Proverb #151

“Ụkpara anya gwugwugwu, n'afọ nnụnụ kpawom!” 

- ilu Oriakụ, Phoebe Isiodu (Nee Nwachukwu), Onye Ngwa alụ na Mbieri (Mama m).


The grasshopper with flared pupils and a glint
in the eye and a 'don't care attitude' ends up
a bird's meal ...

Not for the faint hearted. A person that is often warned without taking heed is suddenly destroyed.

Compare this quote from Proverbs 29:1
'He that being often reproued, hardeneth his
necke, shal (sic), suddenly be destroied, and
that without remedy.'
[As I am told it appears in KJV16]

So then, those eternal Jews knew it and those eternal Igbos knew it.
But who said it first? Arrgggh!

Kpawom ! is supposed to be the sound a grasshopper makes as it passes the bird's gullet.

How mum ever made that recording? I would never know :-)

[On Her Behalf]Contributed By Kelechi Isiodu
[Variants Posted By]
Uzoma Nwaekpe, Isi ala Ngwa: Ukpara anya gwugwugwu, o ji ezuike la akpa afo ukwu nnunnu.

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 #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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