summary of African Religion
http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/lossrelg.htm
http://www.africawithin.com/religion/intr_to_atr.htm
CLICK
HERE FOR SOME OF MY FAVORITE AFRICAN PROVERBS
CLICK HERE FOR AFRICAN ART
INTERNET LESSON AFRICAN ART LINKS
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