Proverbs related to laziness
1. Dadi foakae dua afi kuku. “The cat who struggles to catch the mouse gets the mouse.” If you are willing to work, you will eat well.
2. Ha dzimatso akaye wonena. “If you sing too much you will not gain anything to eat.” If you spend all your time amusing yourself and neglect work you will go hungry.
3. Wotsca du ha wonua zi. “Be careful when carrying gunpowder on your head while smoking a pipe.” Don’t be careless or you may experience serious consequences.
Proverbs showing that “a poor man can give birth to a rich man” (i.e. great people can come from humble backgrounds)
1. Ataklo madami fe dcmevi enye gbamido. “The child of the moth gives birth to the caterpillar.” The gbamido (caterpillar) is tasty with oil, but the Ataklo (moth) is bland and no one enjoys eating it.
2. Dzro nkuga mekpca xcdomemc o. “When someone searches for the finer things in life, he shouldn’t look solely at the place where he lays his head.” You may come from poverty and humble upbringing, but the best things in life are not found in one’s home.
3. Amencvi ncmenca yckuti dzi wodua gbogbo o. “If your relative is climbing the tree, you must eat the ripe fruit which comes from that tree.” If your parents are poor and can’t buy costly things, but their child is rich, the child must give to their parents. Though you may be poor, you can give birth to riches. Goodness, riches can come from poverty.
Proverbs related to the evils of keeping bad company
4. Deku vc dekae gblea detsi. “One spoiled palm nut makes the whole soup bitter.” (Doesn't that sound familiar...)
5. Wc bada, ku badae wua ame. “Evil comes to the man who does evil.”
6. Amea deke menya etsc me o. “No one knows what will come tomorrow.”
7. Tsycevi media ndifo dzca dzi o. “Even if the orphans satisfies his hunger in the morning, he is still not happy.” Because he has no family to provide for him, the orphan must always search for food.
Proverbs showing the importance of one's hometown
8. Afenya mewua ame o. “Don’t forget the problems of the hometown.”
9. Du me nyo mesca afe o. « The best aspects of another land can’t be better than that of the motherland. »
1 Kokloxc mekpea nu na koklo o. “The hen’s house does not shame the hen.”
Perhaps the proper following sentence to this proverb would be “Because it is their home.” Thus, this proverb demonstrates the sense of pride and family loyalty in Ewe culture. Even if you live in a modest home and your family is very poor, it is your home and your family. You must have pride in and defend your own despite what the circumstances may be.
12. Du sia du kple efe koklokoko. « The eating ceremony in this town is different from other towns. » This proverb shows the uniqueness of every village, every hometown. The chicken killing ceremony, a spiritually important ceremony in the village is performed differently from village to village. Despite how great you may think another place is, the killing ceremony is a unique aspect of your village that cannot be replaced.
Proverbs showing the relationship between a child and his/her father
13. Abi yome ka ncna. “The yarn follows the needle.” You cannot divide the yarn from the needle when sewing, much like you cannot divide a child from the father.
14. Vi ditca mewca tc nugbe o. “When the child resembles the father they behave differently.” I don't really understand this one, but they say it's true.
15. Adela nkc mevcna le adela nuti o. « The hunter’s name does not come from the hunter.” The relationship between the worker and his work is like the relationship between father and son. Therefore, it is like the man bore his work, so his name now becomes “hunter.” In the Ewe language people are often called by their profession or are known as “The Father of” or the “The Mother of.”
Proverbs giving advice about bad relationships
16. Yatsi fiaa xcnudefe ame. “You must build your door against the direction of the wind to guard against rainwater.” Protect yourself against evil people.
17. Ati nyadi f eke wokuna za. “During the night you can dig the root of the specie of tree you are already familiar with.” When you follow someone you make a relationship with them. You can use this proverb in front of the person to give advice to someone else to stay away from them.
18. Tukpe fiaa avadzedze. “Bullets show the beginning of war.” When you follow a bad group you must know how to escape.
Proverbs about money/businesses
19.Womedoa dzo yeye dea abcbc ame o. “It’s not good to put the snail inside the new fire.” Start small with businesses. Limit expenses. Don’t have too many people involved in a new business.
20. Tcmekpe mesia vuvu o. “The stone in the stream doesn’t fear the stream.” Don’t be afraid of a situation when you are already in the midst of that situation. You will find a way to handle it.
21. Ga metcna na ame o. “Your money can’t respond to you.” If you are rich but have no family/children you really have nothing. Having a child is better than having lots of money but no children.
Moba Proverbs/Sayings
The Moba like to joke around alot and poke fun at one another and with their jokes nothing seems to be off limits. Not only can they can dish it out but they can take it too.
Yiin a yie- “Call your nephew/uncle”- comic way to say ‘vomit’
27. Nibol njabr- “Your anus is dirty/smells"
28. A tie Bibiedg- you’re a bandit
Dehnyukpeieg- Old boozer
37. A sa le- Where are you going ?
38. N se a na naag- I’m going to your mom’s house
39. A tie nayeeg- You’re a thief!
40. Tag boo boadt, n tingbon paa- The rain will come, my fetish is strong
41. N yelli wam, g yin le boo tuo, n boo tie n nyaga- I’m sick a little, but ca va aller, I will do my gri-gri
42. Tag gii badt, n boo kodt koig- If it rains, I’ll sacrifice a chicken
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