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***Nigerian Adages And Their Meanings*** - Culture - Nairaland

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***Nigerian Adages And Their Meanings*** by chiteny(m): 10:04am On Sep 05, 2012
As already known by all (both home and abroad), Nigerians and Africans in general (especially the elderly ones) tend to use adages to explain or say some very important truths/facts. This in a way saves times for long explanations on issues or in a way convey a message without actually saying the content of the message. It most times sets the hearer(s) in a thinking mode in order to decipher the actual meaning of the adage and in some cases the implication/consequence of following or negating such adage, after they have figured out the meaning.

Thus i would like us to write up some adages and their implied meaning (if any) so we all get to learn more and have fun too with the funny ones. I will go first.

Adage: Before groundnut come, we no dey chop gravel.
Meaning: We will have the patience to wait for the real thing instead of going along with a substandard one.
Re: ***Nigerian Adages And Their Meanings*** by odumchi: 1:55pm On Sep 05, 2012
Here are a few that I know:

Cut your coat according to your size: do only what you can achieve.

A bird at hand is better than three in the bush: do not always rely on possibilities, instead focus on reality.

When a once-beautiful piece of cloth has turned into rags, no one remembers that it was woven by Ukwa master weavers: no one remembers a good thing once it has changed.

The prince is never guilty in his father's court: People are biased.

One first drives off the fox, before taking the chickens home and blaming them for straying: issues are attended to in order of importance.

Let both the kite and the eagle perch, if one says that the other shouldn't perch let its wings break: live and let live.

The cow only realizes the value of its tail once it's cut off: people only realize the value of their possessions when they don't have them.

It's condition that made the crayfish bend: our current situations are a result of our environment.

Whether it was the tenant who seduced the landlord's wife, or the landlord who seduced the tenant's wife, it is the tenant who would leave the house: no matter what, you must submit to the power of superior authority.

If someone agrees then his personal spirit agrees: your capacity for success is dependent on your desire to succeed.

The son of spirit shouldn't oppress the son of man and the son of man shouldn't oppress the son of spirit: live and let live.

One day monkey go go market e no go return: those that do evil will always be caught.

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Re: ***Nigerian Adages And Their Meanings*** by chiteny(m): 7:54am On Sep 07, 2012
Adage: Use your tongue to count your teeth.
Meaning: Put on your thinking cap to decipher what is going on.

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