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:  Yɛde akyire gya wo a, ɛnka wo nko.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker you are not regarded as being alone.

Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ ne yie.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, be diligent.
Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ so yie.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, it is a huge responsibility.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

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:  Mtoto akililia wembe mpe.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor give it to him.

Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe, keshaota nywele za ukubwani.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor he must have pubic hair.
Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe usimpe atajikata.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor don’t give it to him he will cut himself.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  Ará oko tí yò jẹ búrẹ́dì, ó gbọ́dọ̀ fi làgìdì tọrọ ná.
Translation: The villager who will eat bread, must send the gift of palm-waste lighter.

Postproverbial: Ará oko tí yò jẹ búrẹ́dì, ó ní láti wá sílé.
Translation: The villager who will eat bread, must come to town.
Postproverbial: Ará oko tí yò jẹ búrẹ́dì, ó má a f’ẹsẹ̀ kan dé “békírì”.
Translation: The villager who will eat bread, must take a walk to the bakery.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’sọ àyà.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we beat the chest in solidarity.

Postproverbial: Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’sọ àyà; l’áyée kòró kọ̀ọ́.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we beat the chest in solidarity; not in the age of coronavirus.
Postproverbial: Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń’wẹ ọwọ́.
Translation: [With] All fingers clenched to fist, we wash (the hands) to cleanliness.
Africa (COVID-19) Read more

Proverb:  Àgbàtán làá gbọ̀lẹ; bí a d’áṣọ fún un, à á pa á láro.
Translation: A lazy man should be helped completely; when you buy him a cloth, you must also dye it.

Postproverbial: Àgbàtán làá gbọ̀lẹ; bí a bá là ní jà, à á mú u délé.
Translation: The lazy man must be fully supported; when you stop him in a fight, you must escort him to his home.
Postproverbial: Àgbàtán làá gbọ̀lẹ; bí a fún un lóúnjẹ, à á f’ọbẹ̀ síi.
Translation: A lazy man should be helped completely; when you give him food, you must also provide the stew.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more