Postproverbials in Akan (Ghana)

Curator(s)

Prof. Helen Yitah

hyitah@yahoo.com

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: Deɛ anyɛ yie, ne sumina so
Translation: When something does not/has not worked out well, it is to be found on the rubbish dump
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)
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Postproverbial: Wo yire apem a, w’ase apem
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you’ll have a thousand in-laws
Proverb: Wo yire apem a, w’asem apem.
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you have a thousand troubles.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: ɔbaa ne ne kunu asɛm, osugyani nka bi
Translation: [As for] a woman and her husband’s affairs, bachelors do not meddle
Proverb: ɔpanin fɛre ne ba, na ɔnsuro no.
Translation: An elder respects his child but does not fear the child.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɔmo mpa hɔ da
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, you will always find rice
Proverb: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɛhɔ na akokɔ bɔ mprɛ korɔ
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, there the chicken moves around.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Deɛ anyɛ yie, na saa na ɛbɛ yɛ
Translation: When something does not/has not worked out well, there is no way to salvage failure
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)
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Postproverbial: Wo yire apem a, wobua da
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you starve
Proverb: Wo yire apem a, w’asem apem.
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you have a thousand troubles.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: ɔbaa ne ne kunu asɛm, osugyani nka bi
Translation: [As for] a woman and her husband’s affairs, bachelors do not meddle
Proverb: ɔbaa ne ne kunu asɛm, obi nnim mu.
Translation: [As for] a woman and her husband’s affairs, one does not know.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, yɛ sɔ gya wɔ hɔ
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, fire is kindled
Proverb: Baabi aburopata wɔ no, ɛhɔ na akokɔ bɔ mprɛ korɔ
Translation: Wherever the cornshed stands, there the chicken moves around.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Adasamma ani kyiri sɛbeɛ, deɛ ɔso ntakerakye
Translation: Human beings hate the sight of excreta, those who wear a crown of feathers
Proverb: Adasamma ani kyiri sɛbeɛ, nso obiara wɔ bi gu ne yam.
Translation: Human beings hate the sight of excreta, but everyone has it in their stomach.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Wo yire apem a, asɛm nkoaa
Translation: A thousand wives, only problems
Proverb: Wo yire apem a, w’asem apem.
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you have a thousand troubles.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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