The world is crazy! When I say that I mean the so-called ‘developed’ world. There seems to be an ‘epidemic’ amongst the youngsters. There are thousands of kids who are struggling to establish themselves and begin their lives.
It doesn’t matter in which direction I look, with whom I speak, in which (developed) country… Kids at the age of 25 are dropping out of education, see no sense in work, get lost in the Internet, have no motivation to get up in the mornings… As I said it seems to be an epidemic!
Why? What has changed? What did my generation (I’m a parent of one of those kids), do wrong? What did I miss?
I have therefore put together a collection of proverbs from Africa, a continent with a lifestyle that has remained relatively unchanged for thousands of years.
When I lived and worked in Africa for more than two years, I made a huge amount of friends (mainly Ugandans), and I met many very happy people! Admittedly most were very financially poor, but led very satisfied lives! They had dreams, they knew why they wanted to work and learn new things; they loved their families and friends…
Therefore, I have dedicated this article to the ‘old’ continent – let’s learn some lessons from Africa for a change!
Incidentally, some people may think of “Africa” as one big country but in fact it is a huge continent containing 54 different countries, and is approximately 72% the size of North and South America combined.
As you would expect from Africa, the origin of mankind, the proverbs are entirely fundamental and elementary. I truly hope you will enjoy the following collection. Please feel free to comment upon it and share your thoughts. Enjoy!
A chattering bird builds no nest.
Cameroonian Proverb
A flea can trouble a lion
more than a lion can trouble a flea.
Kenyan Proverb
A healthy person who begs for food
is an insult to a generous farmer.
Ghanaian Proverb
A hyena will not change its spots
even if it moves to a different forest.
Malawian Proverb
A large chair does not make a king.
Sudanese Proverb
A roaring lion kills no game.
Ugandan Proverb
Advice is a stranger;
if he’s welcome he stays for the night;
if not, he leaves the same day.
Malagasy Proverb
An army of sheep led by a lion
can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.
Ghanaian Proverb
Anger and madness are brothers.
African Proverb
Better little than too little.
Cameroonian Proverb
