Ilu Igbo – Igbo Proverbs
Chinua Achebe kwuru na ilu Igbo bụ mmanụ a na-eji eri okwu. Ọ bụghị nanị na ilu Igbo dị mkpa maka mgbasa omenaala Igbo, kamakwa ọ na-ekerekwa òkè dị ukwuu n’okwu nkịtị na n’ụdị nzikọrịta ozi ndị ọzọ.
N’okpuru bụ ụfọdụ ilu Igbo na ihe ha pụtara.
Eze mbe si na nsogbu bu nke ya, ya jiri kworo ya n’azu
Lit: The tortoise said that trouble is its own; that’s why it carries trouble on its back
Exp: One should try and shoulder one’s own burden
Nwaanyi muta ite ofe mmiri mmiri, di ya amuta ipi utara aka were suru ofe.
Li: If a woman decides to make the soup watery, the husband will learn to dent the foofoo before dipping it into the soup.
Exp: one should learn to change tactics to suit a situation.
O na-abu a si nwata wuba ahu, o saba afo ya.
Lit: Tell a child to wash his body, he washes his stomach.
Exp: This is a sign of immaturity.
Agwo emeghi nke o jiri buru agwo, umuaka achiri ya hie nku.
Lit: If a snake fails to show its venom, little kids will use it in tying firewood.
Exp: There are times when one defends ones capability.
Onwu egbuchughi ji e jiri chu aja, e mesie o pue ome.
Lit: If the yam used in sacrifice does not die prematurely, it will eventually germinate.
Exp: Things will eventually improve despite the present difficulties.
Azu na-eloghi ibe ya adighi ebu.
Lit: A fish that does not swallow other fishes does not grow bigger.
Exp: There are occasions where one acts without qualms.
Isi kotara ebu ka ebu na-agba.
Lit: It is the head that disturbs the wasp that the wasp stings.
Exp: Used in warning trouble makers about serious consequences.
E tie dike n’ala, a nu uzu ya.
Lit: Knock a valiant man to the ground and the shouts will be tremendous.
Exp: The downfall of a famous man attracts public attention.
O bu mmuo ndi na-efe na-egbu ha.
Lit: It is the deity that people worship that kills them.
Exp: A reference to the efficacy of people’s belief.
O na-abu akota ihe ka ubi, e lee oba.
Lit: Whilst farming, if one encounters what is bigger than the farm, one sells the barn.
Exp: One who incurs what is beyond one’s ability may have to look for a solution from a source of greater capability than himself.
(or, there are things we encounter in life that overwhelm our ability to handle them)
E gbuo dike n’ogu uno, e ruo n’ogu agu e lote ya.
Lit: Kill a warrior during skirmishes at home, you will remember him when fighting enemies.
Exp: Don’t destroy your leaders.
Ewu nwuru n’oba ji abughi agu gburu ya.
Lit: A goat that dies in a barn was not killed by hunger.
Exp: He has the means but his undoing is laziness.
A ma ka mmiri si were baa n’opi ugboguru?
Lit: Who knows how water entered into the stalk of the pumpkin?
Exp: Who can explain this puzzle?
A chuo aja ma a hughi udele, a mara na ihe mere be ndi mmuo.
Lit: If the vulture fails to hover at the end of a sacrifice, then you know that something happened in the land of spirits.
Exp: The regulars must be around otherwise something is amiss.
Si kele onye nti chiri; enu anughi, ala anu.
Lit: Salute the deaf; if the heavens don’t hear, the earth will hear.
Exp: Let us do the correct thing, there are those who will understand.
Nwunye awo si na di atoka uto, ya jiri nuta nke ya kworo ya n’azu.
Lit: The female toad said that husband is so sweet that when she got married, she carried her husband permanently on the back.
Exp: A humorous proverb used in cajoling women into loving their husbands.
Ugo chara acha adighi echu echu
Lit: A mature eagle feather will ever remain pure.
Exp: One well trained will stand the test of time.
Anaghi a no n’otu ebe e kili mmonwu
Lit: You don’t have to stand in only one place, watching a masquerade.
Exp: There are multiple options one can employ to accomplish an objective.
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