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:  Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ awerɛkyekyerɛ.
Translation: If he who carries the big drum has nothing else, he has condolences.

Postproverbial: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ akokoɔduro.
Translation: He who carries the big drum is brave.
Postproverbial: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ kakyire.
Translation: He who carries a big drum has a pad to cushion his shoulders.
Ghana (Akan) 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:  ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, ɔde ade pa ba fie.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, she brings good things home.

Postproverbial: ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, onya adepa.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, she gets good things/finds it profitable.
Postproverbial: ɔbaa brefoɔ kɔ aware a, ne kunu mmre.
Translation: If a hardworking woman marries, her husband doesn’t suffer.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Ayara adia ikot, Abasi abat isua.
Translation: The bully plunders the land but God counts the years.

Postproverbial: Oyod adia Abasi abat isua.
Translation: The rat is eating, God is counting the years.
Postproverbial: Idiok owo adia Abasi abat isua.
Translation: The wicked person is eating but God is counting the years.
Nigeria (Efik) Read more

Proverb:  Àìsí nílé olóógbò, ilé d’ilé èkúté.
Translation: The cat is not in the house, the home becomes the playground of rats.

Postproverbial: Àìsí nílé olóógbò, ló ún mú èkúté ṣakọ.
Translation: The cat is not in the house, the mouse struts about.
Postproverbial: Àìsí nílé olóógbò, ló mú èkúté jọba ní “kínsínnì”.
Translation: The cat is not in the house, and the mouse becomes king in the kitchen.
Nigeria (Yoruba) 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