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: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, wɔn nya obi nsuro no
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, he will have nobody to mourn him
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)
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Postproverbial: W’adaka si aburokyire a, ɛkɔm bɛ de wo
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you starve
Proverb: W’adaka si aburokyire a, deɛ ɛwɔ mu nyinaa wonim.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you know what is yours [wherever it may be].
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Wo yire apem a, wondi ne ma
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you won’t benefit from their children
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: Baanu so (dua) a, baanu a na atwa.
Translation: The log carried by two people was felled by two people
Proverb: Baanu so (dua) a, ɛnmia.
Translation: If two people carry (wood), it does not weigh them down.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, mmaa na ɛyɛ no ayie
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, it is women who perform the funeral (of a polygamist)
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)
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Postproverbial: W’adaka si aburokyire a, wonsa nka da.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you’ve lost them
Proverb: W’adaka si aburokyire a, deɛ ɛwɔ mu nyinaa wonim.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you know what is yours [wherever it may be].
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Wo yire apem a, wo busa apem
Translation: If you have a thousand wives, you have a thousand questions to answer
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: Aboa a ɔbɛ ka wo a, ɔfii ne si kyerɛ wo.
Translation: The animal that will bite you bares its teeth at you.
Proverb: Aboa bi reka wo a, ɔfire wo ntoma mu.
Translation: The animal that is biting you is hiding in your cloth.
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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Postproverbial: Mmaa dodoo kunu wu a, won nyinaa yɛ kunafoɔ
Translation: When a man with numerous wives dies, his wives become widows
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)
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Postproverbial: W’adaka si aburokyire a, wa yɛ yie
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you are fortunate.
Proverb: W’adaka si aburokyire a, deɛ ɛwɔ mu nyinaa wonim.
Translation: If your possessions are abroad, you know what is yours [wherever it may be].
Language - Region: Akan (Ghana)
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