Igbo Proverbs [Nigeria]

ILU IGBO (Igbo proverbs)
About the Igbo people: The Igbo people is one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the other two being Hausa and Yoruba. While the Yoruba people are in the West of Nigeria, Housa people are in the North and Igbo people are in the East of the Country

About Igbo proverbs:
The Igbo proverbs are regarded as the nerve of the Igbo language, because it is that which gives the language its full colour for as it is said, “ilu bụ mmanụ ndị Igbo ji eri okwu” which literary mean that, [Igbo] proverbs are the oil with which words are eaten. Below are some very important Igbo proverbs.

1. Ilu bụ mmanụ igbo ji eri okwu, proverbs are the oil with which Igbo language is garnished.

2. A tụọrọ nwata ilu kọwaara ya, ego e jiri lụ nne ya lara n’iyi, the bride price of the mother to whom the
explanation of a proverb is given is a waste.

3. A kpọọ onye na nke ọ na-eme, ọ za, everyone answers briskly whenever one is called upon for that
which he knows how to do best.

4. Onye aghụghọ nwụọ, onye aghụghọ elie ya, if a crafty man dies, a crafty man buries him.

5. Agadi nwanyị e kunyere nwa ọ sị na eze adịghị ya n’ọnụ, ekunyere ya ka ọ tagbuo atagbu?, the old
woman who says she has no teeth when she was given a baby, was she given the baby for her to eat
it?

6. Onye ụjọ ji ndụ ya n’onye ike, the confidence of the coward lies in the brave.

7. Nwata chọwa nke ya a kpọọ ya ajọ nwa, a child is being frowned at when he goes for his own.

8. Ọchụ nwaọkụkọ nwe ada, nwa ọkụkọ nwe mwemwe ọsọ, falling and getting up is for he that runs
after a (local) chick, while its own turn is gentle run.

9. Ọchụ abụọ na-agba aka, [is eqivalent to] he who hunts many hares catches none.

10. Ngana kpuo ute, agụụ ekpughepu ya, when laziness grips one, hunger revolts.

11. Nwata mere ihe ọjọọ na-akwụgharị na ahụ aja, a child that has done some mischief hibernates.

for more Proverbs, mail: richploughman@yahoo.com