Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

Discussing as many Yoruba proverbs as possible and relating them to day to day life…

“Iṣẹ́ loògùn ìṣẹ́” – “Work is the antidote for destitution/poverty”

Orin fun Àgbẹ̀: Yoruba song encouraging farming:
Iṣẹ́ Àgbẹ̀ ni iṣẹ́ ilẹ̀ wa a, Farming is the job of our land
Ẹni kò ṣiṣẹ́, á mà jalè, He who fails to work, will steal
Ìwé kí kọ́, lai si ọkọ́ àti àdá Education without the hoe and cutlass (farm tools)
Kò ì pé o, kò ì pé o. Is incomplete, it is incomplete

Orin yi fi bi Yorùbá ti ka iṣẹ abínibí àkọ́kọ́ si hàn. Olùkọ́, a má kọ àwọn ọmọ ilé-iwé alakọbẹrẹ ni orin yi lati kọ wọn bi iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀ ti ṣe kókó tó, nitori eyi, bi wọn ti nkọ́ iwé, ki wọn kọ́ iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀ pẹ̀lú. “Olùpàṣẹ, ọ̀gá ninú Olórin Olóyè Ebenezer Obey” fi òwe Yorùbá ti ó sọ pé “Bi ebi bá kúrò ninú ìṣẹ́, ìṣẹ́ bùṣe” kọrin. Àgbẹ̀ ni ó npèsè oúnjẹ ti ará ilú njẹ àti ohun ọ̀gbin fún tità ni ilé àti si Òkè-òkun.

Àgbẹ̀ – Local African Farmer

Owó Àgbẹ ni Nàíjíríà fi ja ogun-abẹ́lé fún ọdún mẹta lai yá owó ni bi ọdún mẹta-din-laadọta titi di ọdún mẹrin-le-logoji sẹhin. Lẹhin ogun-abẹ́le yi, Naijiria ri epo-rọ̀bì ni rẹpẹtẹ fún tita si Òkè-òkun. Dipò ki wọn fi owó epo-rọ̀bì yi pèsè ẹ̀rọ oko-igbálódé fún àwọn Àgbẹ̀ lati rọ́pò ọkọ́ àti àdá, ṣe ni wọn fi owó epo-rọ̀bì ra irà-kurà ẹrù àti oúnjẹ lati Ò̀kè-òkun wọ ilú. Eyi ló fa ifẹ́-kufẹ si oúnjẹ àti ohun ti ó bá ti Oke-okun bọ̀ titi di òni.

Gẹ́gẹ́ bi Ọba-olórin Sunny Ade ti kọ́ lórin pé “Kò si Àgbẹ̀ mọ́ lóko, ará oko ti dari wálé”. Gbogbo ará oko ti kúrò lóko wá si ilú nlá lati ṣe “iṣẹ́-oṣù tàbi iṣẹ́-Ìjọba” dipò iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀. Owó iná-kuna yi sọ ọ̀pọ̀ di ọ̀lẹ nitori ó rọrùn lati ṣe iṣẹ́ oṣù ni ibòji ilé-iṣẹ́, lẹhin iwé-mẹfa tàbi iwé-mẹwa ju ki wọn ṣe iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀ lọ.

Òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “Iṣẹ́ loògùn ìṣẹ́” kò bá ohun ti o nṣẹ lẹ̀ ni ayé òde òni lọ. Ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ òṣìṣẹ́-Ijọba tàbi oniṣẹ́-oṣù wà ninú ìṣẹ́, nitori wọn kò ri owó gbà déédé mọ, bẹni àwọn ti ó fẹhinti lẹ́nu iṣẹ́ kò ri owó-ifẹhinti gbà nitori Ìjọba Ológun, Òṣèlú àti Ọ̀gá ilé-iṣẹ́ ngba àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀ wọn nja ilé-iṣẹ́ àti ilú ló olè nipa ki kó owó jẹ.

Oriṣiriṣi iṣẹ́-ọwọ́ àti òwò ló wà yàtọ̀ si iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀. Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá sọ pé, “Ọ̀nà kan kò wọ ọjà, ló mú telọ (aránṣọ) tó nta ẹ̀kọ”. Ohun ti oniṣẹ́-oṣù àti òṣiṣẹ́-Ìjọba lè ṣe lati lo iṣẹ́ fún oògùn ìṣẹ́ ni, ki wọn ni oko lẹgbẹ pẹ̀lú iṣẹ́-oṣù tàbi ki wọn kọ́ iṣẹ́-ọwọ́ miran ti wọn lè ṣe lẹhin ifẹhinti.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Continue reading →

Originally posted 2014-12-16 22:22:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Iwájú lèrò mbá èrò – Kò si ohun téni kan ṣe, téni kò ṣe ri” – “There is always someone ahead – Nothing is new”

1 Reply

Ọ̀rọ̀ ijinlẹ àti Òwe Yorùbá wà lati fi kọ́ ọgbọ́n àti imò bi èniyàn ti lè gbé igbésí ayé rere. Ọ̀gá àgbà ninú Olórin ilẹ̀ aláwọ̀-dúdú (Olóyè, Olùdarí Ebenezer Obey) kọ ninú orin ni èdè Yorùbá pé “ki lẹni kan ṣe, tẹni kan ò ṣe ri?” Kò si owó, ọlá, ipò, agbára ti èniyàn ni, ti kò si ẹni tó ni ri tàbi ti ẹni ti ó mbọ̀ lẹhin kò lè ni.

Iwájú lèrò mbá èro – Tug of War Game.

Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá ti ó sọ pé “Iwájú lèrò mbá èrò” ṣe gba ẹni ti kò bá ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn ni ìmọ̀ràn. Ọjọ́ ori nlọ sókè ṣùgbọ́n ki wá lẹ̀. Ai ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn ló fa ki àgbàlagbà jowú ọmọdé nitori ọmọ àná ti ó rò pé kò lè da nkankan ti da nkan, tàbi ki ọ̀gá ilé-iṣẹ́ ma jowú ọmọ iṣẹ́. Bi a bá ṣe akiyesi eré ije “Fi fa Okun” a o ri pé àwọn kan wà ni iwájú, bẹni àwọn kan wà lẹhin. Èyi fihàn pé, “Ibi ti àgbà bá wà lọmọdé mba”, ṣùgbọ́n àgbà ti ṣe ọmọdé ri.

Ai ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn lè fà ikú ójiji nitori àìsàn ẹ̀jẹ̀-riru, irònú, ijiyà iṣẹ́ ibi, olè jijà, ija, gbigbé oògùn olóró, èrú ṣi ṣe, àti bẹ́ẹ̀-bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ. Bi èniyàn bá kọ́ ọgbọ́n ninú ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá ti ó sọ pé “Iwájú lèrò mbá èro” yi, à ri pé, kò si ipò ti òhún wà ti kò si ẹni ti ó wà nibẹ̀ ṣáájú tàbi lẹhin òhun. Ìmọ̀ yi kò ni jẹ́ ki èniyàn ṣi iwà hù, tàbi binú ẹni keji. Ó ṣe pàtàki gẹ́gẹ́ bi ikan ninú orin (Olóyè Olùdari Ebenezer Obey), pe “Ipò ki pò, ti a lè wà, ká má a dúpẹ́ ló tọ́”.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-08-25 20:10:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ã Ò PÉ KÁMÁ JỌ BABA ẸNI…”: It is not enough to have a striking resemblance to one’s Father

2 Replies

Yorùbá ní “Ã ò pé kámá jọ Baba ẹni timútimú, ìwà lọmọ àlè”. Òwe yi bá ọpọlọpọ Yorùbá tí o nyi orúkọ ìdílé wọn padà nítorí ẹ̀sìn lai yi ìwà padà̀ lati bá orúkọ titun áti ẹ̀sìn mu. Yorùbá ni “ilé lanwo ki a tó sọmọ lórúkọ” nítorí èyí, ọpọlọpọ orúkọ ìdílé ma nbere pẹ̀lú orúkọ òrìṣà ìdílé bi: Ògún, Ṣàngó, Ọya, Èṣù, Ọ̀sun, Ifá, Oṣó àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ. Fún àpẹrẹ: Ògúnlànà, Fálànà, Ṣólànà ti yi padà sí Olúlànà. Ìgbà míràn ti wọn bá lò lára orúkọ àwọn òrìṣa yi wọn a ṣe àyípadà si, fún àpẹrẹ: “Eṣubiyi” di “Èṣúpòfo”.

Esupofo, image is courtesy of Microsoft office images

“Esupofo”? Njẹ Èṣù pòfo bí, nígbàtí ẹni ti o yi orúkọ padà sí “Èṣúpòfo” njale. . .

Njẹ Èṣù pòfo bí, nígbàtí ẹni ti o yi orúkọ padà sí “Èṣúpòfo” njale, ṣiṣẹ́ gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ, purọ́, kówó ìlú jẹ, àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ? Ótì o, Èṣù o pòfo, ìwà lọmọ àlè. Ọmọ àlè ti pọ si nítorí ìwà Èṣu ti pọ si ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá. Kò sí nkan tí óburú ninú orúkọ yíyí padà, èyí ti o burú ni kí a yí orúkọ padà lai yi ìwà padà. Ẹ fi ìwà rere dípò ìporúkodà.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

The Yoruba people have a saying that “It is not enough to have a striking resemblance to one’s father, character distinguishes a bastard”. This proverb refers to Yoruba people that replace their family names without matching change of character to go with the name or religion. Another Yoruba saying goes that: “home is observed before naming a child” as a result of this, and so family names are derived with a prefix of the name of the gods and goddesses worshiped in the family such as Ò̀̀̀̀̀̀gun – god of iron/war, Ṣango – god of thunder, Oya – Sango’s wife, Eṣu – Satan, Osun – river goddess, Ifa – Divination, Oso – Wizard etc. For example names like: Ogunlana, Falana, Solana have mostly been changed to “Olulana”. Sometimes, when part of these gods/goddess names are used it is often changed, for example: “Esubiyi – delivered by Satan” is turned “Esupofo – satan has lost”. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-01-23 10:15:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Bi ojú bá mọ́, Agbe á yalé Aláró, Àlùkò á yalé Olósùn, Lékeléke á yalé Ẹlẹ́fun”: “At the dawn of the day, the blue-touraco makes for the home of the indigo dealer; …”

1 Reply

Bi a bá wo òwe yi, a o ri pe Agbe pọn bi aró, Àlùkò pupa bi osùn nigbati Lékeléke funfun bi ẹfun. Nitori eyi, bi wọn kò ti ẹ̀ lọ si ilé Aláró, Olósùn àti Ẹlẹ́fun, àwọ̀ wọn á si wa bẹ̃, síbẹ-síbẹ, àwọn ẹiyẹ wọnyi gbiyànjú lati lọ si ibi ti wọn ti lè ri ohun ti yio tú ara wọn ṣe ki ó ma ba ṣa.

: Agbe – Blue Touraco

: Àlùkò – purple woodcock

: Lekeleke – Cattle-egret

A lè fi òwe Yoruba ti o ni “Bi ojú bá mọ́, Agbe á yalé Aláró, Àlùkò á yalé Olósùn, Lékeléke á yalé Ẹlẹ́fun” bá ilú, agbójúlógún àti ọ̀lẹ enia wi. Kò si bi owo ilú, òbi, tàbi ẹbí ti lè pọ̀ tó, bi enia kò bá ṣiṣẹ́ kun á parun. Irú ilú ti ó bá ńná iná-kuna, agbójúlógún àti ọ̀le wọnyi yio ráhùn ni ikẹhin. Ẹ gbọ́ orin ti àwọn ọmọ ilé iwé ńkọ ni àsikò eré-ìbílẹ̀ ni ojú iwé yi.

Agbe ló laró, ki ráhùn aró,
Àlùkò ló losùn, ki ráhùn osùn
Lékeléke ló lẹfun, ki ráhùn ẹfun,
Ka má rahùn owó,
Ka má rahùn ọmọ
Ohun táó jẹ, táó mu kò mà ni wọn wa o) (lẹmeji)

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-08-18 17:10:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“A ki i jẹ Igún, a ki i fi Ìyẹ́ Igún rinti: Ẹnu Ayé Lẹbọ” – “It is forbidden to eat the Vulture or use its feather as cotton bud: One should be careful of what others say”

Leave a reply

Ohun ti o jẹ èèwọ̀ tàbi òfin ni ilú kan le ma jẹ èèwọ̀/òfin ni ilú miran ṣùgbọ́n bi èniyàn bá dé ilú, ó yẹ ki ó bọ̀wọ̀ fún àṣà àti òfin ilú. Bi èniyàn bá ṣe nkan èèwọ̀, ó lè ṣé gbé ti kò bá si ẹlẹri lati ṣe àkóbá tàbi ki ó fi ẹnu ṣe àkóbá fún ara rẹ̀.

Ni ilú kan ti a mọ̀ si “Ayégbẹgẹ́”, àwọn àlejò ọkùnrin meji kan wa ti orúkọ wọn njẹ́ – Miòṣé àti Moṣétán. Ọba ilú Ayégbẹgẹ́ kede pé èèwọ̀ ni lati jẹ ẹiyẹ Igún ni ilú wọn. Akéde ṣe ikilọ̀ pé ẹni ti ó bá jẹ Igún, ikùn rẹ yio wu titi yio fi kú ni. Àwọn àlejò meji yi ṣe ìlérí pé kò si nkan ti yio ṣẹlẹ̀ ti àwon bá jẹ Igún, nitori eyi wọn fi ojú di èèwọ̀ ilú Ayégbẹgẹ́.

Igún – Vulture

Miòṣé, lọ si oko, ó pa Igun, ó din láta, ó si jẹ́, ṣùgbọ́n ó pa adiẹ, ó da iyẹ́ adiẹ si ààtàn bi ẹni pé adiẹ ló jẹ. Ọ̀pọ̀ ará ilú ti wọn mọ̀ pé èèwọ̀ ni lati jẹ Igún paapa, jẹ ninú rẹ, ṣùgbọ́n wọn kò mọ pé Igún ni àwọn jẹ, wọn rò wi pé adiẹ ni. Miòṣé fi ọ̀rọ̀ àṣiri yi sinú lai si nkan ti ó ṣe gbogbo àwọn ti ó jẹ Igún pẹ̀lú rẹ.

Moṣétán lọ si oko ohun na a pa Igun, ó gbe wá si ilé, ṣùgbọ́n kò jẹ́. Ó pa adiẹ dipò Igún, o din adiẹ ó jẹ ẹ, ṣùgbọ́n, ó da iyẹ́ Igún si ààtàn bi ẹni pé Igún lohun jẹ. Ni ọjọ́ keji àwọn ará ilú ri iyẹ́ Igún wọn pariwo pé Moṣétán jẹ èèwọ̀, ó ni bẹni, ohun jẹ Igún. Ni ọjọ́ kẹta inú Moṣétán bẹ̀rẹ̀ si i wú titi ara fi ni. Nigbati ìnira pọ̀ fún Moṣétán, ó jẹ́wọ́ wi pé adiẹ lohun jẹ, ṣùgbọ́n wọn ko gba a gbọ pé kò jẹ Igun, titi ti ó fi ṣubú ti ó si kú. Yorùbá ni “Ẹnu Ayé Lẹbo”, Moṣétán fi ẹnu kó bá ara rẹ̀.

Ẹ̀kọ́ ìtàn yi ni pé, àfojúdi kò dára, ó yẹ ki enia pa òfin mọ nitori “Bi a ti nṣe ni ilé wa, èèwọ̀ ibò miran”. Ẹni ti kò bá pa òfin mọ, á wọ ijọ̀ngbọ̀n ti ó lè fa ikú tàbi ẹ̀wọ̀n.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-12-29 23:20:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Bi Irọ́ bá lọ fún Ogún Ọdún, Òtítọ á ba Lọ́jọ́ Kan – Ìbò Ọjọ́ Kejilá Oṣù Kẹfà Ọdún fún MKO Abiọ́lá Kò Gbé – Truth will always catch up lies – June 12 Election of Late Chief MKO Abiola is not in Vain

Leave a reply

Lẹhin ọdún mẹẹdọgbọn ti Ijoba Ologun Ibrahim Babangida fagilé ìbò ti gbogbo ilú dì lai si ìjà tàbi asọ̀ tó gbé Olóògbé Olóyè Moshood Káṣìmáawòó Ọláwálé Abíọ́lá wọlé, Ìjọba Muhammadu Buhari sọ ọjọ́ kejilá oṣù kẹfà di “Ọjọ́ Ìsimi Ìjọba Alágbádá” fún gbogbo orílẹ̀-èdè Nigeria.

Ìjọba Ológun àti Ìjọba Alágbádá ti o ti ṣèlú́ lati ọdún mẹẹdọgbọn sẹhin rò wi pé ó ti pari, nitori wọn fẹ́ ki ọjọ́ yi di ohun ìgbàgbé, ṣùgbọ́n gẹ́gẹ́ bi ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá ti ó ni “Bi irọ́ bá lọ fún ogún ọdún, òtítọ́ á ba lọ́jọ́ kan”. Òtítọ́ ti bá irọ́ ọdún mẹẹdọgbọn ni ọjọ́ òní ọjọ́ kejila oṣù kẹfà, ọdún Ẹgbàáléméjìdínlógún. Olórí Òṣèlú Muhammadu Buhari dójú ti àwọn onírọ́ ti ó gbá gbogbo ẹni ti ó dìbò lójú.

Ki Ọlọrun kó dẹlẹ̀ fún Olóògbé Olóyè MKO Abíọ́lá, gbogbo àwọn ti ó kú lai ri àjọyọ̀ ọjọ́ òní.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Twenty-five years after a peaceful and fair election of late Chief MKO Abiola was annulled by the military Junta Ibrahim Babangida, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari declared “June 12 Democracy Day and National Public Holiday”. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2018-06-13 02:32:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Njẹ́ ó yẹ ki Adájọ́ ti ó bá hu iwà ibàjẹ́ kọjá Òfin?” – “Should Judges be above the Law?”

1 Reply

Ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́ mú àwọn Adájọ́ ti wọn fi ẹ̀sùn iwà ibàjẹ́ kàn – DSS arrest of alleged corrupt Judges. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ni ọjọ́ Ẹti, ọjọ́ keje, oṣù kẹwa ọdún Ẹgbàálémẹ̀rindinlógún, ìròyìn pé àwọn Ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́ já lu ilé àwọn Adájọ́ ti wọn fi ẹ̀sùn iwà ibàjẹ́ kàn jade lẹhin ti wọn ti dúró titi ki “Ẹgbẹ́ Adájọ́” gbé àwọn iwé ẹ̀sùn iwà ibàjẹ́ yẹ̀wò . Àwọn Ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́ ròyìn pé wọn bá owó rẹpẹtẹ, pàtàki oriṣiriṣi owó òkè òkun, ni ilé awon Adájọ́ wọnyi. Lati igbà ti iroyin ti jade, àwọn ‘Ẹgbẹ́ Agbẹjọ́rò’ lérí pé àwọn yio da iṣẹ́ silẹ̀ ti Olóri Òṣèlú Muhammadu Buhari kò bá pàṣẹ ki wọn tú àwọn Adájọ́ naa silẹ̀ ni wéréwéré.

Ni ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọdún sẹhin, Adájọ́ àti Agbẹjọ́rò ki i ṣe iṣẹ́ nitori àgbà ni ó ndá ẹjọ́ bi ijà bá bẹ́ silẹ̀ ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá. Fun àpẹrẹ, bi àwọn ọmọdé bá njá, àgbàlagbà ti ó bá wà ni ilé ni yio là wọ́n, bi àwọn iyàwó-ilé bá njà, olóri ẹbi tàbi Àrẹ̀mọ ni yio la ijà. Bi ó bá jẹ́ ijà nitori ilẹ̀ oko, Baálẹ̀ Abúlé naa ni wọn yio kó ẹjọ́ lọ bá fún idájọ́, ti ó bá jẹ àdúgbò kan si ekeji ló njà, wọn á kó ẹjọ́ lọ bá Ọba ilú àti bẹ́ ẹ̀ bẹ́ ẹ̀ lọ. Lati wa idi òtitọ́, wọn lè kó àwọn ti ó njà lọ si ojúbọ Òriṣà lati búra. Lẹhin ti àwọn Ìlú-Ọba pin àwọn ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ilú àwọn Aláwọ̀dúdú, iṣẹ́ Agbẹjọ́rò di ki kọ́ ni ilé-iwé giga.

Kò si ọmọ Nigeria rere ti kò mọ̀ wi pé, ‘’Ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ nlá ijiyà kékeré tàbi ki ó má si ijiyà rara fún Olówó, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ kékeré ijiyà nla ni fún tálákà tàbi aláìní’’, nitori iwà burúkú àwọn Adájọ́ ti ó ti gba àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀ lọ́wọ́ àwọn Agbejoro. A ri gbọ́ wi pé bi “Ọ̀gá Àgbà Agbẹjọ́rò” bá ni ẹjọ́ ni iwájú Adájọ́ lẹhin ti ẹjọ́ agbejoro ti dé iwájú Adájọ́, wọn yio kọ́kọ́ gbọ́ ẹjọ́ ti “Ọ̀gá Àgbà Agbẹjọ́rò” gbé wá. Eleyi jẹ́ ikan ninú idi pàtàki ti ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ Agbejoro ti fẹ́ fi ọ̀nàkọnà dé ipò “Ọ̀gá Àgbà Agbẹjọ́rò”. Ó yẹ ki wọn gbé eyi yẹ̀wò nitori ni ilú ti òfin bá wà, kò yẹ ki ẹnikẹni kọjá òfin. Ni Òkè-Òkun, Gó́́mìnà, àgbà Òṣèlú àti bẹ́ ẹ̀ bẹ́ ẹ̀ lọ kò kọjá òfin.

“Ẹni ma a bèrè ẹ̀tó lábẹ́ òfin yio lọ pẹ̀lú ọwọ́ mímọ́”, ẹ gb́e ọ̀rọ̀ yi yẹ̀wò bóyá bi wọ́n bá fi ẹ̀sùn iwà ibàjẹ́ kan Adájọ́, kò yẹ ki Ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́ wa idi.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2016-10-11 18:38:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ẹ káàbọ̀ si ọdún Ẹgbàálémẹ́tàdínlógún – Welcome to 2017

1 Reply

Originally posted 2016-12-31 23:30:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ìwà bi Ọlọrun pẹ̀lú Ìtẹ́lọ́rùn, Èrè nla ni” – “Godliness with Contentment, is great Gain”

1 Reply

Ìtẹ́lọ́rùn – Contentment. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Bi kò bá si ìtẹ́lọ́rùn, kò si ohun ti èniyàn ni ti ó tó. À i ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn ló nfa iwà burúkú bi, olè̀ jijà, àgbèrè, ojúkòkòrò, irà-kurà, ijẹ-kújẹ, ìpànìyàn, gbi gbé oògùn olóró àti àwọn àlébù yoku. Kò si owó ti ẹni ti kò ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn lè ni, ki ó tó.

Yorùbá ni “Isà òkú ki i yó”, bẹ́ ẹ̀ ló ri fún a lai ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn, nitori ojoojúmọ́ ni ohun tuntun njade, pàtàki ni ayé oriṣiriṣi ẹ̀rọ igbàlódé àti ẹ̀rọ ayélujára yi. Fún àpẹrẹ, oriṣiriṣi ọkọ̀ ayọ́kẹ́lẹ́ ló wà, ti wọn nṣe jade ni ọdọdún, àti ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ igbàlódé owó iyebiye. Pẹ̀lú ìṣẹ́ ti ó pọ̀ ni ilẹ̀ Aláwọ̀-dúdú, ọkọ̀ ilẹ́ kò tó fún ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ Òṣèlú àti Olóri-Ìjọ mọ, ọkọ̀-òfúrufú bi ó ti wọ́n tó, ni wọn nkó jọ. Nitori eyi, kò si owó ti ó lè tó fún ẹni ti ó bá fẹ́ràn ohun ayé.

Ẹ̀kọ nla ni lati kọ́ ọmọ ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn lati kékeré. Ẹni ti ó bá ni ìtẹ́lọ́rùn, ló ni ohun gbogbo, nitori ko ni wo aago aláago ṣiṣẹ́, á lè lo ohun ti ó bá ni pẹ̀lú ìtẹ́lọ́rùn.

Pẹ̀lú ìtẹ́lọ́rùn, “Ohun ti kò tó loni mbọ̀ wá ṣẹ́kù ni ọ̀la” bi èniyàn bá lè farabalẹ̀.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

If there is no contentment, nothing can ever be enough. Lack of contentment is the root cause of many character disorders, such as stealing, adultery, greed, compulsive shopping, gluttony, killings, drug peddling and other vices. No amount of money is ever enough for someone who lacks contentment. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-05-22 16:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“BÍ ỌMỌDÉ BÁ ṢUBÚ Á WO IWÁJÚ…”: “IF A CHILD FALLS HE/SHE LOOKS FORWARD…”

Leave a reply

BÍ ỌMỌDÉ BÁ ṢUBÚ Á WO IWÁJÚ, BÍ ÀGBÀ BÁ ṢUBÚ Á WO Ẹ̀HÌN

Òwe Yorùbá yi wúlò lati juwe òye àgbàlagbà lati wo ẹ̀hìn fún ẹ̀kọ́ nínú ìrírí tó ti kọjá lati yanjú ọ̀ràn tó ṣòro nígbàtí ọmọdé tí kò rí irú ìṣòro bẹ̃ lati kọ́ ọgbọ́n, má nwo iwájú.

Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá miran ni “Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, kọ ará yókù lọ́gbọ́n”. Nitotọ ọ̀rọ̀ miran sọ wípé “Ìṣòro ni Olùkọ́ tó dára jù”, ṣùgbọ́n dí dúró kí ìṣòro jẹ Olukọ fún ni lè fa ewu iyebíye, nitorina ó dára ká kọ́ ọgbọ́n lati ọ̀dọ̀ àgbà. Ọlọ́gbọ́n ma nlo ọgbọ́n ọlọ́gbọ́n lati yẹra fún ìṣubú.

Ní àsìkò ẹ̀rọ ayélujára yi, òwe “Bí ọmọdé bá ṣubú á wo iwájú, bí àgbà bá ṣubú á wo ẹ̀hìn” ṣi wúlò fún àwọn ọmọdé tí ó lè ṣe àṣàyàn lati fi etí si àgbà, kọ́ ẹ̀kọ́, tàbí ka àkọsílẹ̀ ìrírí àgbà nínú ìwé tàbí lórí ayélujára lati yẹra fún àṣìṣe, kọ́ ibi tí agbára àti àilera àgbà wà fún lílò lọ́jọ́ iwájú.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

IF A CHILD FALLS HE/SHE LOOKS FORWARD, IF AN ELDER FALLS HE/SHE LOOKS BACK

This Yoruba proverb is relevant to describe the ability of an adult to look back and draw from past experience to solve a problem while a child with no previous experience look forward since he/she has no previous experience to fall back on.

There is another Yoruba proverb that said “The one that fell into a ditch teaches the others wisdom”. Though there is an adage that said “Experience is the best Teacher”, often waiting to learn from personal experience may be too costly, so it is better to avoid the cost by learning a lesson from the Elders. The wise people would always learn from the experience of others to avoid pitfalls.

In this computer age, the proverb that said “if a child falls he/she looks forward, if an elder falls he/she looks back” is still relevant to encourage the young ones, who have more choices of listening and learning directly from the elder or reading the documented experience of others from books or the internet to avoid past mistakes, learn from the strength and weakness of the Elders for future use.

Originally posted 2013-05-03 19:29:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Yoruba Blog

Ẹ jẹ ki a gbé èdè àti àṣà Yorùbá Lárugẹ: keeping the Yoruba language alive…

Category Archives: Yoruba Proverbs

“Iṣẹ́ loògùn ìṣẹ́” – “Work is the antidote for destitution/poverty”

“Iwájú lèrò mbá èrò – Kò si ohun téni kan ṣe, téni kò ṣe ri” – “There is always someone ahead – Nothing is new”

“Ã Ò PÉ KÁMÁ JỌ BABA ẸNI…”: It is not enough to have a striking resemblance to one’s Father

“Bi ojú bá mọ́, Agbe á yalé Aláró, Àlùkò á yalé Olósùn, Lékeléke á yalé Ẹlẹ́fun”: “At the dawn of the day, the blue-touraco makes for the home of the indigo dealer; …”

“A ki i jẹ Igún, a ki i fi Ìyẹ́ Igún rinti: Ẹnu Ayé Lẹbọ” – “It is forbidden to eat the Vulture or use its feather as cotton bud: One should be careful of what others say”

Bi Irọ́ bá lọ fún Ogún Ọdún, Òtítọ á ba Lọ́jọ́ Kan – Ìbò Ọjọ́ Kejilá Oṣù Kẹfà Ọdún fún MKO Abiọ́lá Kò Gbé – Truth will always catch up lies – June 12 Election of Late Chief MKO Abiola is not in Vain

“Njẹ́ ó yẹ ki Adájọ́ ti ó bá hu iwà ibàjẹ́ kọjá Òfin?” – “Should Judges be above the Law?”

Ẹ káàbọ̀ si ọdún Ẹgbàálémẹ́tàdínlógún – Welcome to 2017

“Ìwà bi Ọlọrun pẹ̀lú Ìtẹ́lọ́rùn, Èrè nla ni” – “Godliness with Contentment, is great Gain”

“BÍ ỌMỌDÉ BÁ ṢUBÚ Á WO IWÁJÚ…”: “IF A CHILD FALLS HE/SHE LOOKS FORWARD…”

Follow The Yoruba Blog