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

Traditionally most Yoruba meals are eaten with hands as there are no better cutlery than the fingers when eating traditional meal such as solid meal like pounded yam, hence it is better to wash both hands particularly after the meal.  Washing ones hand would not be as clean as when both hands are washed.

This adage of “the right hand washes the left hand, the left hand washes the right, makes the hands cleaner”, could be used to encourage team work and cooperation between family members, friends and community.

Another Yoruba saying goes that, “It is with collection of hands that the chest is beaten, one hand would not lift a heavy load to the head”, People should come together and make the world better.

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