Don't set sail on someone else's star
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for something.
A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.
If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree.
It is not what you are called, but what you answer to.
A chattering bird builds no nest.
If you run after two hares you will catch neither.
When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well,
but few will be ready to go down after it.
For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
For A Trouble Free World
A departed spirit does not wait for the living before it eats. That is, a departed spirit does not depend on the living for its sustenance.
Explanation: The Afican belief is that their departed relatives are spirits and that they have unlimited mobility and unhindered access. Therefore, as spirits, the departed can have access to meals even before their living relatives begin to eat. The proverb shows the power of the departed spirits as well as the basis of the continued relationship between them and the living.
If you are not going to partake of the food of the departed spirit, you do not put your hand into it.
Explanation: Although the Akan express fellowship with their departed spirits, they nevertheless keep a respectful distance between themselves and their departed ancestors. The reason for this attitude is the fear that the dead might take the living away with them since they are always seeking to increase their number by taking people from among the living to join their ranks. The living therefore try to
avoid direct physical contact with them. Food intended for the spirits is, therefore, either put into a separate dish, put on the ground or even scattered.
When an apparition (ghost) stretches its hand to greet you, you pull yours back.
Explanation: Although shaking hands with each other and with strangers is stressed in the Akan tradition, this mark of brotherhood and sisterhood is not extended to the departed spirits because of the fear they may take one away. In its wider connotation, the proverb implies that one should avoid coming into contact with what will bring about harmful or undesirable consequences.
When a ghost is approaching at a distance, it is fearful; but when it gets closer (you discover that) it is a relative.
Explanation: The avoidance of direct physical contact with ghosts as a result of the fear of the consequences of such contact is a common Akan behaviour. An approaching ghost is therefore a frightening phenomenon but when the ghost gets closer, one finds that it is a relative. In a general sense, the proverb suggests that things may be fearful at a distance but when they get closer, they no longer appear to be so.
Explanation: The Afican belief is that their departed relatives are spirits and that they have unlimited mobility and unhindered access. Therefore, as spirits, the departed can have access to meals even before their living relatives begin to eat. The proverb shows the power of the departed spirits as well as the basis of the continued relationship between them and the living.
If you are not going to partake of the food of the departed spirit, you do not put your hand into it.
Explanation: Although the Akan express fellowship with their departed spirits, they nevertheless keep a respectful distance between themselves and their departed ancestors. The reason for this attitude is the fear that the dead might take the living away with them since they are always seeking to increase their number by taking people from among the living to join their ranks. The living therefore try to
avoid direct physical contact with them. Food intended for the spirits is, therefore, either put into a separate dish, put on the ground or even scattered.
When an apparition (ghost) stretches its hand to greet you, you pull yours back.
Explanation: Although shaking hands with each other and with strangers is stressed in the Akan tradition, this mark of brotherhood and sisterhood is not extended to the departed spirits because of the fear they may take one away. In its wider connotation, the proverb implies that one should avoid coming into contact with what will bring about harmful or undesirable consequences.
When a ghost is approaching at a distance, it is fearful; but when it gets closer (you discover that) it is a relative.
Explanation: The avoidance of direct physical contact with ghosts as a result of the fear of the consequences of such contact is a common Akan behaviour. An approaching ghost is therefore a frightening phenomenon but when the ghost gets closer, one finds that it is a relative. In a general sense, the proverb suggests that things may be fearful at a distance but when they get closer, they no longer appear to be so.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Understanding
A crab does not beget a bird.
A blind man does not show the way to a blind man.
One (bad) nut spoils all.
‘The child who breaks a snail's shell cannot break a tortoise's shell'.
(b) Moral Teaching: There are certain things any human being can do and others he cannot because his powers are limited, therefore you must know the limit of your powers and keep your ambitions within them. Do not be overambitious.
Even the dead want an increase in their number, how much more the living?
Explanation: Having more and more people is a desire of the Africans and few libation prayers leave out a request for the bearers of children to bear more children. This need for more members, according to this proverb, is not restricted to the living.
It is the living person who makes the inhabitant of the spirit world long for the mashed yam.
Explanation: The African have a ritual food, oto, made up of mashed yam (plain or mixed with palm oil) and hard boiled eggs. The eggs symbolize life, and the ritual food may be given to a person's guardian spirit on special occasions, when the need arises, to feed it, or wash it, as the African say. Oto is also sprinkled at shrines and their surrounding areas as well as at other sacred places during festivals and other ritualistic occasions.
A blind man does not show the way to a blind man.
One (bad) nut spoils all.
‘The child who breaks a snail's shell cannot break a tortoise's shell'.
(b) Moral Teaching: There are certain things any human being can do and others he cannot because his powers are limited, therefore you must know the limit of your powers and keep your ambitions within them. Do not be overambitious.
Even the dead want an increase in their number, how much more the living?
Explanation: Having more and more people is a desire of the Africans and few libation prayers leave out a request for the bearers of children to bear more children. This need for more members, according to this proverb, is not restricted to the living.
It is the living person who makes the inhabitant of the spirit world long for the mashed yam.
Explanation: The African have a ritual food, oto, made up of mashed yam (plain or mixed with palm oil) and hard boiled eggs. The eggs symbolize life, and the ritual food may be given to a person's guardian spirit on special occasions, when the need arises, to feed it, or wash it, as the African say. Oto is also sprinkled at shrines and their surrounding areas as well as at other sacred places during festivals and other ritualistic occasions.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Efficency
An egg never sits (as a hen does when she has eggs) on a hen
(i.e. a child is not greater than its parents).
Those which come first (teeth) are not those which are used for eating.
The cat does not cease to cry " miau."
A crab does not beget a bird.
The cat does not cease to cry " miau."
(i.e. a child is not greater than its parents).
Those which come first (teeth) are not those which are used for eating.
The cat does not cease to cry " miau."
A crab does not beget a bird.
The cat does not cease to cry " miau."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Reflections
We plan, God acts.
Explanation: Man proposes, God disposes.
Acts of God are like riddles.
Explanation: Nobody knows what will happen in the near future. Sometimes unexpected things happen.
The mouth of the dead is respected.
Explanation: What has been said by a person before his death is followed to the letter.
The dead is praised.
Explanation: Nothing bad is said of a dead person.
A person who gives to the ancestors, eats with them.
Explanation: Hospitality is a virtue.
Explanation: Man proposes, God disposes.
Acts of God are like riddles.
Explanation: Nobody knows what will happen in the near future. Sometimes unexpected things happen.
The mouth of the dead is respected.
Explanation: What has been said by a person before his death is followed to the letter.
The dead is praised.
Explanation: Nothing bad is said of a dead person.
A person who gives to the ancestors, eats with them.
Explanation: Hospitality is a virtue.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Think and Grow Rich
You can be obsessed by certain problems in your life,
who can oblige you to work hardly that day?
Meaning: For working well, you need a quiet mind.
Rain as well as dewdrops are coming from the same sky.
You can be dry because of both of them.
Meaning: You can be stuck in very small things, what about the huge ones?
Cohesion embalms
Meaning: Concord has beneficial effects.
Where there is no jealousy, a small hare's leather is enough to cover four people
Meaning: Where there is no jealousy, people are able to share the little they have.
Wherever Arua points a finger, a house is built
Meaning: In harmony, everything succeeds.
who can oblige you to work hardly that day?
Meaning: For working well, you need a quiet mind.
Rain as well as dewdrops are coming from the same sky.
You can be dry because of both of them.
Meaning: You can be stuck in very small things, what about the huge ones?
Cohesion embalms
Meaning: Concord has beneficial effects.
Where there is no jealousy, a small hare's leather is enough to cover four people
Meaning: Where there is no jealousy, people are able to share the little they have.
Wherever Arua points a finger, a house is built
Meaning: In harmony, everything succeeds.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Awaken yourself
Water never flows up the mountain
Meaning: Problems happen where there is a weakness
Application/Use: The proverb is used to teach that our weakness is the source of most problems.
Feet have no eyes
Meaning: Feet can not stop one from going into danger
Application/Use: A person's conscience is respobsible for the decisions he makes.
The abundance of fruit caused the death of fruit lover
Meaning: When we find ourselves in the middle of what we like most, we forget the danger that could happen to our lives
Application/Use: When we find ourselves in the middle of what we like most, we forget the danger that could happen to our lives.
When you see that a stick is pointing to your eye, move away from it
Meaning: You have to run away from any kind of evil for your safety
Application/Use: It is not possible to face all problems. Sometimes we have to run away before confronting them.
Chimpanzee’s laughed at each other's tail
Meaning: It is easy for one to look for and criticize others mistakes forgetting his/her own mistakes
Application/Use: The proverb is told to a person who likes to criticize.
Meaning: Problems happen where there is a weakness
Application/Use: The proverb is used to teach that our weakness is the source of most problems.
Feet have no eyes
Meaning: Feet can not stop one from going into danger
Application/Use: A person's conscience is respobsible for the decisions he makes.
The abundance of fruit caused the death of fruit lover
Meaning: When we find ourselves in the middle of what we like most, we forget the danger that could happen to our lives
Application/Use: When we find ourselves in the middle of what we like most, we forget the danger that could happen to our lives.
When you see that a stick is pointing to your eye, move away from it
Meaning: You have to run away from any kind of evil for your safety
Application/Use: It is not possible to face all problems. Sometimes we have to run away before confronting them.
Chimpanzee’s laughed at each other's tail
Meaning: It is easy for one to look for and criticize others mistakes forgetting his/her own mistakes
Application/Use: The proverb is told to a person who likes to criticize.
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