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:  ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔnsuro no.
Translation: An elder respects his child but does not fear the child.

Postproverbial: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔdɔ no.
Translation: An elder respects his child then s/he loves the child.
Postproverbial: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, asɛm to no.
Translation: An elder respects his child, s/he courts trouble.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’sọ àyà.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we beat the chest in solidarity.

Postproverbial: Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’sọ àyà; l’áyée kòró kọ̀ọ́.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we beat the chest in solidarity; not in the age of coronavirus.
Postproverbial: Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’wẹ ọwọ́.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we wash (the hands) to cleanliness.
Africa (COVID-19) Read more

Proverb:  Kugocha kunoda kwaamai, kwemwana kunodzima moto.
Translation: Roasting is tolerated when it is mother doing it, when the child does it, it is described as destructive to the fire.

Postproverbial: Kutonga kunoda kweMDC kweZANU kuuraya nyika.
Translation: Ruling by MDC is tolerated, that of ZANU destroys the country.
Postproverbial: WhatsApp inoda iri yemurume yemukadzi chifambi.
Translation: A husband is allowed to be on WhatsApp, when a wife does so, it is considered as prostitution.
Zimbabwe (Shona) Read more

Proverb:  Ẹni tó gbépo lájà kò jalè bí eni tí ó gbà á síle.
Translation: He who steals the palm oil from the rafters is no less a thief than his accomplice.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbépo lájà, olè paraku ni.
Translation: He who steals the palm oil from the rafters is a certified thief.
Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbépo lájà fẹ́ sebẹ̀ ni.
Translation: He who steals the palm oil from the rafters (certainly) desires to cook.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɛhɔ na akokɔ bɔ mprɛ korɔ.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, there the chicken moves around.

Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, yɛ sɔ gya wɔ hɔ.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, fire is kindled.
Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɔmo mpa hɔ da.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, you will always find rice.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Subira huvuta heri.
Translation: Patience brings blessings.

Postproverbial: Subira ina mpaka.
Translation: Patience has its limit.
Postproverbial: Subira huvuta bangi.
Translation: Patience smokes marijuana.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more