Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

Discussing as many Yoruba proverbs as possible and relating them to day to day life…

“Gbogbo ohun tó ndán kọ́ ni Wúrà” – “Not all that glitters is Gold”

Wúrà jẹ ikan ninú ohun àlùmọ́ni iyebiye, pàtàki fún ohun ẹ̀ṣọ́. Ẹwà Wúrà ki hàn, titi di ìgbà ti wọn bá yọ gbogbo ẹ̀gbin rẹ̀ kúrò pẹ̀lú iná tó gbóná rara. Àwòrán ti ó wà ni ojú ewé yi fihàn pé bi Wúrà bá ti pọ̀ tó lára ohun ẹ̀sọ́ ló ṣe má wọn tó, ki ṣé bi ohun ẹ̀ṣọ́ bá ti dán tó tàbi tóbi. Fún àpẹrẹ, àwòrán ohun ẹ̀ṣọ́ Wúrà kini tóbi, ó si dán ju àwòrán ohun ẹ̀ṣọ́ Wúrà keji, ṣùgbọ́n ohun ẹ̀sọ́ Wúrà ninú aworan keji wọn ju ohun eso Wúrà kini ni ìlọ́po mẹwa. Ìyàtọ̀ ti ó wà ni Wúrà gidi àti àfarawé ni pé, Wúrà gidi ṣe é tà fún owó iyebiye lẹhin ti èniyàn ti lo o, kò lè bàjẹ, bi ó bá kán, ó ṣe túnṣe; ṣùgbọ́n àfarawé kò bá ara ẹlòmiràn mu, bi ó bá kán, kò ṣe é túnse; kò ki léwó.

: Wúra àfarawé – Imitation Gold or Costume Jewellery set. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Wúrà gidi – 18k Gold set. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Gẹ́gẹ́bi òwe Yorùbá ti ó sọ pé “Gbogbo ohun tó ndán kọ́ ni Wúrà”, bẹni ki ṣe gbogbo èniyàn ti wọ̀n pè ni Olówó tàbi Ọlọ́rọ̀ ló tó bi àwọn èniyàn ti rò. Ọ̀pọ̀ irú àwọn wọnyi, jẹ igbèsè tàbi fi èrú kó ọrọ̀ jọ lati ṣe àṣe hàn, òmiràn ja olè, gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ àti onirúurú iṣẹ́ ibi yoku. Gbogbo ohun ti wọn fi ọ̀nà èrú kó jọ wọnyi kò tó nkankan lára ọrọ̀ ti ẹlòmiràn ti ó ni iwà-irẹ̀lẹ̀ ni. Fún àpẹrẹ, owó ti àwọn Òṣèlú àti Òṣiṣẹ́-Ìjọba ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀-dúdú fi èrú kó jọ, ti wọn nkó wá si Òkè-òkun tàbi fi mú àwọn èniyàn wọn lẹ́rú, kò tó ọrọ̀ ti ọmọdé ti ó ni ẹ̀bun-Ọlọrun ni Òkè-òkun ni.

A lè fi òwe “Gbogbo ohun tó ndán kọ́ ni Wúrà” gba ẹnikẹ́ni ni iyànjú pé ki wọn ma ṣe àfarawé, tàbi kánjú lati kó ọrọ̀ jọ. Àfarawé léwu, nitori ki ṣe gbogbo ohun ti èniyàn ri ló mọ idi rẹ̀.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2014-09-30 22:55:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ọwọ́ Ọmọdé Kòtó Pẹpẹ, Tagbalagba Ò Wọ Kèrègbè: The Child’s Hand Cannot Reach The Shelf, The Adult’s Hand Cannot Enter The Calabash

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Only a child’s hand can reach into this type of calabash. The image is from Wikipedia.

Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá sọ wípé “ọwọ́ ọmọde ko to pẹpẹ, tagbalagba ko wọ̀ kèrègbè”, èyí tí a lè túmọ̀ sí wípé, ọmọdé kò ga to pẹpẹ láti mú nkan tí wọn gbé si orí pẹpẹ, bẹni ọwọ́ àgbàlagbà ti tóbi jù lati wọ inú akèrègbè lati mu nkan, nitorina àgbà̀ lèlo ìrànlọ́wọ́ ọmọdé.

Ní ayé, oníkálukú ló ní ohun tí wọ́n lè ṣe. Àwọn nkan wa ti àgbàlagbà lè ṣe bẹ̃ni ọpọlọpọ nkan wa ti ọmọdé lè ṣe. Láyé òde òní, ọmọdé le gbójúlé àgbàlagbà, ṣùgbọn ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àgbàlagbà gbójúlé ọmọdé láti kọ́ lílò ẹ̀rọ ayélujára.

Ò̀we yi fi èrè ifọwọsowọpọ laarin ọmọdé àti àgbà han nítorí kò sẹ́ni tí kò wúlò.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

A Yoruba adage goes that “although the child’s hand cannot reach the shelf, the elder’s hand cannot enter into the calabash”. Literally translated, while the child or the young one is too short to pick up something placed on a high shelf, the adult’s hand is too big to pass through the neck of a calabash and needs the help of the child.

In life everyone has a role to play. There are roles that can be handled by the adult and there are many roles that are better handled by younger or less experienced ones. Nowadays, in as much as the younger ones are dependent on the adult, most adults are dependent on learning effective use of computers and the internet younger ones.

This proverb shows the advantage of cooperation between the young and the old, experienced and inexperienced, as no one is completely useless.

Originally posted 2013-04-23 19:15:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ọ̀pọ̀ ni eṣú fi nya igi oko: Ìbò ni ipinlẹ Ọ̀ṣun” – “There is strength in numbers: Osun State Election”

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Ninú Ẹ̀yà mẹrin-din-logoji orilẹ̀ èdè Nigeria, ẹ̀yà mẹ́fà ni o wa ni ipinlẹ Yorùbá lápapọ̀. Àwọn ẹ̀yà wọnyi ni: Èkó – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Ìkẹjà; Èkiti – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Adó-Èkiti; Ò̀gùn – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Abẹ́òkúta; Ondo – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Àkúrẹ́; Ọ̀ṣun – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Òṣogbo àti Ọyọ – ti olú ilú rẹ jẹ Ìbàdàn.

ọ̀pọ̀ ara Ọ̀ṣun dibò àti bójú tó ibò wọn – Osun voters voted and protected their votes

Ni Òkè-Òkun, bi enia ba ni ẹjọ́ ni ilé-ẹjọ́, tàbi ó ti ṣe ẹ̀wọ̀n ri, tàbi hùwà àbùkù miran, irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀ kò lè gbé àpóti ibò ṣùgbọ́n, ti kò bá ni itiju, ti ó gbé àpóti ibò, ọ̀pọ̀ àwọn èrò ilú kò ni dibò fún irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀. Eyi kò ri béè ni orilẹ-èdè Nigeria, nitori, ẹlẹ́wòn, eleru, olè, apànìyàn àti bẹ́ẹ̀bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ, ti ó di olówó ojiji ló ńgbé àpóti ibò nitori wọn mọ̀ pé àwọn lè fi èrú dé ipò.

Àwọn èrò ẹ̀yà Ọ̀ṣun fi òwe Yorùbá ti o ni “Ọ̀pọ̀ ni eṣú fi ńya igi oko” hàn ni idibò ti ó kọjá ni ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta, ọjọ́ kẹsan, oṣù kẹjọ, ọdún Ẹgbẹlemẹrinla, wọn kò bẹ̀rù bi Ìjọba àpapọ̀ Nigeria ti kó Ológun àti ohun ijà ti àwọn ará ilú lati da ẹ̀rù bà wọn. Wọn tú jáde lati fi ọ̀pọ̀ dibò àti bójú tó ibò wọn lati gbé Góminà Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Rauf Arẹ́gbẹ́ṣọlá padà.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Out of the thirty-six States in Nigeria, six are in Yoruba land altogether. These States are: Lagos – State capital Ikeja; Ekiti – State capital at Ado-Ekiti; Ogun – State capital at Abeokuta; Ondo – State capital at Akure; Osun – State capital at Osogbo and Oyo with the State capital at Ibadan.

In the developed world/abroad, if a person has a pending law suit in the Court, or has once been in prison, or has behaved in a disgraceful manner, such person cannot vie for a Political position, but even if such a person has no sense of shame, and decided to vie, many of the masses would not vote for such. This is not the case in Nigeria, because a prisoner, fraudster, thief, killers/assassin etc with their ill-gotten wealth/money could vie for political position since they know they could win through fraudulent means.

The people of Osun State reflected the application of the Yoruba proverb that said “It is by means of their numbers that Locusts could tear down a tree” during the Governorship Election held on Saturday, ninth August, 2014, when they defied the Federal might as Soldiers and armoured tanks were drafted to intimidate the people. They trooped out in their numbers to vote and protect their votes to re-elect Governor (Mr) Rauf Aregbesola.

Originally posted 2014-08-15 22:49:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Gèlè ò dùn bi ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, kò tó kó yẹni”: “Head tie is not as sweet as the skill of tying, having the skill of tying is not as sweet as how well it fits”

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Aṣọ Yorùbá, ìró àti bùbá kò pé lai si gèlè. Gèlè oriṣiriṣi ló wà̀, a lè lo gèlè aṣọ ìbílẹ̀ bi: aṣọ òfi/òkè, àdìrẹ, tàbi ki á yọ gèlè lára aṣọ. Ọpọlọpọ gèle ìgbàlódé wá lati òkè òkun.

: Gèlè aṣọ òfì/òkè – Head tie from traditional woven fabric. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Gèlè oriṣiriṣi – Various Head ties. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Gèlè aṣọ òkè-òkun ti ìgbàlódé̀̀̀̀ – Modern imported fabric head-tie. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Gèlè aṣọ ànkàrá – Head tie from same (cotton fabric). Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ìmúra obinrin Yorùbá kò pé lai wé gèlè, ṣùgbọ́n òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “Gele ko dun bi ka mo we Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-06-26 10:30:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Bί a bá ránni ni iṣẹ ẹrú: One sent on a slavish errand (on man’s inhumanity to man)

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The Mido Macia Story courtesy of NEWSY reporting from multiple sources and giving a broader view

Yorὺbá nί “Bί a bá ránni nί iṣẹ ẹrú, a fi tọmọ jẹ”. Ọlọpa tί o yẹ ki o dãbo bo ará àti ẹrú nί ìlú, nhuwa ìkà sί àwọn tί o yẹ ki wọn ṣọ. Ọlọpa South Africa so ọdọmọkunrin ọmọ ọdún mẹta dinlọgbọn – Mido Gracia, mọ ọk`ọ ọlọpa, wọ larin ìgboro, lu, lẹhin gbogbo eleyi, ju si àtìm`ọle tίtί o fi kú. Ọlọpa wọnyi hὺ ìwà ìkà yί nίgbangba lai bìkίtà pe aye ti lujára. Eleyi fi “Ìwà ìkà ọmọ enia sί ọmọ enia han”. Ọlọpa South Africa ṣi àṣẹ ti wọn nί lὸ, wọn rán wọn niṣe ẹrú, wọn o fi tọmọ jẹ. Sὺnre o Mido Macia.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Yoruba proverb says that, “One sent on a slavish errand, should deliver the message with the discretion of an heir”. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-03-02 00:25:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Àpẹrẹ Ìsìnkú Ìbílẹ̀ fún Arúgbó ni Ilẹ́ Yorùbá – Example of Yoruba Traditional Burial Rites for the Elderly

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Ìnáwó rẹpẹtẹ ni ìsìnkú arúgbó jẹ́ ni ilé Yorùbá. Bi arúgbó bá kú ni ilé Yorùbá ki ṣe òkú ọ̀fọ̀ ṣùgbọ́n òkú ijọ àti ji jẹ, mi mu ni pàtàki bi irú arúgbó bá bi àwọn ọmọ ti ó ti dàgbà. Gbogbo ẹbi, ará àti ilú yi ó parapọ̀ lati ṣe ẹ̀yẹ ikẹhin fún irú arúgbó bẹ́ ẹ̀. Àwọn ọmọ àti ọmọ-ọmọ yi o ṣe oriṣiriṣi ẹ̀yẹ ìbílẹ̀ fún ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọjọ́ lati gbé ìyá tàbi àgbà bàbá àgbà relé. Bi eléré ìbílẹ̀ kan ti nlọ ni òmíràn yio de, eleyi lo njẹ́ ki ilú kékeré dùn.

A o ṣe àpẹrẹ àṣà ìsìnkú ìbílẹ̀ fún arúgbó pẹ̀lú ni Ìbòròpa Àkókó ilú Yorùbá ni ẹ̀gbẹ́ Ìkàrẹ́-Àkókó ti Ipinle Ondo, orile-ede Nigeria.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Burial of the old one is often an expensive affair In Yoruba land. When an old person dies, it is not mournful, but of celebration marked with dancing and feasting particularly when the old person is survived by successful grown up children. All the families, contemporaries and the entire community often join hands to perform the last rites for such old person. The children and grand-children would join hands in the performance of several days’ traditional burial ceremonies held to give the deceased old mother or father a befitting last rites. As one traditional performer is departing another one is replacing, this is a contributory factor to the fun enjoyed in the smaller Yoruba communities.

Video recording example of traditional burial of the elderly held in Iboropa Akoko, a small town near Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria are here below.

Originally posted 2017-05-19 23:07:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ni ilú Afọ́jú, Olójú kan Lọba”: Ìjọba Òṣèlú tuntun gba Ìjọba ni Orilẹ̀-èdè Nigeria – “In the Country of the Blind, One-eyed person is the King”: Transfer of Democratic Power from the incumbent to the Elected in Nigeria

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Ọjọ́ itàn ni ọjọ́ kọkàndinlógún, oṣù karun, ọdún Ẹgbãlemẹ̃dógún jẹ fun orilẹ̀ èdè Nigeria àti gbogbo ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀dúdú. Kò wọ́pọ̀ ki Ìjọba Ológun tàbi Ẹgbẹ́ Òṣèlú gbà lati gbé Ìjọba silẹ̀ ni ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀dúdú nitori eyi àwọn Olóri Òṣèlú lati orilẹ̀ èdè bi mẹrinléladọta pé jọ si Abuja, olú-ilú Nigeria lati ṣe ẹlẹri gbi gbé Ìjọba lati ọ̀dọ̀ Olóri kan si ekeji.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan gbé Ìjọba fún Muhammadu Buhari – Handing over

Yorùbá sọ wi pé “Melo la ó kà leyin Adépèlé”, a ó ṣe àyẹ̀wò di ẹ̀ ninú àpẹrẹ àwọn Olóri Òṣèlú Aláwọ̀dúdú tó jẹ Oyè “Akintọ́lá ta kú”: Ọ̀gágun Olóògbé Muammar Gaddafi ti Libya ṣe titi wọn fi pa si ori oyè lẹhin ọdún méjilélogóji; Hosni Mubarak ti Egypt wà lóri oyè titi ará ilú fi le kúrò lẹhin ọgbọ̀n ọdún; ará ilú gbiyànjú ṣùgbọ́n wọn ó ri Bàbá Robert Mugabe (arúgbó ọdún mọ́kànlélãdọrun) ti Zimbabwe lé kúrò lati ọ̀rùndinlógóji ọdún; Paul Biya ti Cameroon ti ṣe Olóri Òṣèlú lati ogóji ọdún; Omar al-Bashir ti Sudan ti wà lóri oyè fún ọdún méjilélógún. Àwọn ọ̀dọ́ ti a lérò wi pé yio tun yi iwà padà kò yàtọ̀ bi wọn bá ti dé ipò. Pierre Nkurunziza ti Burundi gbà ki àwọn ará ilú kú, ju ki ó ma gbe àpóti ibò ni igbà kẹta lẹhin ọdún mẹwa; Joseph Kabila – Olóri Òṣèlú Congo lati ọdún mẹrinla; Olóri Òṣèlú Togo Faure Gnassingbé ti wà lóri oyè fún ọdún mẹwa lehin iku Bàbá rẹ, kò dẹ̀ fẹ́ kúrò àti ọ̀pọ̀ tó ti kú si ori oyè.

Yorùbá sọ wi pé “Ni ilú Afọ́jú, Olójú kan Lọba”, ọ̀rọ̀ yi gbà ọpẹ́ fún orilẹ̀-èdè Nigeria, nitori Olóri Òṣèlú Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, gbà lati gbé Ìjọba fún Olóri Ogun Muhammadu Buhari ti ẹgbẹ́ míràn lai si ìjà. Irú eyi ṣọ̀wọ́n, pàtàki ni ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀dúdú. Ẹgbẹ́ Òṣèlú Alágboòrùn ti ṣe Ìjọba fún ọdún mẹ́rindinlógún ki ilú tó fi ibò gbé wọn kúrò ṣùgbọ́n fún ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ Olóri àti Ẹgbẹ́ Òṣèlú ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀dúdú, ọdún mẹ́rindinlógún kéré. Ká ni Olóri Òṣèlú Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bá kọ̀ lati ki ẹni ti ilú yàn Olóri-ogun Muhammadu Buhari ku ori ire ni idije idibo, ijà ki ba ti bẹ́. Eleyi fi hàn pé Ọlọrun ni ifẹ Nigeria, ó ku ka ni ìfẹ́ ara. A lérò wi pé àwọn Olóri àti Ẹgbẹ́ Òṣèlú ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀dúdú yoku yio fi eyi kọ́gbọ́n

A ki Òṣèlú Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ti ó gbé Ìjọba fún Olóri-ogun Muhammadu Buhari ti ilú fi ibò yàn, àwọn ọmọ Nigeria ti ó dibò fún àyipadà àti gbogbo ọmọ Nigeria ni ilé lóko kú ori ire ọjọ́ pàtàki yi ni itàn orilẹ̀ èdè Nigeria.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-05-29 15:28:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Àṣejù Baba Àṣetẹ́” – Ìtàn bi Ojúkòkòrò àti Ìgbéraga ti jẹ́ Àṣejù – “Excessive behaviour is the father of Disgrace” The Story Depicting Greed and Pride as Excess”

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Ni ìgbà àtijọ́, ọkùnrin kan wa ti orúkọ rẹ njẹ́ Ìgbéraga. Wọ́n bi Ìgbéraga si ilé olórogún, àwọn ìyàwó bàbá́ rẹ yoku ni ó tọ nitori ìyá rẹ kú nigbati ó wà ni kékeré. Lẹhin ti o tiraka lati pari iwé mẹ́fà, gẹ́gẹ́ bi ọ̀dọ́, ó gbéra lọ si ilú Èkó nibiti ó ti bẹ̀rẹ̀ iṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú ilé-iṣẹ́ Ẹlẹ́ja.

Ó nṣe dáradára ni ibi iṣẹ́ ki ó tó gbọ́ ìròyìn ikú bàbá rẹ. Ìgbéraga pinu lati padà si ilú rẹ lati gba ogún ti ó tọ́ si lára oko kòkó rẹpẹtẹ ti bàbá rẹ fi silẹ̀. Ohun fúnra rẹ ra oko kún oko bàbá rẹ ti wọn pín fun. Ó di ẹni ti ó ri ṣe ju àwọn ọmọ bàbá rẹ yoku. Eyi jẹ ki gbogbo àwọn ọbàkan rẹ gbójú le fún ìrànlọ́wọ́.

Ni igbà ti ó yá, o ni ilé àti ọlà ju gbogbo àwọn yoku ni abúlé ṣùgbọ́n kò to, ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ si ra oko si titi dé oko àwọn ọmọ bàbá rẹ yoku. Eyi jẹ́ ki ó sọ àwọn ọmọ bàbá rẹ yoku di alágbàṣe ni oko ti wọn jogún. Inú àwọn ọmọ bàbá rẹ wọnyi kò dùn si wi pé wọn ti di atọrọjẹ àti alágbàṣe fún àbúrò wọn ninú ilé ara wọn.

Yorùbá ni “Àṣejù Baba Àṣetẹ́”. Ìgbéraga bẹ̀rẹ̀ si ṣe àṣejù, kò dúró lati má a fi ọrọ̀ rẹ yangà si gbogbo ará ilú pàtàki si àwọn ẹ̀gbọ́n rẹ, ó jọ ara rẹ lójú, ó si nsọ ọ̀rọ̀ lai ronú tàbi gba ikilọ̀ àwọn àgbà ti wọn mọ ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ rẹ. Kò mọ̀ wi pé ohun ngbẹ́ ikòtò ìṣubú fún ara rẹ́. Ni ọjọ́ kan, ó pe ọ̀kan ninú àwọn ẹ̀gbọ́n rẹ ti ó sọ di alágbàṣe ninú oko rẹ tẹ́lẹ̀ ó si bu, ó pe e ni aláìní dé ojú rẹ. Ẹ̀gbọ́n ké pẹ̀lú omijé lójú pé “Bi ó bá jẹ ìwọ ni Ọlọrun, ma ṣe iwà burúkú yi lọ, ṣùgbọ́n bi ó bá jẹ́ enia bi ti òhun, wà á ká ohun ti o gbin yi”.

Alágbàṣe ni oko Kòkó ti wọn jogún – Working as Labourers in their inheritted Cocoa farm.

Ni àárọ̀ ọjọ́ kan, Ìgbéraga ji ṣùgbọ́n kò lè di de nitori ó ti yarọ. Wọ́n gbe kiri titi fún itọ́jú ṣùgbọ́n asán ló já si. Ìṣòro yi jẹ ki ó ta gbogbo ohun ini rẹ ti ó fi nyangàn titi o fi di atọrọjẹ.

Ẹ̀kọ́ ìtàn yi ni pe àṣejù ohunkóhun kò dára pàtàki ki enia gbójúlé ọrọ̀ ilé ayé bi ẹni pé àwọn ti ó kù kò mọ̀ ọ́ ṣe, nitori Yorùbá sọ wi pé “kìtà kìtà kò mọ́là, Ká ṣiṣẹ́ bi ẹrú kò da nkan, Ọlọrun ló ngbé ni ga”.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

In the olden days there was a man named “Igberaga”, he was born into a polygamous home and raised by the other wives of his father because his mother died when he was a child. He migrated to Lagos (a big city) where he joined a Fishing company after struggling through his teenage life and obtaining Primary Six certificate.

He was prospering in his business, while his father died. Igberaga decided to return to his father’s estate to claim his own of his father’s vast Cocoa Plantation. He was able to acquire more plantation beside what was allocated to him as his inheritance. Prosperity smiles on him more than any of his siblings. Many of his half brothers and sisters relied on him for financial support.

After a while, he owned more houses and prospered more than anyone in the community. Beside he continued to acquire more farms, till he acquired his siblings’ inheritance and making them to become tenants. To crown it all, he began to use them as a labourer in the farm they once owned. This did not settle well with his brothers as they were now reclined into beggars in their homes and servants to a younger brother.

According to a Yoruba adage, “Excessive behaviour is the father of Disgrace”. Igberaga engaged in excessive behaviour as he did not stop flaunting his wealth, he was arrogant and flippant at all times, despite warnings from those that know and understand his upbringing. He refused all the warnings by the elders. Little did he know that, he was working towards his doom? One day, he called one of his brothers whom he employed as a labourer, in his original farm and humiliated him because he was poor. The poor brother lamented, by crying out that; “if you are God you go ahead with your plan, but if you are human like me, you will certainly reap what you sow”.

One morning, Igberaga woke up and could not stand on his feet, he became crippled. Many attempts were made to find a cure for his illness but to no avail. This circumstances forced him to sell all his properties and he ended up becoming a beggar.

Lessons from this story teaches that one should not equate wealth with one’s hard work alone, as if the others who are less privileged did not struggle enough. According to Yoruba proverb “Wealth is not by hard labour or slaving away, but it is by God’s blessing”.

Originally posted 2017-03-07 20:16:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“BÍ A TI NṢE NI ILÉ WA…”: MICHELLE OBAMA’S DRESSING AT OSCAR 2013

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Image is from MSNBC (http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/02/25/a-cover-up-by-the-iranian-press-michelle-obama-has-no-right-to-bare-arms/) They covered the story on the Iranian Press Agency that found Michelle Obama’s dress a little too over the edge.

“Bí a ti nṣe ní ilé wa, ewọ ibòmíì”: “Our ways at home, a taboo for others” — one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Òwe yi fihàn wípé bí ọpọlọpọ ti sọ wípé imura Obìnrin Akọkọ ni ìlú America Michelle Obama (ni OSCAR 2013) ti dara tó, ewọ ni ki obinrin Iran mura bẹ. Awọn obinrin Iran nilati bo gbogbo ara pẹlu “Hijab” nitori wọn o gbọdọ rí irun, apá tàbí ẹsẹ obìnrin ni gbangba.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

This Yoruba proverb: “Our ways at home, a taboo for others”, shows that even though many people thought the First Lady Michelle Obama’s dressing for the Oscar was stunning, it might be a taboo for an Iranian woman to dress like that. Iranian women must cover all their bodies with “Hijab” because women’s hair, arms or legs must not be exposed in the public.

Originally posted 2013-02-26 18:17:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Òjò nrọ̀, Orò nké, atọ́kùn àlùgbè ti ò láṣọ méji a sùn ihòhò – Owó epo rọ̀bì fọ́”: “The rain is falling and the call of the secret cult is sounding loudly outside, the shuttle that lacks a change of clothing will sleep naked – Crude Oil price crashed”

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Ìgbà tàbi àsikò mèji ló wà ni ọ̀pọ̀ ilẹ̀ aláwọ̀-dúdú, ìgbà òjò àti ẹ̀rùn. Ni ayé àtijọ́, òjò ni ará ilú gbójúlé lati pọn omi silẹ̀ fún ọ̀gbẹlẹ̀. Àsikò òjò ṣe pàtàki fún iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀, omi pi pọn pamọ́ fún li lò, àti fún ìtura lọ́wọ́ ooru.

Ẹ̀rọ wi wa epo rọ̀bì – Crude Oil Rig. Oil Price Drop Deepens Nigeria Economy Concerns

A lè fi ìgbà òjò wé ìgbà ti orilẹ̀ èdè Nigeria pa owó rẹpẹtẹ lori epo rọ̀bì lai fi owó pamọ́. Lati ìgbà ti epo rọ̀bì ti gbòde, ilú ko kọ ara si iṣẹ́ àgbẹ̀ àti àwọn iṣẹ́ miran ti ó lè pa owó wọlé. Àwọn Ìjọba Ológun àti Alágbádá, bẹ̀rẹ̀ si ná owó bi ẹni pé ìgbà ẹ̀rùn kò ni dé. Àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀ gbigbà àti ji jà ilú ni olè, kò jẹ ki òjò owó epo rọ̀bì rọ̀ kári. Pẹ̀lú gbogbo owó epo rọ̀bì rẹpẹtẹ, iwà ibàjẹ́ pọ̀ si, kò si ọ̀nà ti ó dára, ilé-iwé bàjẹ́ si, ilé-iwòsàn kò ni ẹ̀rọ igbàlódé, ilú wà ni òkùnkùn nitori dákú-dáji iná-mọ̀nàmọ́ná àti ìnira yoku.

Òwe Yorùbá sọ wipé “Òjò nrọ̀, Orò nké, atọ́kùn àlùgbè ti ò láṣọ méji a sùn ihòho” Ìtumọ̀ òwe yi ni pé “Ẹni ti kò bá pọn omi de òùngbẹ nigbà òjò , a jẹ ìyà rẹ ni ìgbà ẹ̀rùn”. A lè fi òwe yi ṣe ikilọ fún àwọn Òṣèlú Alágbádá ti ó nkéde fún ibò ni lọ́wọ́lọ́wọ́ pé àtúnṣe ṣi wà lati rán aṣọ kọjá méji fún ará ilú. Ni àsikò ẹ̀rùn ti owó epo rọ̀bì fọ́ yi, ó yẹ ki àwọn Òṣèlú lè ronú ohun ti wọn lè ṣe lati yi ìwà padà kúrò ni inákuná àti lati ronú ohun ti wọn lè ṣe lati pa owó wọlé kún owó epo rọ̀bì, ki ilú lè rọgbọ lọ́jọ́ iwájú.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-02-06 09:30:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Yoruba Blog

Ẹ jẹ ki a gbé èdè àti àṣà Yorùbá Lárugẹ: keeping the Yoruba language alive…

Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

“Gbogbo ohun tó ndán kọ́ ni Wúrà” – “Not all that glitters is Gold”

Ọwọ́ Ọmọdé Kòtó Pẹpẹ, Tagbalagba Ò Wọ Kèrègbè: The Child’s Hand Cannot Reach The Shelf, The Adult’s Hand Cannot Enter The Calabash

“Ọ̀pọ̀ ni eṣú fi nya igi oko: Ìbò ni ipinlẹ Ọ̀ṣun” – “There is strength in numbers: Osun State Election”

“Gèlè ò dùn bi ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, ká mọ̀ ọ́ wé, kò tó kó yẹni”: “Head tie is not as sweet as the skill of tying, having the skill of tying is not as sweet as how well it fits”

Bί a bá ránni ni iṣẹ ẹrú: One sent on a slavish errand (on man’s inhumanity to man)

Àpẹrẹ Ìsìnkú Ìbílẹ̀ fún Arúgbó ni Ilẹ́ Yorùbá – Example of Yoruba Traditional Burial Rites for the Elderly

“Ni ilú Afọ́jú, Olójú kan Lọba”: Ìjọba Òṣèlú tuntun gba Ìjọba ni Orilẹ̀-èdè Nigeria – “In the Country of the Blind, One-eyed person is the King”: Transfer of Democratic Power from the incumbent to the Elected in Nigeria

“Àṣejù Baba Àṣetẹ́” – Ìtàn bi Ojúkòkòrò àti Ìgbéraga ti jẹ́ Àṣejù – “Excessive behaviour is the father of Disgrace” The Story Depicting Greed and Pride as Excess”

“BÍ A TI NṢE NI ILÉ WA…”: MICHELLE OBAMA’S DRESSING AT OSCAR 2013

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