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:  Akwa ọmụma ekweghị sị mara nwaanyị ọkpa tịlịtịlị.
Translation: Tying of wrapper has made it difficult to identify a woman with very tiny legs.

Postproverbial: Ndị mekaniik ekweghị sị mara ndị bụ ndị ara.
Translation: The mechanics’ overall makes it hard to differentiate them from mad people.
Postproverbial: Ndị kwaya ekweghị sị mara ndị bụ grajuet.
Translation: The choristers’ regalia makes it difficult to differentiate between them and graduates.
Nigeria (Igbo) Read more

Proverb:  Ẹni tí a bá torí ẹ̀ pa adìyẹ, iwe ni ó ń’jẹ.
Translation: The person on whose behalf the hen is sacrificed, eats the gizzard.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tí a bá torí ẹ̀ pa adìyẹ, gbogbo rẹ̀ ni ń’jẹ.
Translation: The person on whose behalf the hen is sacrificed, eats it all.
Postproverbial: Ẹni tí a bá torí ẹ̀ pa adìyẹ , orí ni ó ń’ jẹ.
Translation: The person on whose behalf the hen is sacrificed, eats the head.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Ilé Ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bù kún un.
Translation: The palace that is burnt will make a more magnificent edifice.

Postproverbial: Ilé Ọba tó jó, àìní ‘fire extinguisher’ ló fàá.
Translation: The palace that is burnt is caused by the lack of fire extinguisher.
Postproverbial: Ilé Ọba tó jó, wọ́n da 'pẹtiróòlù' sí i ni.
Translation: The palace that is burnt must have been doused with petrol.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

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:  Polepole ndio mwendo.
Translation: Slowly slowly is the movement of life.

Postproverbial: Pole pole yachelewesha.
Translation: Slowly causes a delay.
Postproverbial: Mwendo wa kinyonga na konokono ndio mwendo wa maisha.
Translation: The movement of a snail and a chameleon are movements of life.
East Africa (Kiswahili) 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