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:  Màlúù tí kò ní’rù, Olúwa níí bá a léṣinṣin.
Translation: As for the cow that has no tail, God is its repellant against flies.

Postproverbial: Màlúù tí kò ní’rù, ó wà ní Òyìngbò.
Translation: The cow that has no tail is available in Òyìngbò.
Postproverbial: Màlúù tí kò ní’rù, ó wà ní Òjé.
Translation: The cow that has no tail is available in Òjé.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  À kúkú ù joyè, ó sàn ju “enu mi ò ká ìlú”.
Translation: Better not to be made a chief, than to say “I am incapable of controlling my people”.

Postproverbial: À kúkú ù joyè, kò sówó lọ́wọ́ baba ni.
Translation: If one is not made a chief, it is out of lack of money and wealth.
Postproverbial: À kúkú ù joyè, a ó ṣá à j’ẹ̀bà.
Translation: If one is not made a chief, at least you will eat and survive.
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

Proverb:  Àìgbọ́fá là’ń w’òkè, Ifá kan ò sí ní párá.
Translation: Not knowing Ifa philosophy, we gaze up, but the Oracle is not in the rafters.

Postproverbial: Àìgbọ́fá là’ń fọwọ́ gbárí, Ifá ju agbárí lọ.
Translation: Not knowing Ifa philosophy, we crack the brain, but the Oracle is more than sophistry.
Postproverbial: Àìgbọ́fá là’ń w’òkè, kìí ṣe f’ẹ́ni t’ó bá mọ’fá á sọ lá t’orí.
Translation: Not knowing Ifa philosophy, we gaze up, that is not for the initiate who can recite it by rote.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, ó kọ́ ará ìyókù lọ́gbọ́n.
Translation: He who falls into the pit serves as a scapegoat to others.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, kò wo ibi tó ń lọ ni.
Translation: He who falls into the pit is probably unconscious of where he’s going.
Postproverbial: Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, ó fẹ́ dí kòtò ni.
Translation: He who falls into the pit is eager to fill the pit.
Nigeria (Yoruba) 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