Nigeria proverbs are the pride of not only nigeria but of the whole of african culture as well. Owe yoruba yoruba proverbs, its usages, english meanings and lessons best article so i present to you this interesting topic on yoruba proverbs owe yoruba, indeed the nigerian culture is very much vast and wide with each tribes having its own laws and traditions. Yoruba is handsdown one of the most populous ethnic groups in nigeria. English to yoruba translation provides the most convenient access to online translation service powered by various machine translation engines. A translation is given for each proverb but no indictaion is given of usage or meaning apart from the last three. Yoruba proverbs yoruba proverbs oyekan owomoyelauniversity of nebraska press, lincoln and london the publication. This article will offer you nigerian proverbs and meaning to make you laugh your hearts out as well as influence your lifestyle. Consequently, proverbs are multifunctional and flexible language tools that give room for personal rationality and the expression of personal experiences as creatively and convincingly as possible.
List of major owe yoruba, more than 50 yoruba proverbs and meaning. Yoruba proverbs owe yoruba, meaning and explanation. It is true that words are loaded with meanings and contents drawn from behavioural pattern or ideology, the intended or envisaged meaning is determined by its. Since yoruba proverbs have ethical and moral values. Yoruba proverbs are as old as the users of the language itself. Moja mosa laa mo akinkanju loju ogundiscretion is a better part of valour.
And this ethnic group not only happens to be a highly populous one, its also one of the major ethnic groups in the country. The study formulated a computational model for english to yoruba text translation process. Owe ile yoruba some lovely yoruba proverbs and their. The modelled translation process was designed, implemented and evaluated. Aseju ni irun aya, irun abe titohairy chest is oversabi, pubic hair is enough 3. It means everyone looks the same on the outside but everyone has problems that are invisible to outsiders. Proverbs are part of what makes the yoruba language so rich. African proverbs, especially yoruba proverbs have always struck us with their deep meaning. Each proverb is presented in yoruba with a literal english translation, followed by a brief commentary explaining the meaning of the proverb within the oral tradition. The expression that translates as prominent back is an idiom meaning a proud pedigree. Yoruba literature is the spoken and written literature of the yoruba people, one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in nigeria and the rest of africa. Local imagery, proverbs and metaphors in chinua achebes.
English to yoruba translation service by imtranslator will assist you in getting an instant translation of words, phrases and texts from english to yoruba and other languages. Dada adelowo introduction this paper is motiated by the need. Pdf the nature, form and functions of yoruba proverbs. The yoruba expression, e g n gb, meaning literally, e g n the incarnated spirit of the ancestors has appropriated it, is a way of saying, it is lost to people. The comparative nature of yoruba proverbs is relied upon in bringing out their.
The publication of this volume was made possible by a generous gift from nancy sack stevens. It means necessity is mother of invention, creativity is often achieved after overcoming many difficulties. The need to examine some of the definitions and characteristics of yoruba proverbs arises in this study. Pai lotun pai losi, toju o ba fo, a ko ma wo bai bai nihardship here and there would definitely yield a broken personility. Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnolinguistic or ethnic groups in west africa.
An analysis of the proverbs the yorubans live by semantic scholar. English words for ileiwe include school, cupboard, custodial, electuary, elementary, chapel, chapelry, allottee, classroom and brewery. This definitive source book on yoruba proverbs is the first to give such detailed, systematic classification and analysis alongside a careful assessment of the risks and pitfalls. The yoruba language is spoken in nigeria, benin, and togo, as well as in dispersed yoruba communities throughout the world. In this paper however, how proverbs emphasized gender balance in power, governance, religion, and economy in precolonial yoruba culture is what this paper sets out to examine. They offer one with teachings of wisdom in just a sentence. Proverbs and gender equalities and equities in african. Efforts have therefore been made by various nations, nigeria. This paper discusses how hearers arrives at a meaning when they hear a proverb. Isiro loko didocalculation is the master of bleeping 2. Proverbs have a deeper meaning that give them their sweetness.
Yoruba proverbs are wise sayings passed through generations to teach. A lovely yoruba proverb about friendship via bino and. Oju ni alakan fin sori meaning you must always watch over the happenings around you to avoid being caught up in danger. Owe yoruba yoruba proverbs, meaning and explanation new post. More information about this seller contact this seller 2. The rights of the child are central to sustainable development oyero, 2010. This is done by taking as a foil a content analysis of some of yoruba proverbs, particularly the proverbs whose subject matter is centered on developmentrelated themes such as care for others and cooperation, leadership qualities, advice, reproach and punishment, conflict resolution and warning. To download any of these videos, right click on the written file size below, then click save as. In fact, proverbs are the vehicle for understanding the depth of the language. Chinua achebe in anthills of the savannah uses local imagery, simile, proverbs and metaphors which are capable of not only revealing african rich cultural heritage, but also helping in building the african child.
A link is also provided at the end of the list where you can find more yoruba proverbs. Video translation of the meanings of the holy quran in yoruba language. Proverbs is one of the phenomena that human beings are mostly familiar with yet lacks a. Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet. Yoruba proverbs is the most comprehensive collection to date of more than five thousand yoruban proverbs that showcase yoruba oral tradition.
When a kings palace burns down, the rebuilt palace is more beautiful. On we say a proverb and also tell the meaning and it uses. The head of an old man is bald because he has taken on so much trouble on his head in his lifetime. Its meaning is hidden in the interpretation of the oogun which means. Yoruba proverbs and their meaning foriti foriti lomu ki ori agba pa translation. Its foundation is embedded in the moral wisdom of the yoruba culture and world view. This notwithstanding, answers africa brings you some of the greatest and most famous african proverbs and their meanings. This definition therefore, is the definition we will adopt in this paper for proverbs. Owe yoruba yoruba proverbs, meaning and explanation. A baby on its mothers back doesnt know the journey is long. Although most people dont use them in everyday conversation they are still a quick way to convey warning, encouragement or reproach the way fusing many sentences together sometimes cannot. In many african cultures, a feeling for language, for imagery and for the expression of abstract ideas through compressed and allusive phraseology, comes out. Even though most of them came to existence long ago, they are still applicable in the modern world.
Africa regional sexuality resource centre 1 understanding human sexuality seminar series understanding sexuality in the yoruba culture professor olugboyega alaba. Womeneducates for a community proverbs may not improperly be called the philosophy of the common people. Owe yoruba yoruba proverbs, meaning and explanation, ileife, nigeria. Hence, proverb must be analysed in each of its unique social contextsv. A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. Washing ones hands before meals is both a health requirement and a mark of social grace. A mans first wife never complains of neglect from the penis, the first morsel never complains of insufficient sauce. With 5235 of them, presented according to subjectmatter and each section then arranged alphabetically, it is an encyclopaedic collection a reference work more than anything else. A bad habit that lasts more than a year may turn into a custom. Ten storyfied yoruba proverbs for children by tayo. This is left to the reader to determine, though other editors should feel free to add to this information. Following oyekan owomoyelas introduction, which provides a framework and description of yoruba cultural beliefs, the proverbs are arranged by theme into five sections. Some of the core yoruba proverbs on carefulness and their interpretations. In most traditions in africa, it is usually atypical for one to tell an african proverb and still be the one to explain the meaning.
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