Proverbs from Liberia
By D. Othniel Forte
Copyright 2014 D. Othniel Forte
All rights reserved.
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DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to you Grandma, you are missed.
In appreciation to all the elders of Liberia. May your wisdom take us through the difficult times we face. To our dearly departed, may your souls rest in peace.
To my best half, Harriet, happy anniversary. What do you say, let’s knock a decade twice over?
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
Popular
Inspirational Mix
Random
General
Knowledge & Wisdom
Peace & War
Beauty
Family & Friendship
Wealth & Poverty
Food
About the Author
Author’s note
Proverbs are a huge part of our oral tradition. In fact, whole sections of our traditional history are understood and transmitted through this method. Unfortunately, it is underappreciated like many other aspects of Liberian literature, culture or history.
Our elders are known for dispensing their wisdom in these wise sayings. For me, one of the most beautiful things about proverbs are the fact that they have more than one meaning. There is always the literal meaning and the deeper meaning. This makes them important in that, one has to search further, look harder or make an extra effort to gain the wisdom that a proverb holds.
Our elders believed that this effort on the part of the younger learners was an important part of their growth. They encouraged personal growth and the best way to attain such was by searching for meanings and answers in life. Thus, they did not take lightly to this method. This made the ardent learner cautious, yet adventurous on their journeys. However, when they mastered it, the experience became unforgettable. It also gave them the chance to use this knowledge in multiple life situations.
In this book, there are no explanations assigned to the parables. It is a deliberate design. It is not intended to fault others for adding explanations to parables, I just rather readers find their own meanings as I believe to each, his own is a more preferable approach to the issue. I believe the reader should retain the power to decide.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This book is the result of the hard work of many people. But it is the birth child of a colleague of mine whom I would like to call a friend-Mr. Roland Massaquoi. He passingly suggested I do a collection of Liberian traditional proverbs. As it is with any Liberian literary piece, I don’t hesitate to get involved. Seeing that I had so many projects, I figured this could come later, much later.
As I did my other projects, my research revealed that apart from the few greats, Bai T. Moore, E. Reginald Townsend, George W. Tahmen, George Herzog, and Charles G. Blooah, our written literary heritage is silent on this particular matter. Furthermore, these writers wrote way back in the 30s, 60s, 70s and or 80s (Abba Karnga did a collection of Bassa proverbs in the mid-90s). This is certainly a long time to be without something fresh. This realization kicked in an urgency that now has us here. I know that this is a small step, but it has, and always will be, my hope that others will follow, and with time, whole shelves would hold modern Liberian literary works.
A special mention is in order for the following people; the Hansens (David Joel, Netanya Nuna, and Eliana Awo), Dr. and Mrs. Collins and their cuteness, Mortisha, happy anniversary. To Ms. Maya (Mayalacious) Atta for providing the best lunch ever; no one parties like DJ Smooth. To my fellow Play Ground addicts, Mr. George E. Hopkins, Ms. Cyndy Deal and the long list of listeners. This is also for Nehneh Jewel Luckie, our princess, Tywanya Nhaway, Samuel Cooper, the women that hold us together, Ma Musu, Meachee, Evelyn and Dazeline. C.E. Goodridge, wishing you a speedy recovery. To the members and my fellow administrators of Liberia History and Culture-LHC, I could not comfortably complete this project without your inputs. Thank you loads. Lastly, the birthday people, Angel Venus Forte, Henri J. Destini (my youngest fan) and Angeline Peters.
I can’t close without mentioning the special love, care and support of my family from whom I stole precious time to complete this project, my gratitude. Our lovely Mom, my dear wife Harri, our kids, Othreniel and Othniela, Anita, my loving brothers, Meshach, Emmanuel, Abel, Rebazar, our darling nephews and nieces, Reuben the III, McAlvin, Meshach, Marley, Reuben, Abel, Achilles, Roosevelt, and Baby E, the newest Forte around.
1
Popular
1)United we stand, divided, we fall.
2)Fly was living before dog ear cut.
3)Monkey works, baboon draws.
4)The walkabout child can’t see their mother’s grave.
5)A snake cannot give birth to a worm.
6)A lizard cannot give birth to alligator.
7)God does not like ugly.
8)A child can play with its mother’s breast but not its father private.
9)Small child can run, but s/he can’t hide.
10)A child will only play with pepper when there is plenty water around.
11)When two elephants fight, the grass suffers.
12)The turtle may be slow, but it is sure.
13)The monkey’s hand can’t get white no matter how much he washes it.
14)The same rope that hangs monkey can hang baboon.
15)Experience can’t suffer for jersey.
16)Death does not discriminate, it takes everyone one day.
17)99-Days for rogue (thief) one day for the master.
2
Inspirational Mix
18)If you know how to butcher an ant, you will eat its liver.
19)The night must come to end the pleasures of the day.
20)The hard working person has a better chance to beat poverty.
21)The day cannot dawn on someone who has not gone through the night.
22)It is not wise to think that there are no crocodiles just because the water is calm.
23)Only a fool crosses a river with leeches naked.
24)You cannot pick up a stone with one finger.
25)One can measure the depth of the ocean but not the depth of a man's heart?
26)The monkey that refuses to learn how to swing, is sure to be someone’s dinner.
27)A fish that insists on eating every worm it sees, will likely end up be eaten.
28)A woodpecker is always happy when an old tree falls.
29)When we eat with others, it’s only the food that goes in our stomachs that is ours.
30)An elder’s mouth may be empty of teeth, but it speaks the truth.
31)An old person may not have teeth in his or her mouth but s/he has a head full of wisdom
32)An frisky child often goes to bed hungry.
33)We can’t see behind our own heads.
34)One cannot dress oneself with one finger.
35)A shortcut to death is to marry fussy a woman.
36)An envious woman is a dangerous woman.
37)With time, Mr. Know-it-all finds out he knows nothing.
38)A clever lion does not need to use brute force.
39)Monkey knows which tree to clean its buttocks on.
40)Little drops of water, make a mighty ocean.
41)Y
ou never know the value of the well until it runs dry.
42)The rosters don’t crow when a fox is hunting.
43)It is well known that, there are many ways to kill a deer.
44)No one knows the fastest way home like a hungry child.
45)A baby bird that refuses to fly, can expect to be abandoned soon.
46)The balloon doesn’t fight with a needle.
47)The rat will never go to the house of the snake to make palava.
48)A chicken knows better than to accept the invitation of an old fox.
49)All our fingers are not made equal for a good reason.
50)The mosquito does not expect to get fat, yet it does not tire of sucking blood.
51)The fly isn’t put off by the smell of the feces.
52)Some friends are like rats, they blow whilst biting.
53)To the cat, tossing the rat around before eating it is a joke, but to the rat, it is serious business.
54)To put one’s finger in another’s eyes is not a joke.
55)Sleep has no mercy.
56)You can take the horse to the water, but you can’t force it to drink.
57)Judging from the size of the elephant, one would think it does not get hungry.
58)One can’t be a cat and a dog at the same time.
59)The life of a fly may be short, but it is also has meaning to someone.
60)Even the elephant can get hungry. A smart deer can outlive many predators.
3
Random
61)If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything.
62)It takes a whole village to raise a child.
63)Some women are so beautiful, it looks as if they can’t fart.
64)Looking at a king's mouth one would never think he sucked his mother's breast.
65)The mouse can’t be friends with a snake.
66)The bird that goes to steal the food of the fox does not wish to return.
67)The red headed lizard does not shake it’s head for fun.
68)A drunkard would praise himself if no one else did.
69)The clever child knows that the mouth that eats does not talk.
70)The sun shines on those who stand before it first before shining on those kneeling.
71)The worm may not have eyes but it can feel the sunlight as well.
72)The humble person always remembers his/her past.
73)Those who forget their past because of wealth, often don’t keep it for long.
74)The sun shines on everybody, even the blind man.
75)A one handed man can’t tie a rope.
76)Anyone can tell a ripe corn by its look.
77)You must judge a man by the work of his hands.
78)A blind man should not fight a person that can see well.
79)A cripple person can’t outrun a deer.
80)The deer is very careful to avoid the paw prints (tracks) of a leopard.
81)Even a thirsty dear will flee from the river if it sees a lion’s paw prints.
82)Only a foolish dear will walk in the paths of a lion.
83)The old lady that you see as frail today was once a beautiful young girl.
84)The Elder is unable to fight, but s/he has a plenty experience of struggles.
85)The red ants can move a grasshopper only when they are united.
86)A single hand cannot coil a boa constrictor around a stick.
87)If you cook your food in tin-cans, people will dish it up with bamboo sticks.
88)The lion has no friend amongst the deers.
89)When you see a grown man running, he is either chasing something, or something is chasing him.
90)One does not become a man overnight.
91)The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let foolish things upset.
92)The kind of shoes one wears on a journey doesn't matter, but whom one travels with and where one is headed is what matters.
93)In a chase, the predator knows when it has lost a prey.
94)Dry-face (boldness) makes pig gut big.
95)Never regret the days in your life because good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience and the worst days give you a lesson.
96)One cannot be ashamed of one’s bath bucket.
97)The baby is not born yet his eyes are big.
98)The breeze that makes the chicken shame is the one that blows from the behind.
99)When snake bites a person; even a lizard makes them run.
100)Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
101)A heavy down pour of rain can make goats and sheep stand together in the same place.
102)Another man’s child is not your child.
103)He who sings should be ready to dance to the tune
104)If you act like rotten plum (mango), the bats will eat you.
105)If you know you don't want to kill the chicken, do not tied the neck.
106)It is good to wait for tomorrow, because nothing comes from yesterday.
107)No matter how long a stick stays in the water, it will never become a fish.
108)One's best friend can be one's worst enemy.
109)The cobra’s attitude, compels the frog to desire another king.
110)The downfall of a man is not the end of his life.
111)The same thing that is sweet in a goat’s mouth, also runs its belle (stomach).
112)The turtle wants to join the army, but where it will hang the gun?
113)The wisdom of the tortoise is hidden under its shell and yet, if you remove the shell, you will not find it.
114)There is no need crying over spilt milk.
115)They say, a problem shared is one that is half solved.
116)Two heads, when put together, are better than one.
117)When a green leaf sees a dried leaf fall, it should not rejoice because it will get dry one day and fall too.
118)When a small boy says that his mouth is wide, just give him cook spoon.
119)When you are tempted to lose patience with someone, just pause for a moment and think how patient others have been with you.
120)When you play with a puppy, it will lick your mouth.
121)There are many ways to cook a chicken.
122)The goat also gets tired of chewing.
123)A hunter that can set only one trap, misses many games.
124)Water and fire can’t marry.
4
General
125)A beautiful maiden will never lose her virtue just because men look at her.
126)A beautiful woman is like water, no matter how many times you drink it, you never get tired.
127)A flowing creek is not a place to hide a child in.
128)A foolish man dances to the same tone, even if the music changes.
129)A good child never forget his or her parent’s sacrifices
130)A good dancer changes the dance, when the music changes.
131)A hunter who makes too much noise in the forest can’t expect to catch meat.
132)A hunter who snores, scares the game.
133)A little child that teases a monkey with bananas is looking for trouble.
134)A wise person knows that it is best to work on his/her reputation first; once done, their reputation will work for them.
135)Because the hunter can aim well, does not mean he can hit his prey.
136)Courage is the father of greatness.
137)Crooked wood makes crooked ashes.
138)Determination is said to be the mother of success.
139)Do not challenge a deer that is running for its life to a running race.
140)Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.
141)If the monkey hands can’t reach the bananas, then he says it’s not sweet.
142)If the people of the village are happy, look for the chief.
143)If the wind does not blow, no one will see the chicken anus.
144)If you make yourself the soap to clean other people, then you
should expect to be washed away in the process.
145)If you tie a horse to a small stick, expect it to run away.
146)It is impossible to see in the heart of a person, but we can access their actions to grasp what they feel.