Postproverbials in Akan (Ghana)

Curator(s)

Prof. Helen Yitah

University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Curator's Note: The orthography is Asante Twi. A good number of the proverbs are drawn from a book titled Bu Me Be: Proverbs of the Akans compiled by Peggy Appiah, Kwame Anthony Appiah and Ivor Agyeman-Duah, published in 2007 by Ayebia Clarke Ltd.

Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ ne yie
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, be diligent
Proverb: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, ɛnka wo nko.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker you are not regarded as being alone.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

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
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.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ kakyire.
Translation: He who carries a big drum has a pad to cushion his shoulders
Proverb: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ awerɛkyekyerɛ.
Translation: If he who carries the big drum has nothing else, he has condolences.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ tea no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is disciplined
Proverb: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, ɔhunu deɛ yɛnhunu.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, then he sees what should not be seen.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, asɛm to no
Translation: An elder respects his child, s/he courts trouble
Proverb: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔnsuro no.
Translation: An elder respects his child but does not fear the child.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: Anoma nini antu a, ɛboɔ bɛbo no
Translation: A bird that stays at one place invites stones
Proverb: Anoma nini antu a, ne yire ne ne mma buada.
Translation: If a male bird does not fly/stays at one place, its wife and children starve.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ akokoɔduro
Translation: He who carries the big drum is brave.
Proverb: Deɛ ɔso twene kɛseɛ nni biribi a, ɔwɔ awerɛkyekyerɛ.
Translation: If he who carries the big drum has nothing else, he has condolences.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ de aba bɔ no
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is caned
Proverb: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, ɔhunu deɛ yɛnhunu.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, then he sees what should not be seen.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: ɔbaa ne ne kunu asɛm, obi nka bi
Translation: [As for] a woman and her husband’s affairs, nobody can say anything about it
Proverb: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔnsuro no.
Translation: An elder respects his child but does not fear the child.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more

Postproverbial: Aboa a ɔnni dua, ɔwɔ abasa
Translation: The animal that has no tail has muscles
Proverb: Aboa a ɔnni dua, Nyame na ɔpra ne ho.
Translation: The animal that has no tail, it is God who brushes its body.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
Read more