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:  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

Proverb:  Akwana a tashi, watarana sai labara.
Translation: Day in day out, all shall be history.

Postproverbial: Akwana atashi, dan primary dan NYSC ne.
Translation: Day in day out, a primary pupil shall be a corper.
Postproverbial: Akwana a tashi, watarana yaro amgo ne.
Translation: Day in day out, a child shall be a groom.
Nigeria (Hausa) Read more

Proverb:  Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, na ɛkɔm na aku no.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it is hunger that has killed him.

Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, yɛn sae ne buo.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, we don’t destroy his [tomb]stone.
Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, asɛm ba fie.
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it foments trouble.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

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:  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:  Àìtètè m’ólè, olè ń m’ólóko.
Translation: In the hesitation to catch the thief, the thief arrests the farmer.

Postproverbial: Àìtètè m’ólè, olè gbọ́n sí i.
Translation: In the hesitation to catch the thief, the thief proves wiser.
Postproverbial: Àìtètè m’ólè, olè ń sálọ.
Translation: In the hesitation to catch the thief, the thief scampers away.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more