Welcome to Postproverbial Community

What then is a postproverbial, or to address the form in the plural sense, what are postproverbials? Postproverbials are radicalized proverbial utterances which subvert the logic and the pattern of conventional proverbs...

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SOME RANDOM PROVERBS & THEIR POSTPROVERBIALS

Proverb:  Aban bɛgu a, ɛfiri yam.
Translation: If the state is going to be destroyed, it is from the inside (the stomach).

Postproverbial: Aban bɛgu a, kokoromoti na yɛde tu no.
Translation: A government is changed through the ballot box.
Postproverbial: Aban bɛgu a, efiri ne ndwuma.
Translation: If a government is going to fall, it is from its performance.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Akwa ọmụma ekweghị sị mara nwaanyị ọkpa tịlịtịlị.
Translation: Tying of wrapper has made it difficult to identify a woman with very tiny legs.

Postproverbial: Ndị mekaniik ekweghị sị mara ndị bụ ndị ara.
Translation: The mechanics’ overall makes it hard to differentiate them from mad people.
Postproverbial: Ndị kwaya ekweghị sị mara ndị bụ grajuet.
Translation: The choristers’ regalia makes it difficult to differentiate between them and graduates.
Nigeria (Igbo) Read more

Proverb:  Mo na kwɛɛre de m’bɔɔlo bu, o wo gya mo pene a ma wu wua mo.
Translation: If you play with your lover’s child, s/he will use your penis as a whistle.

Postproverbial: Mo na kwɛɛre de m’bɔɔlo bu, o wo gya m’tɔna mo.
Translation: If you play with your lover’s child, he/she will pull your beard.
Postproverbial: Mo na kwɛɛre de m’bɔɔlo bu, o wo mae o gyeŋa o chu m’yi mo.
Translation: If you play with your lover’s child, he/she will use the finger to poke your eye.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more

Proverb:  Àgbàtán làá gbọ̀lẹ; bí a d’áṣọ fún un, à á pa á láro.
Translation: A lazy man should be helped completely; when you buy him a cloth, you must also dye it.

Postproverbial: Àgbàtán làá gbọ̀lẹ; bí a bá là ní jà, à á mú u délé.
Translation: The lazy man must be fully supported; when you stop him in a fight, you must escort him to his home.
Postproverbial: Àgbàtán làá gbọ̀lẹ; bí a fún un lóúnjẹ, à á f’ọbẹ̀ síi.
Translation: A lazy man should be helped completely; when you give him food, you must also provide the stew.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Nayɔŋɔ bane na zaŋ, o wo di tio.
Translation: If a leper gets angry, s/he can climb a tree.

Postproverbial: Sana na gane nayɔŋɔ, ko we ko wo wane ko di tio.
Translation: When alcohol deceives a leper, s/he says s/he can climb a tree.
Postproverbial: Nayɔŋɔ bane na zaŋ, ko wo duli kandwa mo.
Translation: If a leper gets angry, s/he will throw stones.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more

Proverb:  Ilé Ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bù kún un.
Translation: The palace that is burnt will make a more magnificent edifice.

Postproverbial: Ilé Ọba tó jó, àìní ‘fire extinguisher’ ló fàá.
Translation: The palace that is burnt is caused by the lack of fire extinguisher.
Postproverbial: Ilé Ọba tó jó, wọ́n da 'pẹtiróòlù' sí i ni.
Translation: The palace that is burnt must have been doused with petrol.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more