Category Archives: African Proverbs

“Words are like bullets; if they escape, you can’t catch them again.” – Wolof proverb from Senegal. The Wolof people are found mostly in Senegal; where 40% of the citizens identify themselves as Wolof. In The Gambia, about 15% of … Continue reading →

Once upon a time there was a poor man who did not have a job or a place to stay. Finally he went with his dog to the palace of the Sukuma chief. The chief warmly received the man with … Continue reading →

Each country in Africa has hundreds of proverbs and folk tales. Some proverbs are easy to understand, while others are more abstract. Some African proverbs only make sense to the people from the town where it originated. Much of Africa’s … Continue reading →

A Fable from Namibia The crocodile originally had smooth golden skin, and it stayed that way because the crocodile would spend all day in the muddy waters and only come out at night. All the other animals would come and … Continue reading →

“A silly daughter teaches her mother how to bear children.” – from Ethiopia “A child does not laugh at the ugliness of its mother” – from Uganda “He that has never traveled thinks that his mother is the only good … Continue reading →

This folk tale is from Nigeria. It has an interesting and fun message for anyone! The Red and Blue Coat Once there were two boys who were great friends, and they were determined to remain that way forever. When they … Continue reading →

It is hard to find African stories of love in the oral traditions. The story of a Fulani couple in the ancient kingdom of Mali comes close. These stories sometimes sound strange to western people; but tremendous thought and meaning … Continue reading →