Proverb #5

“Nwata kwọchaa aka, o soro ọgaranya riee- nri.”

Contributed By Dubem Okoye, South Africa.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

This proverb describes promotion for an individual, gaining acceptance into gilded company, and finally reaching the hallways of opportunity and privilege. Literally it means 'After the child has washed its hands, he can dine at the same table as adults or rich men ' -  The proverb is poetic in that it employs 'word pictures', because the elders were not referring to a child's act of washing hands, but the elders meant a more expansive thing: they were referring to preparation. Much the same idea as when one has served out an apprenticeship, he or she may now quit themselves like and act like a master. It is a typical 'rites of passage proverb'. In the photo a very rich man is already at the table with a companion of presumably the same pedigree. 

A third man joins them at the table, whispering and leaning over ...  the rich man's gestures with his hands shows that the third man is held in some affection. To any onlookers, the third 

man is in a classic position of power and  has the king's ear. He is quite literally 

'one to watch'. The Igbos understood these power plays in daily life, so they said ... 

'Nwata kwọchaa aka ... '

[Variants Posted x 1, Okoye Bona, Udi Enugu State:  nwata kwocha aka, O soro ogaranya rie nri]

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