The value of the proverb to igbo is very great, its a mark of a mature speaker. It is often used to begin addresses especially when making an impressive and powerful speech before an audience of respectable, experienced or elderly Igbo.
One who cant understand proverbs is looked upon as inexperienced, naive or foolish(ofeke).A tuara omanu o mara, a tuora ofeke, o fejie olu. Meaning, when a proverb refers to the wise or intelligent man, he understands, but when it refers to a foolish man. He plunges into greater foolishness. Igbo proverbs reveal a lot about the Igbos themselves. Igbo proverb is the 'experience and wisdom of several ages gathered and summed up in one expression.' while some nations quote the Bible, qu'ran or the works and maxims of acknowledged authorities or wisemen; or from a carefully worked out code of law, Igbos quote proverbs to support an idea or a disputed fact. Eg, a case of two people contesting the ownership of a fruit tree standing right on the boundary between two piece of lkand. When the matter was refered to the ndichie, after much discussion. An elderly grey-haired ichie said. Ndi igbo turu ilu si na osisi di n' oke dawara oke, meaning that a tree on the boundary breaks the boundary. Thus, the tree belongs to the two contestants who owned the piece of land and should share the fruit equally. The matter was resolved amicable.Our youths no longer value this or know about ilu igbo which is a mark of a great speaker, especially those born outside alaigbo. Lets teach ourselves iluigbo. You can decide to drop yours and there meanings too.
*Osisi di n'oke dawara oke.
*A tua ilu ngiriga nkata, onye tara ahu amara.
*Nimo gwara owa na o bughizi mgbe ahu.
*O werela otu okuko gbuoro mmuo abua.
*Ka e letachaa ka mgbo ji atu enwe n'isi.
*Okuko e bu n'isi amaghi na ije di anya.
*Nwa a kwo n'azu amaghi na ije na ara ahu.
*Mmiri maa ogazi n'elu, maa ya n'ala, ezi akika ya ga-adiriri.
*Okuko ghara mma gburu ya, o tugowara ite olu.
*Awo anaghi agba oso ehihie n'efu.
*Osisi anaghi adu mmadu ugboro abua n'anya.
*E kworo na o toka. A rachakwoo eze.
*Mgbe, mgbe, nara awo ipu odu.
*Mma onye nwere ka o ji anara aka.
Let me drop this few, i will be dropping more proverbs and you too should drop yours. IGBO AMAKA.