Friday 27 January 2012

Proverb #289


Gị foo [chaa] nkịta ákpí, ge shi ya hụ, o ma chee shi kpịrị ya mvọ!

I decided to try a literal translation since I could have easily said - 'Justice must not always be done, but it must be seen to have been done' ; or the biblical one 'Provide for things honest in the sight of all men - (See Romans 12:17) . So my literal translation?

Goom your dog, rid it of fleas, but always show it, so there is no mistaking your motions for a pinch, perhaps


... Also - ákpí is akpị-nkịta, some say akpịrị ... but whether us or them, the proverb teaches that sometimes your 'good' is best done openly with suitable pointers and directions given to certain quarters. Never let your 'good' be evil spoken of. That's also biblical. [See Romans 14:16] ...

And ndị Igbo have always known. :-)

Angles and Shades: By Kelechi Isiodu

Proverb contributed By Kelechi Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com
e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com
© ifont 2011, as it appears here

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