Proverb #37

"Onye nzuzu amaghị na ụgụrụ tụ oyi."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, 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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Proverb #36

"Onye nzuzu amaghị na adanne ya wụ ọbia."

 

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli.
[Variants Posted x 1]
Agam D. Iheanyigwe, Mbano Ehime; onye ihuriru amaghị na nwanne ya wụ obịa

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #35

"Mgbaghiri mmanya anaghị eju mbele."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #34

"Ọnụrụ ube nwanne, agbala ọsọ!"

Contributed By Kelechi Una 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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Proverb #33

"Izu ka mma na nneji."

Contributed By Kelechi Una 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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Riposte to Proverb #7 - Dialogue with Tim Lyons (Photographer, conservationist [and we think] ... a generally good person)

After we posted here, an interesting thing happened with Tim Lyons who gave us permission to use his 'Wet Rat' photo. (He later gave us permission to use some shots out of his database of shots to illustrate our proverbs). Here's our thread with him.

We First Wrote:

Hello,Great shot ... I wonder if I can use it on a web project of mine ...

We will acknowledge you ...

Tim Lyons:
What is the nature of the project?

We Wrote:

Nothing big ... a book of proverbs for my native country men and women - Ibos.

We have a proverb about a lizard and a wet rat and your 'wet rat' is an excellent picture.

I will post up a shoddy mock up soon ... give me a few ticks ...

And then we also Wrote:

Hi, If your ping back systems haven't warned you yet, I am posting so you see the kind of use I have made of the image. It's here: Cheers:  [LINK REMOVED] , I uploaded a modified combo, so there are no bandwidth issues. I posted a little link, so my interested visitors can visit your site to see the great big picture n (in) all it's glory. If there are any issues, just write to me here and you would find me compliant. Cheers.

Tim Lyons:

Very interesting web site. You're welcome to use my photo.I was a little concerned about what someone would want with a photo of a rat, especially a wet one. Most people don't like rats, and I don't want my photos used disrespectfully or commercially. When I found the rat I assumed that he (she) was dead, and I'd was inches away from it trying out different camera angles for awhile before it opened its eyes. My photographer friend was taking pictures from the other side, and we paused to see what it would do. It started crawling back toward the water, but it was having a hard time, so we moved it to the other side of the creek where it would be safer. I'm not especially fond of rats, but I was quite charmed with this one, and I hope that he did well after we left.

We Wrote:
Thank you Tim, for your kind permission. Yea I am hoping the rat made it, too. Nice thing to have been tender with the rat. Thanks for comments on the site, too.

AND THEN TIM WROTE: !!
Tim Lyons:

There's been an interesting update on my photo. I sent a link to your web site to a friend, who is a retired biology professor, and he thinks that my rat is actually a chipmunk. he made a convincing case, and he would know more about rat foot structure than I do. Based on his analysis, I intend to change the name to Wet Chipmunk. This would be a trivial matter if our web sites weren't linked by this photo. You're still welcome to use my photo with or without credit to me. The image on your web site illustrates your proverb well, and I doubt that anyone would be able to tell whether it was a rat or chipmunk from your web site. My suggestion would be to leave the photo on your site as it is and remove the link to my photo. If you prefer, I could also remove your comment on my web site. Let me know what you would prefer.

[Hmm ... how to respond?]


We Wrote:

Hi Tim,

Thanks for keeping in touch like this and for the updates ... what I might like to do is provide some more detail to my own users by posting our correspondence as part of the comments. I suppose the professor will have a bit more information and he is probably right, so do update your labels to 'Wet Chipmunk' ...

But like you noted, the proverb is well illustrated by your photo and I should be loathe to loose the link to your site too.

My country men and women know this proverb quite well - one of our 'so called' classics - and I suppose they can accept our 'poetic license' in substituting rat for chipmunk. As an aside, we also do have loads of squirrels and chipmunks nesting in our backyards in Igbo land and we probably can indulge in a small game of 'spot the difference'. Our variety of chipmunks usually have a white line running along the side of these animals, which is absent from the photo, but I am prepared to own or concede the professor's point as the colour of the fur and the shape of the ears don't ring 'rat-true', to turn a phrase.

Our commentary, if you allow me to post it will suggest something to our users about the level of dedication, we are bringing to this project. Also, (I have well over a 1000 proverbs to document), I should not want to start manipulating a fresh image. And the very exercise of discussing 'live' pictures and wondering whether they apply is just the sort of context we need to bed our proverbs in a bit.

Let me know what you think at any rate ... Cheers.

And We also wrote:
Oh ... forgot to add ... I can always update my own links to read 'Wet Chipmunk' ... this is good?

Tim Lyons:
That's fine.

He also wrote:
Tim Lyons:
Our chipmunks do have white lines, and not seeing one was part of the reason that I thought it was something other than a chipmunk. The tail looked more rat-like than chipmunk to me, but my professor friend thinks that the hairs are just matted down. Feel free to post our commentary.
I updated the label on my web site to "Wet Chipmunk."

So we have updated the link on our site to read 'Wet Chipmunk'.

We thank Tim Lyons for an interesting dialogue, conversation and collaboration.
He gave us permission to use a few of his applicable photos to illustrate our proverbs.
He also showed us what their chipmunks look like. See Tim's Chipmunks


Umu Igbo gbanụ egbe ọnụ. Kwanyere Tim Lyons, Onye amam ihie, na dike n'igwe onyo~onyo, ugwu dịrị ya. Kelenụ yo: Kpum !! Kpum !! Kpotom!!!
Ndi ndom: Bienu Oroo !


To Tim Lyons, ... please 'hear' our rifle shots and guns (mkpọn'ala); accept our symbolic red cap and eagle feathers :-) (turu ugo). Thank you.

Editorial
for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #32

"E buru ozu onye ọzọ, ọ dịka ebu ikpochi nkwụ."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbatoli.
[Variants Posted x 1]
By Ijeoma Nwabueze Aluko: Amamba-Uzokoli, Bende, Abịa State: Eburu ozu onye ọzọ na-aga ọdịka ebu okpojiohoro ! 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com
e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #31

"Kọọla ikwu,kọọla ibe, onye oririla n'emere onwe ya."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com
e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #30

"Ihie arụtara n'eze anaghị eju afọ."

 

Contributed By Kelechi Una 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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Proverb #29

"Ihie arụtara n'aga ite n'ala n'aga ọnụ."

Contributed By Kelechi Una 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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Proverb #28

"Uru adịghị n'isi azụ."

 

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #27

"Isi awụghị akpụ ji."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com
e-Mail: ifont.groups.facebook@gmail.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #26

"Okenye nọrọ n'ụlọ, ewu erie ji, ikpe alaara ewu."

Contributed By Kelechi Una 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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Proverb #25

"Nwa ọkpọmbara sị kama isi ya ga-atụ ahụrụ, ka nw'enwe oso gbuo ya."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #24

"Ọchụ nwa ọkụkọ nwe ada."

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #23

"Alụa n'anwụ, eliee na ndo."

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #22

"Ahụ ekwughị n'egbu okenye,mana anụ emeghị n'egbu nwata."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #21

"Nwanza puwa nku,ya dika ọ ga aka nne na nna ya."

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #20

Ikenga: old god of strength and adventure

"Nwamkpi sị: na ya efuha'efu, nwụhụ-anwụ, (kama) na ya g'erurịrị n'Ikenga."

Editorial: Although this is a picture of an old god/fetish in Igbo land (Owerri area)
No hard facts and conclusions should be drawn from its inclusion here. 
It is an abstraction to do the proverb justice, nothing more.
The vast majority of Igbo people are now a Christian people, both actively
and nominally.
Picture Source: Visit

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #19

“Ogbu opi, n'efichaa imi.” 

This is a proverb which finds kinship with another in Hebrew culture. It's sense is shared with 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox which treads out the corn' - from Deuteronomy 25 verse 4.  The apostle Paul, while trying to explain that  proverb to his more modern listeners noted that God had to be more interested in mere oxen; he concluded that a person facilitating some function had a tacit or implicit right to profit or benefit from that function. (From his first letter to the Corinthians 9 verses 9, 10).

In Igbo culture, you had musicians, praise singers and flutists, who served to add colour and verve to any festival. Any lucky hosts securing their services, can be pictured telling this proverb to the wards and helpers - not to forget to fill the clay cups of the musicians and their plates - nothing at all is said about kerchiefs.  As an extreme example, the proverb might be cited, while trying to justify bribe taking or other profiteering behaviour, but it needn't be cited. The Igbos recognise the manifest justice of the situation, literally - 'The flutist, gets to wipe his nose'.

The man pictured (half in the shadows) is my Dad, and he has been hand-making flutes for the past 3 or 4 years and is rather serious about the whole thing. You know, what they say, if you make a better mouse trap, the world beats a pathway to your door. How about flutes? Well, the man will give you one 'for free' too. So go on to Umunjam, Mbieri. Ask for Reverend Isiodu. He really will give you one and try his flat out best to assist you in coaxing some sound from this instrument. Well, good luck with that!  Yet don't forget, if you accept his gratis, then, don't forget his nose.

To See Reverend Eugene Isiodu, playing a Christmas Sample,
'Bianụ ndị okwukwe' or 'O come all ye faithful', visit.
To download some brief information about his ọpị or ọja. Visit

Angles and Anecdotes
By Kelechi Isiodu.
Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #18

“Ikuku kuo aahụ ike Ọkụkọ.” 

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #17

"Ọkụkọ nyụọ ahụrụ ala achụa ya - ọsọ"

Contributed By John Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

The headline has left the confines of this particular writing system and was rendered in web fonts provided by
The Google Webfonts initiative. This is a truly beautiful font, EB Garamond. It does our language diacritics a world of good.
The balance is amazing. Thank you Google. Thanks Designer !

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Proverb #16

"AGBỊỊSỊ GBAA ỌTUULA, Ọ MỤRỤ AKỌ!"

This headline can imaginatively be seen on a signboard than as 'a proverb'. Thus, it has been rendered appropriately in emboldened Capital Letters. It should stand stately, like something over an Archway in classical Rome - a shouting inscription of sorts.  Here then, stands wisdom . The proverb means:

'The soldier-ant  stings the buttocks; the buttocks, learns to be wise.' -

It is a favourite of parents everywhere as they tell their children and wards to "get off the mud or cement floor".

In the old mud huts of Igbo land these ants would sometimes lead a trail right through our improvised living rooms while foraging.
A close encounter of the intimate kind with such a forceful experience of nature leaves
a welt of an unforgettable lesson that cannot be replicated at boarding school.

Picture First Appears: Here

Contributed By John Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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Proverb #15

"Agwọ tụrụ Mbe, tụrụ okpokoro."

The snake's venom is like nothing against the tortoise's shell.

The proverb captures the essence of epic battles between
elemental spirits in Igbo mythology.
The tortoise safely encased by God's natural design in
a hardshell of bone and scutes fears not for the snake's 
venom. Old Dibias have been known to recount the
proverb as a means of psyching themselves up for taking
on 'evil'.

The photo was provided by Bob Oji [Admin], who has clevely
'posed' the cobra and the tortoise.

Generally, in real life, Igbos cite this proverb whenever actors
or players in life's dramas wish to state that they fear no evil.

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
[Variants Posted x 3]
By John Isiodu, Mbieri: Agwo turu mbe turu okpokoro
By Bob Oji, Umuahia Abia State: [Ditto]

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 


The headline has left the confines of this particular writing system and was rendered in web fonts provided by
The Google Webfonts initiative. 

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Proverb #14

“Eji anya amata ọka chara acha.” 

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 


The headline has left the confines of this particular writing system and was rendered in web fonts provided by
The Google Webfonts initiative.

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Proverb #13

“Ụkwa rue oge ya, ọ daa.” 

Sometimes, it is no good to go pre-empting a situation. So one proverb for inspecting and for allowing curiosity its head [See Proverb 2]and another for hanging loose, standing back, keeping

poised and getting ready.

With a few things, it's all about timing and nothing else. This proverb incorporates the idea of propriety and due patience paid to a thing - "The breadfruit falls off the tree of it's own accord" - That, according to the Igbos, would be when to fetch kit and kin for that traditional meal ... or not.

By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

[Variants Posted x 1]

By Obioma Ofoegbu, Igboukwu Anambara State: Ukwa ruo oge ya, o daa

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #12

‘‘Isi kote ebu, ọ gbaa ya.’’

This proverb is fairly standard across Igbo land and there  is no gain-saying the fact of awareness of the proverb. So, let's not beat around the bush; we have wasps about. The proverb incorporates a dire prophecy about consequences."If you brush the hornet's nest with your head, you will be stung; simple as." - Old society worked by boundaries, norms and customs and everyone was expected to know them, market days were market days and festival days were festival days. The kola was universal and if you didn't do any work then you endured your empty barns and the tongue-lashing of your wives, and quiet disdain from kit and kin. And the crested dibia might sound this warning during the morning's divination.'Isi kote ebu ... '

The literalistic act did happen often enough too, the novice hunter or an inexperienced gatherer of firewood would  disturb the wasps' or hornets' nest and reap a remonstration of welts, swellings and yelps. 
The headline has left the confines of this particular writing system and was rendered in web fonts provided by The Google Webfonts initiative. This one, Boogaloo, is beautiful to this beholder - credit to Google and to the designer. If I were a writer of Ibo comics, I would use Boogaloo as my headline font. It doesn't exactly slant like Comic Sans but it strikes me in the same way. We found ourselves returning time and again to Boogaloo for headlining our proverbs. The picture of the honests' nest was culled from growsonyou.com. 

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
[Variants Posted x 2]
By Obioma Ofoegbu, Igboukwu, Anambara State: Isi kotara ebu, ka ebu na-agba.
By Dubem Okoye, SA: Isi kote ebu, ebu agaa ya

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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Proverb #11

“Ụkpara Okpoko burule ntị chiri ya.” 

Oshin'aka: ... Rendering the ceaseless poetry of the earth.
 Picture source: Buzzle.com

'Ụkpara' is the grasshopper and though it leads the outdoors in rendering the ceaseless poetry of the earth, it must be mindful of danger. 'Okpoko' is a predator bird which preys on grasshoppers. However, it would not fly silently, but it makes noise during it's flight.

In the words of the proverb in a paraphrase:- The grasshopper seized by the screeching bird must be deaf -

Every grasshopper ought to hear its approach and burrow into safety before the bird arrives. 

The sound it makes is loud enough and only a deaf grasshopper would not hear it; so the Igbo says.

Now a word is enough for the wise, they say. Do take care. You hear?

Contributed By Kelechi Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
for iFaT at ifont@groups .facebook.

Angles and Shades (Explications, Interpretations)
Contributed By Uzoma Nwaekpe, Amachi-Nsulu  Isialangwa.
 
[Variants Posted x 5]
 
Agam D. Iheanyi Igwe, Ehime Mbano: Ukpana okpoko gburu, [ditto]
Chukwuemeka Umeah:  Ukpana okpoko buru, nti chiri ya
Bob Oji: Ụkpara Okpoko gburu, nti chiri ya ... 
Obioma Ofoegbu,Igboukwu, Anambara State: Ukpana okpoko gburu, nti chiri ya
Uche Unakalamba: Irette, Owerre: Ụkpala Okpoko gburu, ntị chiri ya.

© ifont 2011, as it appears here

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Proverb #10

“Alụta agbọọ, achụpụ agadi...” 

Contributed By Kelechi Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.

Angles and Shades (Explications, Interpretations)
Contributed By Uzoma Nwaekpe, Amachi-Nsulu  Isialangwa.

© ifont 2011, as it appears here

Simply implies that there is the tendency to abandon an old fad for a new fad or style.
The Igbo warns against this ship-jumping lifestyle. That is why a complete version of the proverb would be "Alụta agbọghọ achụpụ agadi ... adịghị nma."


And to learn what to do with old boots. Visit
Currently trying to get permission for use of her image.

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Proverb #9

“Nwata mụta ihie, ya lime hụ n'ala, mbge otoro, ya bọrọ.”

Contributed By Reverend Canon Eugene Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.

© ifont 2011, as it appears here

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Proverb #8

“Nwata ụkwụ nga nga - a ya ka okii [okenye] ihie ama.”

Contributed By Reverend Canon Eugene Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri. for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook. © ifont 2011, as it appears here

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Proverb #7

“Oke sooro Ngwere maa mmiri. Ya Kọọchaa Ngwere, Ọ kọọla Oke?”

Sometimes you see this, in the wake of flash storms, in the marshy rain forests of the Ibos. Two struggling forms. You can't make them out at first and then you decide that one is a lizard, (the agama variety), a very popular sight in Igbo land, the other at first is just a fur ball rolling along in the mire and the mud rivulets made by the rain fall, but your superior wisdom informs you, that's a rat. It is also a common sight, but hostility to rats is near common across Igbo land. 

And then just as suddenly the flash storms cease and the sun's rays pierce through the brush, once again, warming the palm trees and the stone outcrops and the dripping plantain leaves and our erstwhile animal friends start taking stock. The Lizard soaks up the sun's heat and the colour returns to its head and the scales are coping quite well. But not so much, the rat.

That old fur ball will lie there pathetically for hours, shuddering, shivering, causing sympahty in a thousand quixotic hearts, as the children ask their fathers - 'what's wrong with it, Dad?' ...This is a classic proverb, about peer pressure: It means: 'When the Rat goes rain-surfing with the Lizard, the Lizard does very well after the rain's gone, but whatever happens to the Rat?' -I am paraphrasing a little - but this pretty near exactly captures the sense. 

You do only what you feel sure about and what is in your nature to do. If you take on another person's challenge and do what for you is quite out of character, then, there will be hell to pay when the dust settles. And the elders understood that.

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

The image was manipulated using the GIMP, it is not the best image, but what's an image, if you get the proverb? :-)
Permission to use the 'Wet Chipmunk' shot was sought from Tim Lyons who captured the shot.
To see the Wet Chipmunk in all it's glory, visit.

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Proverb #6

“Ebge bere, Ugo bere, nke sị ibe ya ebela, nku kwaa ya.”

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

This is a proverb about equity. I think it is happy coincidence that the elders thought to express this thought with the images of noble birds alive in their minds. Both types of birds are rampant in Igboland, although more people might report seeing the kite (the bird on the left) more often. The proverb means 'The kite and the eagle, should share a patch, if one denies the other then the offending bird should develop deformed wings' - 
It is a proverb about democracy and equity. I searched and searched for a photo showing the birds sharing a perch, but could not find one - not that this even happens in the wild. I got tempted at some point to use 'Photoshop', but I resolved not to.
The elders felt that everyone had a right to use the common space, the king and commoner. In fact this view of equity is so strong among Ibos that it has been observed that we have no common kings in the sense in which the classical world was familiar. We did have men of means or individuals who had distinguished themselves by one feat or the other, but then that did not suddenly make them 'more than their neighbours' - distinction acceded no extra rights or recognition to those that possessed it. The Ibos promoted the concept of the 'king in every man'. Every body had a right to speak at the village conferences and to use the village square.
And of course at home, beneath their own rooves, wrapped in their own robes;  - every man was king.

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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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Proverb #4

“Bete anụ bete anụ ọkwa n'ahụ nnama!”

Contributed By Brown Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
[Variants Posted x 1]
Chukwuemeka Umeh:  Mata anu mata anu bukwa so n'ahu efi. 

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

A proverb of slaughter houses and cows. What can we say about that? Yeah, it is gory and not an easy sight. Yet in Igbo land as well as elsewhere, we consume loads and loads of the stuff. Meat, meat and more meat. The proverb means, 'Cut the meat, cut the meat; all this on the cow's flesh? Poor cow!' - I was paraphrasing. But if you can, look past all the blood and observe the sympathy which the elders had for their animals. If you stretch the imagination a bit, it is not hard to imagine the elders expressing this idea of care for cows to all of God's creation. When a great man or woman dies in Igbo land, it is usually an occasion for the slaughter of animals, especially cows. So rampant is the practise that as early as 1968 in his 'Ahiara Declaration', the late Igbo leader, Gen. Ojukwu, decried the practise of rich Ibos' slaughtering cows in christening ceremonies for their babies. Next time you sit down with your bowl of flesh, spare a thought for the poor cows.

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Proverb #3

“Nkịta anaghị ata ọkpụkpụ ọnya nʻolu.”

        Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.

        for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

        © ifont 2011, as it appears here.

They are in our homes and have been described as 'Man's best friend'. We tried very hard to find an appropriate hunter's dog to take a photo, but when we couldn't find one, we settled for a European 'German Shepherd'. The rich and famous in present day, Igbo land sometimes get these dogs as guard dogs. What you found in the old days was that a hunter usually bored a hole in an old bone and hung it around his dog to secure a little bell. The toll of this bell became an elaborate communications system between the hunter and his dog. The bell told the hunter the direction and position of the dog as they stalked prey together. Everyone knows that dogs are fond of bones, but a strange thing happened once a bone formed part of a 'collar' around the dog's neck. The dog somehow became compliant and did not try to play with or feed on the marrow from the bone around its neck. The dog seemed to realise intuitively what the bone was for ...That inspired this proverb among Ibos, literally: 'The Dog does not eat the bone hung around its neck' - I think Ibos  'abstract' from this behaviour of dogs, the idea of responsibility. When one is given a responsibility, the proper behaviour is to rise to it and to discharge it properly. If only we all behaved like the elders or their dogs ...

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Proverb #2

“Awọ anaghị agba ọsọ ehihie na-nkịtị.”

Contributed By Kelechi Una Isiodu, Umunjam, Mbieri.
[Variants Posted x 1]
By Chukwumah Ugbene, onye ...

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

Sometimes, you get that odd situation, you have to get up and do something or lose the moment forever.          

It is not quite an emergency, but you can't ignore stuff either. So you drive yourself off the chair, bed or the office desk  and 'relocate'. You have to pay that bill, make that call or catch that bus / train / plane ... Sometimes on the plains of Africa or in the forest brushes of Igbo land too, you observe the frog (normally and properly nocturnal) hoping along and sometimes not at a leisurely pace ... maybe it has been surprised by some predator out of a cranny or a hole - 'what is it doing this afternoon' ?  And that's the crux of the proverb, paraphrased literally ' The frog does not hurry along in the afternoon sun, for nothing or in vain; ' - The pictured frog is of the African bull variety - ferocious looking, these frogs have expanded their diets beyond flies and fleas. Pictures abound on the Internet showing these reptiles swallowing whole birds and tiny rodents. The Ibos (Igbos) have used the proverb to make observations about odd occurrences or events  which strike them as peculiar or strange, calling for closer scrutiny or inspection. So next time you see a frog ambling along in the day - now, you know ...

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Proverb #1

“Anaghị agwa ochi ntị
na agha esula.”

Contributed By Arthur Iwualla, Orodo, Mbaitoli.
[Variants Posted x 1}
By Chioma Mayrann Nwabor: Adighi agwa ochi nti n'agha esu

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com

© ifont 2011, as it appears here. 

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This image is poignant for the way it grabs your attention.The situation is urgent, with the eyes of the soldier looking straight into yours. The image is purported to belong to a young soldier in old Biafra. The proverb means, literally in a paraphrase, 'Don't tell a wilfully deaf (or stubborn person) about the onset of war: he realises this all by  himself ' - 

Because the proverbs are short sayings, they must convey a lot in a short time. The Ibos (Igbos) /ndi Igbo have used this proverb to often remonstrate with individuals who realise too late, the import or gravity of a situation or thing.  

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