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:  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:  Ìyàwó ọ̀lẹ là á gbà, kò sẹ́ni tó lè gba ọmọ ọ̀lẹ.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be snatched, no one can claim the child of the lazy man.

Postproverbial: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, tó bá wuni.
Translation: It is (only) the wife of the lazy man that can be snatched, if one fancies her.
Postproverbial: Ìyàwó ọlẹ là á gbà, kò sẹ́ni tó lè gba ìyàwó alágbára.
Translation: It is only the wife of the lazy man that can be snatched, no one can claim the wife of a powerful man.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

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:  Kwɛɛra kandɛ, mo kaare yuu.
Translation: It is the stone thrown in jest that causes injury to the head.

Postproverbial: Kwɛɛra kandɛ, mage daane mo.
Translation: It is (the) stones thrown in jest that hit (against) each other.
Postproverbial: Kwɛɛra kandɛ, ko lɔi kambi mo.
Translation: It is the stone thrown in jest that breaks the (earthenware) pots.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more

Proverb:  Gàǹbàrí pa Fúlàní, kò lẹ́jọ́ nínú.
Translation: If the Hausaman kills the Fulani, it is not actionable.

Postproverbial: Gàǹbàrí pa Fúlàní, kí Ibadan ṣá mà ti bàjẹ́.
Translation: Let the Hausaman kill the Fulani, as long as Ibadan is not in turmoil.
Postproverbial: Gàǹbàrí pa Fúlàní, á sun àtìmọ́lé.
Translation: If the Hausaman kills the Fulani, he will be imprisoned.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Gya m’wɛ n’tu, se m’yage lam.
Translation: Come down with good fortune rather than beauty.

Postproverbial: Gya m’wɛ n’tu, ko gara mo na gyege nɔɔna.
Translation: Come down with good fortune, it is better than having people.
Postproverbial: Gya m’wɛ n’tu, n’gya wɛ n’lei.
Translation: Come down with good fortune “and tie up time” (so that you can enjoy your good fortune).
Ghana (Kasem) Read more