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:  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

Proverb:  Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɛhɔ na akokɔ bɔ mprɛ korɔ.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, there the chicken moves around.

Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, yɛ sɔ gya wɔ hɔ.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, fire is kindled.
Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɔmo mpa hɔ da.
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, you will always find rice.
Ghana (Akan) 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:  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:  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:  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