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African Proverbs
| Article
# : |
10978 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
6 / 1986 |
1,254 Words |
| Author
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Jan Knappert
Jan Knappert is a folklorist and specialist in African and
Oriental languages who is based in Belgium. |
Proverbs are the most important expression of human wisdom and knowledge of nature, psychology, and reality for the peoples of Africa. Even among the literate peoples of Africa, such as the Zulus, the Yorubas, the Swahili, and the Arabs in South, West, East, and North Africa, respectively, a proverb is a vital part of the conversation in everyday life.
Nothing is closer to the heart of African society and thought than the proverb. More than any other tradition, it expresses the essence of African wisdom, drawn from past generations in condensed form, often in rhythmic language, easy to remember, and pleasing to hear. Proverbs are often simple and clear in meaning and can be universally applied--we can learn a great deal about human nature from them. They reveal the unity of mankind and the universality of our human emotions, thoughts, and problems.
However, many proverbs refer to some aspect of the local culture which the student of proverbs needs to understand. For instance, in Africa poverty is associated with loneliness: the poor man is shunned by everybody since no one wants to share his misery or be friendly with a man who always fails. Conversely, poverty is also the result of loneliness--a man with plenty of brothers, friends, and relatives will never go hungry, whereas a man on his own is likely to be beaten up and robbed if he has no one to call on for help. Wisdom in Africa is invariably linked with survival. There are innumerable fables about intelligent animals who survive by their wits. In Africa there are many more dangers and enemies surrounding one than in Europe or America, and the survival of the wisest is a major theme throughout African folklore: either you resort to trickery or you starve in a harsh environment
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