Proverb #546

“Nwata galuo ozi, ya aga ya nga abụọ.” 

Proverb contributed By: Agam. D Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano

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 #92

"Onye atụụrụ ilu kọwara ya, ego ejiri lụọ [ada]-nne ya furu efu."

Contributed By Agam D, Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.

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 #86

"Onye rịrị elu ọjị kpara[kwa] nkụ, nihi na anaghị arị elu ọjị mgbe nile."

'He that climbs the iroko should also fetch firewood from the top because it is not often one gets to climb it'. 

The Iroko tree was the tallest of the forest trees with strong wood. Climbing it was a feat and not an everyday one, at that. Getting to the top was cause in itself for congratulations as you towered above everything else in sight. However at the top of the Iroko tree you also had your choice of branches to break or cut off for firewood and you could harvest enough to last you many days.

Life is like climbing an Iroko tree; it brings opportunities our way and every opportunity has its window of time. One must make the most of opportunity while it is there.

Therefore, he that climbs the iroko should also fetch firewood for it is not an oft repeated feat. 

Angles and Shades: By Agametochukwu D. Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.


Editorial:
It is striking that our contributor writes about the Iroko Tree in the past tense ... The Iroko tree was (sic) ...
Logging and deforestation are turning these majestic beauties into rare sights in Igboland. And the 'great forests'
'Oke Ọhịa' are disappearing. This picture was used as it appears at afrol.com, where similar concerns
about illegal logging are covered. Notice that our proverb makes use of the idea of breaking off branches
but leaving the tree in tact to 're-vegetate'.


Contributed By Agam D. Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.

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 #85

"Ọchụ Ọkụkọ nwe ada, nwa ọkụkọ nwe mwemwe ọsọ."

Contributed By Agam D. Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.

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 #80

"Nwa mbe n'agba ọbara nga ọha."

'The young tortoise can only bleed as much as its size permits' -

Life is full of expectations. We strive to live up to the expectations required of us, and we make similar demands of (or expect  the same of) others also. Therefore one can only give what one has.
 

It can be an acknowledgment from the individual that he or she has reached the limit of their ability; or it can be a recognition from others that the reason for some lack-lustre performance is simply that the individual lacks ‘it’. 

Whatever the perspective, as with the tortoise everyone has limitations that define the boundaries of their performance. The young tortoise can only bleed as much as its size permits.





Angles and Shades: By  Agametochukwu D. Iheanyigwe

Contributed By Agam D, Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.

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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