Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

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

“Ọ̀run ńyabọ̀, ki ṣé ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan”: “The sky is falling, is not a matter limited to a person”.

Ọ̀run ńyabọ̀ – the sky is falling. Courtesy: @theyroubablog

Òwe Yorùbá yi ṣe gba àwọn ti o nbẹ̀rù nigba gbogbo níyànjú wípé ó yẹ ki èniyàn fara balẹ̀ lati ṣe iwadi ohun ti ó fẹ́ ṣẹlẹ̀ ki ó tó “kú sílẹ̀ de ikú”.

Ẹlòmíràn, kò ni ṣe iwadi ohun ti àwọn èniyàn fi ńsáré, ki ó tó bẹ̀rẹ̀ si sáré. Ọpọlọpọ ti sa wọ inú ewu ti wọn rò wípé àwọn sá fún. Fún àpẹrẹ, nigbati iná ajónirun balẹ̀ ni àgọ́ Ológun ni Ikẹja ni ìlú Èkó ni bi ọdún mẹjọ sẹhin. Bi àwọn kan ti gbọ́ ìró iná ajónirun yi, wọn sáré titi ọpọ fi parun si inú irà ni Ejigbo ni ọ̀nà jínjìn si ibi ti ìṣẹ̀lẹ̀ ti ṣẹlẹ̀.

Àpẹrẹ miran ti a lè fi ṣe àlàyé pé “Ọ̀run ńyabọ̀, ki ṣé ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan” ni ẹni ti ó sọ pé ohun ri wípé ayé ti fẹ parẹ́, àwọn kan gbàgbọ́, wọn bẹ̀rẹ̀ si ta ohun ìní wọn. Àti ẹni ti ó ta ohun ìní àti ẹni ti ó ra, kò si ninú wọn ti ó ma mú nkankan lọ ti ayé bá parẹ nitotọ.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

This Yoruba proverb can be used to encourage those who are always afraid, that it is good to be patient enough to find out the happenings before “dying in readiness for death”.

Some, will not enquire about why people are running before they begin to run too. Many have ran into danger that they thought they were trying to escape. An example, was when there was bomb explosion at the Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos about eight years ago. When some heard the explosion, they ran until they perished at the Ejigbo marsh, a far distance from the incident.

Another example that can be used to buttress the proverb that “The sky is falling, is not a matter limited to a person”, was when a soothsayer predicted that the world was coming to an end at the beginning of the new millennium, many believed and they began to sell off their properties. Both the property seller and the property buyer, none would take along anything were the world to have come to an end as predicted.

Originally posted 2013-09-27 18:37:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ọ̀tún wẹ Òsì, Òsì wẹ Ọ̀tún, Lọwọ́ fi Nmọ: Right Washing The Left & The Left Washing The Right Makes For Clean Hands

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There is a Yoruba saying that, the right hand washes the left, and the left washes the right for clean hands. Image is courtesy of Microsoft Free Images.

Àṣà àtọwọ́dọ́wọ́, ọwọ́ ni a fi njẹ ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ oúnjẹ Yorùbá, nítorí kò si ṣíbí tó dára tó ọwọ́ lati fi jẹ oúnjẹ òkèlè bi iyán, èyí jẹ kó ṣe pàtàkì lati fọ ọwọ́ mejeji lẹ́hìn oúnjẹ. Fífọ ọwọ́ kan kòlè mọ́ bi ka fọ ọwọ́ mejeji.

Ọ̀rọ̀, “ọ̀tún wẹ òsì, òsì wẹ ọ̀tún, lọwọ́ fi nmọ” wúlò lati gba àwọn ènìà níyànjú wípé àgbájọwọ́ lãrin ẹbí, ọ̀rẹ́ àti ará ìlú lérè.

Yorùbá ni “Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi nsọya, ajẹjẹ ọwọ́ kan ko gbe ẹrú dórí”, ọmọ Yorùbá nílélóko, ẹ jẹ́kí a parapọ̀ tún ílú ṣe.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-04-10 02:30:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ṣòkòtò àgbàwọ̀, bi kò ṣoni lẹsẹ á fúnni nítan”: “A borrowed trouser/pant, if it is not too loose on the legs, it is too tight at the thigh”.

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Ìwà àti ìṣe ọ̀dọ́ ìgbàlódé, kò fi àṣà àti èdè Yorùbá hàn rárá.

Aṣọ àlòkù ti gbòde, dipò aṣọ ìbílẹ̀. Ọpọlọpọ aṣọ àgbàwọ̀ yi kò wà fún ara àti lilò ni ilẹ̀ aláwọ̀-dúdú. Ọ̀dọ́ miran a wọ asọ àti bàtà òtútù ninu ooru. Ọ̀pọ̀ Olùṣọ́-àgùntàn àti Oníhìnrere, ki wọ́ aṣọ ìbílẹ̀, wọn a di bi ìrẹ̀ pẹ̀lú aṣọ òtútù.

: Aṣọ àlòku – second hand clothes. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: asọ òtútù ninu ooru – Winter Coat in the heat. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: ọ̀dọ́ ìgbàlóde – Youth loves foreign clothes. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Èdè ẹnu wọn kò jọ Oyinbo, kò jọ Yorùbá nitori àti fi ipá sọ èdè Gẹẹsi.

Òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “Ṣòkòtò àgbàwọ̀, bi kò ṣoni lẹsẹ á fúnni nítan”. Bi a bá wo òwe yi, àti tun ṣòkòtò àgbàwọ̀ ṣe lati báni mu, ni ìnáwó púpọ̀ tàbi ki ó má yẹni. Bi a bá fi òwe yi ṣe akiyesi, aṣọ àlòkù ti wọn kó wọ̀ ìlú npa ọrọ̀ ilẹ̀ wa. Àwọn ti ó rán-aṣọ àti àwọn ti ó hun aṣọ ìbílẹ̀, ko ri iṣẹ́ ṣe tó nitori aṣọ àlòkù/òkèrè ti àwọn ọdọ kó owó lé . A lè fi òwe yi bá àwọn ti ó nwọ aṣọ-alaṣọ àti àwọn ti ó fẹ́ gbàgbé èdè wọn nitori èdè Gẹẹsi wi. Òwe yi tún bá àwọn Òṣèlú ti ó nlo àṣà Òṣè́lú ti òkè-òkun/Ìlú-Oyinbo lai wo bi wọn ti lè tunṣe lati bá ìlú wọn mu. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-09-13 16:33:18. 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

“Bi a bà jẹ̀kọ à dári ji Ewé”: À-lò-tún-lò – “After eating the corn starch meal, forgive the leaf in which it is wrapped” – Recycling

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Ewé iran – Organic food wrapping leaves. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ki ariwo à-lò-tún-lò tó gbòde ni aiyé òde òni nipa àti dáàbò bo àyíká ni Yorùbá ti ńlo à-lò-tún-lò pàtàki li lo ewé lati pọ́n oúnjẹ.

Oriṣiriṣi ewé ló wà ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá ti wọn fi má ńpọ́n oúnjẹ bi: ẹ̀kọ, ọ̀ọ̀lẹ̀/mọ́in-mọ́in, irẹsi sisè (ọ̀fadà), obì àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ. Ewé iran/ẹ̀kọ ló wọ́pọ lati fi pọ́n ẹ̀kọ, ọ̀ọ̀lẹ̀/mọ́in-mọ́in, iyán, àmàlà, irẹsi sisè àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ. Ewé obì, ewé ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀, ewé kókò, àti àwọn ewé yókù ni iwúlò wọn ni ilé tàbi lóko. Gbogbo ewé wọnyi wúlò fún àyiká ju ọ̀rá ti wọn ńlò lati pọ́n oúnjẹ láyé òde òni. Ewé li lo fún pi pọ́n àwọn oúnjẹ kò léwu rárá bi ọ̀rá igbàlódé.

Yorùbá ni “Bi a bà jẹ̀kọ à dári ji Ewé”. Òwe yi túmọ̀ si pé, bi a jẹ oúnjẹ inú ewé tán, à ju ewé nù. Ewé ti a kó sọnù wúlò fún àyiká ju ọ̀rá igbàlódé lọ. Bi wọn da ewé si ilẹ́, yio da ilẹ́ padà, bi wọn da sinú omi/odò, kò léwu fún ẹja àti ohun ẹlẹmi inú omi/odò, bi ọ̀rá àti ike igbàlódé ti ó ḿba àyiká jẹ́. Ẹ ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwòrán lilo ewé lójú iwé yi.

: Obì ninú ewé Obì – Kolanut on Kolanut leaves. Courtesy:@theyorubablog

: Oúnjẹ pi-pọ́n – Wrapping a meal. Courtesy @theyorubablog

: Ọ̀ọ̀lẹ̀/Mọ́ínmọ́ín eléwé – Wrapped Steamed beans paste. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Before the recycling campaign began in the recent times, in order to preserve the environment, Yoruba people had been recycling particularly in the use of leaves to wrap or preserve food. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-06-23 10:15:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ọ̀rẹ́ dani kò tó pọ́n, abínibí/ẹbi a má dani” – “It is not worth dwelling on a friend’s disappointment or deceit, as such do occur from siblings/family members”.

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Kò si ibi ti ẹ̀tàn tàbi ká dani kò ti lè wá. Ẹni ti ó bá ni iwà burúkú bi: ojúkòkòrò, ìlara àti ìmọ-tara-ẹni nikan, lè dani tàbi tan-nijẹ. Ọmọ lè tan bàbá tàbi ìyá, ìyá tàbi bàbá lè tan ọmọ, ọkọ lè da aya, ọmọ-ìyá tàbi ẹbi ẹni lè tan ni jẹ, tàbi dani, ṣùgbọ́n ọ̀pọ̀ ìgbà, èniyàn ki reti irú iwà yi lati ọ̀dọ̀ ọ̀rẹ́. Nitori ifi ọkàn tàn si ọ̀rẹ́, ìbànújẹ́ tàbi ẹ̀dùn ọkàn gidi ni fún èniyàn ti ọ̀rẹ́ bá da tàbi tàn jẹ.

Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá sọ pé, “Ọ̀rẹ́ dani kò tó pọ́n, abínibí/ẹbi a má dani”. Òwe yi fihàn pé kò si ẹni ti kò lè dani tàbi tan ni jẹ, nitori “Àgbẹ́kẹ̀lé enia, asán ló jẹ́”. A lè fi òwe yi ṣe ìtùnú fún ẹni ti irònú bá nitori ọ̀rẹ́ da a, tàbi ti ó sọ ohun ribiribi nù nitori ẹ̀tàn ọ̀rẹ́.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Disappointment or deception can come from anyone or anywhere. Anyone with bad character such as: Greed, envy and selfishness, can disappoint or deceive others. Disappointment or deceit could come from children to parents, mother or father to children, husband to wife or vice versa, or from siblings or family members, but most times, people never expected such from friends. As a result of placing great confidence in a friend, it often causes sorrow or depression for people that are disappointed or deceived.

According to the Yoruba adage that said “It is not worth dwelling on a friend’s disappointment or deceit, as such do occur from siblings/family members”. This proverb showed that anyone could disappoint or deceive because “Trust/confidence in people is vanity”. The adage can be used to console or comfort those that are depressed as a result of friend’s disappointment or those who have incurred losses as a result of a friend’s deceit.

Originally posted 2014-10-28 19:45:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ohun ti ó ntán lọdún eégún” – Kérésìmesì ọdún Ẹgbã-lé-mẹ́rìnlà ti lọ̀ – “Masquerade Festival sure has an end” – Christmas 2014 has gone

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Bàbá-Kérésì – Father Christmas

Ìwà alajẹtan ti bori iránti ohun ti Kérésìmesì wà fún. Ọ̀pọ̀ kò ti ẹ̀ ránti pé iránti ọjọ́ ibi Jesu ni Ìjọba ṣe fún ará ilú ni ọjọ́ ìsimi ni ọjọ́ karun-din-lọgbọn oṣù kejila ni ọdọ-ọdún. Ọ̀pọ̀ ọmọdé ni Òkè-Òkun ti ẹ rò pé “Bàbá-Kérésì dára ju Jesu” nitori Bàbá-Kérésì fún àwọn ni ẹ̀bùn ṣùgbọ́n ó kù si ọwọ́ òbi àti àwọn Onigbàgbọ́ lati tẹra mọ́ àlàyé ohun ti ọdún Kérésìmesì wà fún.

Kò yẹ ki Kérésìmesì sún èniyàn si igbèsè tàbi fa irònú. Àwọn ti ó wà ni Òkè-Òkun, ìwà-alẹjẹtan ti sún ọ̀pọ̀ si igbèsè, tàbi irònú nitori wọn kò ni owó lati ra ẹ̀bùn àti ohun tuntun ti wọn polówó tantan lóri ẹrọ-isọ̀rọ̀ igbàlódé bi ẹ̀rọ amóhùn-máwòrán, ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsi àti ori ayélujára.

Òwe Yorùbá ni “Ohun ti ó ntán lọdún eégún”, eyi túmọ̀ si pé, “Ohun ti ó ni ibẹ̀rẹ̀, ni òpin”. Kérésìmesì ọdún yi ti wá, ó ti lọ, fún àwọn ti ó jẹ igbèsè nitori ọdún, ó ku igbèsè lati san wọ ọdún tuntun. Ni àsikò ìpalẹ̀mọ́ ọdún tuntun yi, ó yẹ ki èniyàn ṣe ipinu lati ṣe bi o ti mọ.

Ọdún tuntun á bá wa láyọ̀ o.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Consumerism has nearly overtaken the purpose of Christmas. Most people no longer remember that the annual public holiday for every twenty-fifth of December is dedicated to the Continue reading →

Originally posted 2014-12-26 16:44:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

ÌHÀ TI AWỌN ÒBÍ NI ILẸ̀ KAARỌ OOJIRE KỌ SI ÈDÈ YORÙBÁ: THE ATTITUDE OF PARENTS IN YORUBA LAND TOWARDS YORUBA LANGUAGE

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A sọ wipe ọmọ kò gbọ́ èdè, tani kó kọ̃? Àwa òbí nii ṣe púpọ ni bi àwọn ọmọ wa ṣe mú èdè
abi-nibi wọn. Àwa òbí lati yi ìhà ti a kọ si èdè Yorùbá padá, ti a kò bá fẹ́ ki o pòórá.
Òwe Yorùbá kan tilẹ sọ wípé, “Onígbá Io npe igbá rẹ ni pankara, ti a fi nbaa fi kolẹ’.
Gẹ́gẹ́ bi òbí, ohun ti a bá fi lélẹ̀ fún àwọn ọmọ wa lati ìgbà èwe ni wọn yio gbọ́njú mọ,
ti wọn yio si dìmú.

Ṣugbọn kini a nfi lélẹ̀? ‘Ẹ̀kọ́ Àjòjì’! Eyi yi ni Èdè Gẹẹsi. Àwa òbí papa, ti a rò
pé a ti lajú ju pé kaa mã fi èdè abínibí wa maa ba àwọn ọmọ sọ̀rọ̀ nílé lọ. Àti kàwé, a si
ti bọ́ si ipele tó ga ju èyi ti a bi wa si lọ, nitori na, èdè wa di ohun ìtìjú àti àbùkù, ti kò yẹ
ipò ti a wà.

Ẹ jẹ́ ki a kọ́ ọgbọ́n lára àwọn Ìgbò, Hausa, Oyinbo, China àti India,ki a si fi won ṣe àwòkọ́ṣe. Kò si ibi ti àwọn wọnyi wà, yálà nílé tabi lóko, èdè wọn, ni wọn maa ba awọn ọmọ sọ. Àwọn Oyinbo gbé èdè wọn ni arugẹ, ni ó mú ki idaji gbogbo enia ni àgbáyé ki ó maa lo èdè wọn. Àwọn ará ìlú China, ẹ̀wẹ̀, kò fi èdè wọn ṣeré rárá, tó bẹ̃ ti odindi ìlú America, àti àwọn kan ni ilẹ̀ adúláwọ̀ ti bẹ̀rẹ̀ si kọ awọn ọmọ ilé-ìwé wọn ni Mandarin, ẹ̀yà èdè China. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-10-08 18:36:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Welcome to the Yoruba Blog…

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The home of all things Yoruba… news, commentary, proverbs, food. Keeping the Yoruba culture alive.

Originally posted 2013-01-24 21:03:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ọ̀run nyabọ̀, ki ṣé ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan – Ayé Móoru” – “Heaven is collapsing, is not a problem peculiar to one person – Global Warming”

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Ọ̀run nyabọ̀ – Nature’s fury

Ìbẹ̀rù tó gbòde ayé òde òni ni pé “Ayé Móoru”, nitori iṣẹ̀lẹ̀ ti o nṣẹlẹ̀ ni àgbáyé bi òjò àrọ̀ irọ̀ dá ni ilú kan, ilẹ̀-riru ni òmìràn, ọ̀gbẹlẹ̀, omíyalé, ijà iná àti bẹ́ ẹ̀ bẹ́ ẹ̀ lọ. Eleyi dá ìbẹ̀rù silẹ̀ ni àgbáyé pàtàki ni àwọn ilú Òkè-Òkun bi Àmẹ́ríkà ti ó ka àwọn iṣẹ̀lẹ̀ wọnyi si àfọwọ́fà ọmọ ẹda. Wọn kilọ̀ pé bi wọn kò bá wá nkan ṣe si Ayé Móoru yi, ayé yio parẹ́.

Àpẹrẹ miran ti a lè fi ṣe àlàyé pé “Ọ̀run nyabọ̀, ki ṣé ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan”, ni ẹni ti ó sọ pé ohun ri amin pé ayé ti fẹ parẹ́, àwọn kan gbàgbọ́, wọn bẹ̀rẹ̀ si ta ohun ìní wọn. Àti ẹni ti ó ta ohun ìní àti ẹni ti ó ra, kò si ninú wọn ti ó ma mú nkankan lọ ti ayé bá parẹ ni tootọ. Elòmíràn, kò ni ṣe iwadi ohun ti àwọn èniyàn fi ńsáré, ki ó tó bẹ̀rẹ̀ si sáré. Ọpọlọpọ ti sa wọ inú ewu ti wọn rò wí pé àwọn sá fún. Fún àpẹrẹ, nigbati iná ajónirun balẹ̀ ni àgọ́ Ológun ni Ikẹja ni ìlú Èkó ni bi ọdún mẹwa sẹhin. Bi àwọn kan ti gbọ́ ìró iná ajónirun yi, wọn sáré titi ọpọ fi parun si inú irà ni Ejigbo ni ọ̀nà jínjìn si ibi ti ìṣẹ̀lẹ̀ ti ṣẹlẹ̀.

Òwe Yorùbá yi ṣe gba àwọn ti o nbẹ̀rù nigba gbogbo níyànjú wí pé ó yẹ ki èniyàn fara balẹ̀ lati ṣe iwadi ohun ti ó fẹ́ ṣẹlẹ̀ ki ó tó “kú sílẹ̀ de ikú”. Bi èniyàn bẹ̀rù á kú, bi kò bẹ̀rù á kú, nitori gẹ́gẹ́ bi itàn àdáyébá, gbogbo ohun ti ó nṣẹlẹ̀ láyé òde òni ló ti ṣẹlẹ̀ ri.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2016-04-19 08:30:59. 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

“Ọ̀run ńyabọ̀, ki ṣé ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan”: “The sky is falling, is not a matter limited to a person”.

Ọ̀tún wẹ Òsì, Òsì wẹ Ọ̀tún, Lọwọ́ fi Nmọ: Right Washing The Left & The Left Washing The Right Makes For Clean Hands

“Ṣòkòtò àgbàwọ̀, bi kò ṣoni lẹsẹ á fúnni nítan”: “A borrowed trouser/pant, if it is not too loose on the legs, it is too tight at the thigh”.

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

“Bi a bà jẹ̀kọ à dári ji Ewé”: À-lò-tún-lò – “After eating the corn starch meal, forgive the leaf in which it is wrapped” – Recycling

“Ọ̀rẹ́ dani kò tó pọ́n, abínibí/ẹbi a má dani” – “It is not worth dwelling on a friend’s disappointment or deceit, as such do occur from siblings/family members”.

“Ohun ti ó ntán lọdún eégún” – Kérésìmesì ọdún Ẹgbã-lé-mẹ́rìnlà ti lọ̀ – “Masquerade Festival sure has an end” – Christmas 2014 has gone

ÌHÀ TI AWỌN ÒBÍ NI ILẸ̀ KAARỌ OOJIRE KỌ SI ÈDÈ YORÙBÁ: THE ATTITUDE OF PARENTS IN YORUBA LAND TOWARDS YORUBA LANGUAGE

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“Ọ̀run nyabọ̀, ki ṣé ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnìkan – Ayé Móoru” – “Heaven is collapsing, is not a problem peculiar to one person – Global Warming”

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