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...

Humboldt University of Berlin logo
University of Ibadan logo
Avh logo

SOME RANDOM PROVERBS & THEIR POSTPROVERBIALS

Proverb:  A ma ka ọchịchịrị agbala, utu ga-ahụrịrị etu o siri ba n’ọtụ.
Translation: No matter how dark the night may get, penis must find its way into the vagina.

Postproverbial: A ma ka ọkọchị adịla, ọtụ ga na-asarịrị utu ahụ.
Translation: No matter how severe the dry season may get, the vagina must bathe the penis.
Postproverbial: A ma ka moto ejuna, efe ga-adịrịrị n’oche draịva.
Translation: No matter how filled a vehicle may get, there must be a space at the driver’s seat.
Nigeria (Igbo) Read more

Proverb:  Mficha uchi, hazai.
Translation: One who hides his/her private parts cannot bear children.

Postproverbial: Mficha uchi, hajui raha ya mapenzi.
Translation: One who hides his/her private parts does not know the joy of love.
Postproverbial: Mficha uchi, atakuwa amevaa nguo.
Translation: One who hides his/her private parts must have dressed up.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  Ọbẹ̀ tó dùn, owó ló pa á.
Translation: The delicious stew, is made possible by cash.

Postproverbial: Ọbẹ̀ tó dùn, mummy ló sè é.
Translation: The delicious stew, is prepared by mother.
Postproverbial: Ọbẹ̀ tó dùn, owó Ọlọ́pàá!
Translation: The delicious stew, the policeman’s wealth!
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, ɔhunu deɛ yɛnhunu.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, then he sees what should not be seen.

Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ de aba bɔ no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is caned.
Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ tea no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is disciplined.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Akumulikaye mchana usiku ukuchoma.
Translation: One who shines light on you at day time, will harm you at night.

Postproverbial: Akumulikaye mchana, kipofu huyo.
Translation: He who shines a light on you at day time, is blind.
Postproverbial: Akumulikaye mchana usiku atalala.
Translation: One who shines light on you at day time, he/she will fall asleep at night.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  Anaghị eji ahụhụ anya isi.
Translation: You don’t boast with suffering or hardship.

Postproverbial: I ga-asi ahụhụ n’ike agwụla gi?
Translation: Can you tell suffering that you are tired or that you don’t have strength for it?
Postproverbial: Ahụhụ na-enye ọbara.
Translation: Suffering gives blood.
Nigeria (Igbo) Read more