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:  Polepole ndio mwendo.
Translation: Slowly slowly is the movement of life.

Postproverbial: Pole pole yachelewesha.
Translation: Slowly causes a delay.
Postproverbial: Mwendo wa kinyonga na konokono ndio mwendo wa maisha.
Translation: The movement of a snail and a chameleon are movements of life.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  Ará oko tí yò jẹ búrẹ́dì, ó gbọ́dọ̀ fi làgìdì tọrọ ná.
Translation: The villager who will eat bread, must send the gift of palm-waste lighter.

Postproverbial: Ará oko tí yò jẹ búrẹ́dì, ó ní láti wá sílé.
Translation: The villager who will eat bread, must come to town.
Postproverbial: Ará oko tí yò jẹ búrẹ́dì, ó má a f’ẹsẹ̀ kan dé “békírì”.
Translation: The villager who will eat bread, must take a walk to the bakery.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Mtoto akililia wembe mpe.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor give it to him.

Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe, keshaota nywele za ukubwani.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor he must have pubic hair.
Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe usimpe atajikata.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor don’t give it to him he will cut himself.
East Africa (Kiswahili) 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:  Ko na maŋe ko pa mo, mo boŋe we mo mo yei banzure.
Translation: When things go well for you, you think it is because you know how to marry well.

Postproverbial: Ko na maŋe ko pa mo, ye pa se ko gyi pimpaala.
Translation: When things go well for you, do not turn it into a boast.
Postproverbial: Ko na maŋe ko pa mo, ko lamma.
Translation: When things go well for you, it is good.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more

Proverb:  “Mai zan yi da abinda ya gagare wuta,” inji kishiyar konania.
Translation: “I have no business with a fire fighter,” says the co-wife of a burnt woman.

Postproverbial: “Ba ruwana da asibiti,” inji kishiyar mai korona.
Translation: “I have no business with the hospital,” says the co-wife of a corona patient.
Postproverbial: “Mai zan yi da abinda ya gagare wuta,” inji kishiyar mai korona.
Translation: “I have no business with a fire fighter,” says the co-wife of a corona patient.
Africa (COVID-19) Read more