Akan (Twi) Proverbs-gctid23824

[Agbede]

Obi nkyerɛ ɔtomfoɔ ba atono.
No one teaches the blacksmith's child blacksmithing.

[Agbede]

Onipa yɛ yie a, ɔyɛ gya ne mma.
If a person does good then they do it to leave (the rewards) for their children.

[Agbede]

Abɔfra su a yɛmmɔ no dua mu.
When a child cries we don't tie her/him to a log.

[Agbede]

Ɔba nsu a, womma no nufuo?
If a child doesn't cry, will you not feed him/her?

[Agbede]

Sika te sɛ hwene mu nwi, wotu a na woresu!
Money is like nose hairs, when you pull it out you cry!

[Agya Kwaku]

Abirekyie se ɔmpɛ mfumu akwantuo
The goat says it does not like unplanned journey

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Biribi nsɛe a, biribi renyɛ yie.
If one thing doesn't spoil, another thing will not do well.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Abusua nyinaa yɛ abusua, na yɛhwehwɛ mmɛtema so deɛ
All families are families, but we are looking for ones clustered like young palm fruits

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Wiase, wɔtena no baanu baanu[1]
The world, we live in it in pairs

[1] From 1-9, we count humans differently from things. Nipa baako (one person), nnipa baanu (two people), nnipa baasa, nnipa baanan, nnipa baanum, nnipa baeurasia, nnipa baason, nnipa baaw¡twe, nnipa baakron. When counting birth order,

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Womma wo yɔnko ntwa nkron a, wo nso worentwa du

If you don’t allow your neighbor to get (cut) nine, you also won’t get (cut) ten

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Asase yɛ duru sen po!
The earth is heavier than the ocean!

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Nkyinkyimiiɛ (Twistings)
 
Ɔbra, ne kwan yɛ nkyinkyimiiɛ (Berɛ dane a, dane wo ho)
 
Life, its path is twists and turns (When time changes, then change yourself)
 
Symbol of selfless devotion to service and an adaptability to withstand hardships and difficulties.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Akobɛn bɔ a, na yɛhu mmarima
 
When the war horn sounds, we see men
 
Symbol of good masculine qualities: preparedness, protection, defense, authority and common goodness

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Obi nhu mma obi nkeka.
One person doesn't blow on hot food to allow someone else to bite it.

[Niamahmi111]

ABSOLUTELY!  I think, if we could put this in psychological terms, this is an example of being CODEPENDENT.  I have seen the result of  'supporting' other people in their endeavors, healing, relationships at the expense of my own.  It is a terrible and skewed view of what it means to be a healthy, focused community member, that breeds contempt and dysfunction.

My cat just had kittens.  During the time before she gave birth, we rescued a homeless kitten.  We went from one cat to eight within a few weeks.  I noticed after giving birth to her first litter, my cat has dropped a significant amount of weight, even though we keep her food dish filled.  Why?  Not only is she nursing her kittens but the kitten we rescued was obviously separated from his mother too soon and though he is nearly an adult cat himself, still 'nurses'. It's disturbing to me and I remove him.  Now that the kittens have teeth, they too eat from the mother cat's dish.  What does she do?  She steps away, is pushed to the side and lets the others eat. To her own decline.  I have taken to feeding her in a separate room, just so she can eat in peace.

Why do I use that illustration?  to say that you don't get cool points for sacrificing yourself for others.  The last thing we need are more sacrifices and martyrs.  As a former self sacrificing martyr of the subtle suicide variety of messiah, I'd like to say CUT THAT CRAP OUT! *I say that with all love...all love, lol!*

Obadele Kambon;55554 wrote: Obi nhu mma obi nkeka.
One person doesn't blow on hot food to allow someone else to bite it.

---------- Post added at 10:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 AM ----------

This proverb...powerful.  As an Kmtyw woman, I want to reiterate to my brethren that if you are looking to your queen to protect and provide for your family first...you are out of order.  Regardless of what the 'arrangement' may be, and not to say that a woman 'can't do it'. But know that as a woman, one of the greatest ways for men to show that they value how precious and powerful we are, is to stand in between us and the rest of the world. I am a college educated wife and three children who took time to raise my children FIRST before fully engaging the work force.  My children never went into daycare, and the only babysitters we ever used were close family.  As a woman I made and make choices, many of them sacrificial for the well being of my family.  Being a fully invested Kmtyw mother requires total focus, devotion, and commitment.  I and others can NOT do it if we must be the first to respond to the akoben.  Though the mother's have had to do it, we should have the freedom to do it in a different way.

---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------

I am still getting used to replying with quotes, so forgive me if I confused anyone with the last post, but it was in reference to the preparedness of men.  thanks!

Now, THIS QUOTE right here...totally love it!  As an Angoleiro, a Capoeirista, I have a whole appreciation to the concept of twisting and turning!  When I first began to learn Twi, I was attracted to this word, Nkyinkyimiiɛ because I loved the concept of twistnding, being flexible as necessary and withstanding forces that come up against you.  When I moved to Upstate New York, henceforth known as the worst thing I could have ever done in the history of ever but I'm not bitter I'm better (well, just a little bit bitter, lol!), I created an Kmtyw dance/martial arts troupe in order to honor our cultural traditions and to educate the community about the vast greatness of Kmtyw culture.  It was successful and as a family operated venture, is something I will revitalize in order to pass down to my children.

Lately though, as I ponder my life and my journey, I have come face to face with many encounters of my Nkyinkyimiiɛ experiences.  some of them I have flat out HATED! When I received my Hand of Ifa and Eṣu Alagbona, I learned that the twists and turns that are mine are unique to my life.  I hated every moment of heart break and heart ache, embarrassment, humiliation, failure, vulnerability, and  insecurity.  But the more I learn the language, sing the songs, offer the prayers, present the offerings, meditate on the messages, and teach my children, the more I realize that each and every twist and turn refined something within me.  I have tried to live my life safely, quitely, and carefully, BUT when you have a mission and vision to resurrect a wounded nation, there is no such thing as living from the sidelines.  My twists and turns have done more than made me strong...they have given me power.  This

This is only a portion of my story, and we all have a story to tell.  I have debated on whether or not I wanted to legally change my name or not, but I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I want to incorporate Nkyinkyimiiɛ into it.  Nia Nkyinkyimiiɛ...what do you think? :hello:

Obadele Kambon;53180 wrote: Nkyinkyimiiɛ (Twistings)
 
Ɔbra, ne kwan yɛ nkyinkyimiiɛ (Berɛ dane a, dane wo ho)
 
Life, its path is twists and turns (When time changes, then change yourself)
 
Symbol of selfless devotion to service and an adaptability to withstand hardships and difficulties.

---------- Post added at 11:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 AM ----------

Yeah...I know.  I just hate when the thing I've worked so hard to cultivate is the thing that has to spoil. *kicks pebble* lol

Obadele Kambon;53144 wrote: Biribi nsɛe a, biribi renyɛ yie.
If one thing doesn't spoil, another thing will not do well.