Ẹfọ̀n – Buffalo Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ọ̀pọ̀ ẹranko ti ó ni ìwo lóri, ma nlo lati fi gbèjà ara wọ́n ti ewu bá dojú kọ wọ́n.  Ni ìdà keji, ìwo igbin wà fún lati fura ninú ewu, nitorina, bi igbin bá rò pé ewu wa ni àyíká́, igbin àti ìwo rẹ̀, a kó wọ karaun fún àbò. Fún ẹranko àti igbin, ìwo ti ó le ẹranko àti ìwo rírọ̀ igbin wà fún iṣẹ́ kan naa, mejeeji wà fún àbò ṣùgbọ́n fún iwúlò ọ̀tọ̀tọ̀.  O yẹ ki igbin mọ iwọn ara rẹ̀ lati mọ̀ pé irú ìwo ohun kò wà fún ohun ijà, lai si bẹ̃, wọ́n á tẹ igbin pa. A lè lo òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “A sọ̀rọ̀ ẹran ti o ni ìwo, ìgbín yọjú” yi fún àwọn ẹ̀kọ́ wọnyi: a lè fi bá ẹni ti ó bá jọ ara rẹ lójú wi; aimọ iwọn ara ẹni léwu; ọgbọ́n wà ninu mi mọ agbára àti àbùkù ara ẹni; ki á lo ohun ti a ni fún ohun ti ó yẹ – bi a bá  lo ìmọ̀ òṣìṣẹ́ fún irú iṣẹ́ ti wọn mọ̀, á din àkókò àti ìnáwó kù; àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ. 

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Igbin – Snail. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Horns in most animals are used as a weapon of defence during danger.  On the other hand, horns in snails are sensitive to danger, hence, when in danger, the snail withdraws into its shell for protection. For the animals and the snail, both the animal’s hard horn and the soft antenna-like horn of the snail are serving the same purpose as a defence mechanism but in a different way. 

Ìgalà – Deer Stag Courtesy: @theyorubablog

However, it is apt for the snail to know its limitations by realizing that its type of horn is not for attack or for physical fight otherwise, the snail will be crushed. The Yoruba proverb that said: “Talking of animals with horns, the snail appeared”, can be used to point to some of the lessons that can be learnt from this proverb such as: the proverb can be used to correct a person with superiority complex; overrating oneself can be very dangerous; identifying our strength and weakness is wisdom; avoiding putting a square peg in a round hole – that is applying skills appropriately saves time and cost; etc.

Originally posted 2013-08-23 11:48:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter