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...

Humboldt University of Berlin logo
University of Ibadan logo
Avh logo

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:  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

Proverb:  ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔnsuro no.
Translation: An elder respects his child but does not fear the child.

Postproverbial: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔdɔ no.
Translation: An elder respects his child then s/he loves the child.
Postproverbial: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, asɛm to no.
Translation: An elder respects his child, s/he courts trouble.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Àgbò tó tà’dí m’ẹ́yìn, agbára ló lọ mú wá.
Translation: The ram that charges backward, readies itself for another onslaught.

Postproverbial: Àgbò tó tà’dí m’ẹ́yìn, ó fẹ́ lọ twerk ni.
Translation: The ram that charges backward, prepares to twerk.
Postproverbial: Àgbò tó tà’dí m’ẹ́yìn, ó fẹ́ lọ ṣubú sí gọ́tà ni.
Translation: The ram that charges backward, prepares to fall in the ditch.
Nigeria (Yoruba) 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:  Akumulikaye mchana usiku ukuchoma.
Translation: One who shines light on you at day time, will harm you at night.

Postproverbial: Akumulikaye mchana, kipofu huyo.
Translation: He who shines a light on you at day time, is blind.
Postproverbial: Akumulikaye mchana usiku atalala.
Translation: One who shines light on you at day time, he/she will fall asleep at night.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more