Yoruba proverbs that explain life better than a TED Talk

If you ever need motivation, wisdom, or a reality check, you don’t have to queue up a TED Talk, you can just learn Yoruba. Yoruba proverbs have been dropping truth bombs for centuries, teaching lessons on life, love, and survival with humour and poetry. From parenting to business, each proverb carries layers of wisdom that make you pause, laugh, and nod in agreement, all in one sentence.

Here are some of our favourite Yoruba proverbs and the meanings behind them:

On life…

Omo to kawo soke lo fe ka gbe oun
Translation: It’s the child that lifts its arms that asks to be picked.
Meaning: Don’t be quiet when you have problems that need solving.

Eewu bę loko Longę, Longę fun ara rę eewu ni
Translation: There is danger at Longę's farm (Longę is a name of a Yoruba legend), Longę himself is danger
Meaning: You should be extremely careful of situations that have a past history of danger

On relationships…

Banidele la mmo ise eni
Translation: Going home with a person is how you know his or her ways.
Meaning: You can only see the true version of a person when you visit their home.

Bí a kò bá tíì kú, a ò mọ̀ ẹnìkan tó máa sìn wa.
Translation: Until we die, we don’t know who will bury us.
Meaning: Learn to value all relationships. With life’s unpredictability, those who truly stand by us in the end (death) may not be those whom we expect.

On parenting…

A ti kekee e ti p’eitan u’oko i, do ba d’agba tan e i du ka ma
Tranlsation: Trim the branches of an iroko tree while it is young, if it matures completely it cannot be bent again.
Meaning: Training of a child commences when the child is still very young and impressionable; otherwise their training becomes late and an uphill task.

Ìyá ni wúrà, bàbá ni jígí.
Translation: A mother is gold, a father is a mirror.
Meaning: Mothers are priceless, fathers reflect the child’s future.

On business…

Ile oba t'o jo, ewa lo busi
Translation: When a king's palace burns down, the re-built palace is more beautiful.
Meaning: Necessity is the mother of invention, creativity is often achieved after overcoming many difficulties.

Ubee eese l’use, onen yo gbe jake oun o se l’use i.
Translation: A good beginning is of no value unless one perseveres to the end.
Meaning: He who perseveres to the end will be rewarded

On self development…

À ń pe gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà ẹyẹ àkókó ń yọjú
Translation: A sculptor is summoned and the woodpecker shows up
Meaning: Never think too highly of yourself

Uun yi agbalagba ri n’oiho joko, omoiton le ri un n’oiho uduo.
Translation: What an elder sees while sitting down, a child can never see it while standing up.
Meaning: Experience is the best teacher

Ready to learn Yoruba the fun way? Explore our Yoruba Talking Flashcards, the perfect tool for parents and kids to discover Yoruba words together. Reconnect with your roots and bring the beauty of Yoruba wisdom to life, one word at a time.

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