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:  Àpọ́nlé ni Ìyá Káà, kò sẹ́ni tó wà ní Káà tí ò lórúkọ.
Translation: It’s a sheer honour to be called “Court Matriarch”, there’s no woman who does not have a proper name.

Postproverbial: Àpọ́nlé ni ọmọ Lèmọ́mù, kò s'ẹ́ni tí a kò lè mú.
Translation: It’s a sheer honour to be called “son of Imam”, there is no one who cannot be caught.
Postproverbial: Àpọ́nlé ni fọ́maànù, ẹnì kan kì í jẹ́ èèyàn mẹ́rin.
Translation: It’s sheer honour to be called “Foreman”, no one person can bear the names of four men.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  “Mai zan yi da abinda ya gagare wuta,” inji kishiyar konania.
Translation: “I have no business with a fire fighter,” says the co-wife of a burnt woman.

Postproverbial: “Ba ruwana da asibiti,” inji kishiyar mai korona.
Translation: “I have no business with the hospital,” says the co-wife of a corona patient.
Postproverbial: “Mai zan yi da abinda ya gagare wuta,” inji kishiyar mai korona.
Translation: “I have no business with a fire fighter,” says the co-wife of a corona patient.
Africa (COVID-19) Read more

Proverb:  Simba mwenda pole/kimya ndiye mla nyama.
Translation: The lion that moves silently is the one that eats meat.

Postproverbial: Simba mwenda pole/kafungwa na/au anamuogopa Yanga.
Translation: The lion that moves silently has been beaten by or is afraid of Yanga.
Postproverbial: Simba mwenda pole/kimya jua iko gonjwa au haina njaa.
Translation: The lion that moves silently is either sick or not hungry.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  Alalaye usimwamshe, ukimwamsha utalala wewe.
Translation: Don't awake one who is asleep; if you awaken him/her, you too will fall asleep.

Postproverbial: Alalaye huamka mapema.
Translation: One who sleeps usually awakes early.
Postproverbial: Alalaye usimuamshe, ukimuamsha atapoteza usingizi.
Translation: Don't awaken one who is asleep; if you awaken him/her, he/she will lose the sleep.
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

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