Nigerian Sayings – Wisdom and Proverbs from Africa

A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows where the dirt is.

When the drumbeats, a dance is sure to follow.

The child that says his mother will not sleep will also not sleep.

The goat that says it will headbutt a lion is just asking for trouble.

The things that make you laugh will also make you cry.

The path of a frog does not hinder that of a fish.

A powerful juju cannot save a coward from his fears.

It is the spoils of war that make the wolf fat.

A dog does not bark at its own master.

You may not have shoes, but that does not mean you cannot dance.

A broken pot can still hold water.

The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree said he would praise himself if no one else did.

The seed that was scattered will surely germinate.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

A gossip may be small, but its voice travels far.

The elephant’s tusk does not drag along the ground.

He who gathers ant-infested firewood must expect visits from lizards.

A bad tree does not bear good fruit.

A short man is not a child.

The one who learns to plant will not be hungry.

The wise person does not reveal all their cards at once.

A stubborn fly follows the corpse into the grave.

The chief will not go thirsty and the slave is not allowed to drink.

Even the mightiest tree was once just a seed.

The bird that defiles its own nest must be ready to build a new one.

The goat cannot outrun the lion, but it can outrun another goat.

Don’t let the needle go inside your eye, and don’t let the mantra become a clog to your ears.

The frog that leaves the water for the land cannot croak because it has no tongue.

A woman is only beautiful because of the color she paints herself.

The snake that cannot swallow an egg should not think of swallowing a full-grown hen.

The river that forgets its source will soon dry up.

It is the fire that burns in the soul that cannot be extinguished.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

The mouth that eats pepper will always call for water.

A lazy man always leaves his shirt untucked.

The man on the throne is not always the king.

Today’s mistake is tomorrow’s lesson.

The rain does not fall on one roof alone.

The earth is a beautiful place but is not worth fighting over.

The bird that eats and flies away, the hunter does not know where to find it.

A good customer is the one who pays the merchant without haggling over the price.

The hand that washes the child cleans the future.

It is not the one who shouts the loudest that makes the most sense.

The moon does not dance with the stars if not told to.

The snake that bites in secret will also die in secret.

A little rain each day fills the rivers to overflowing.

A wise man thinks twice before saying nothing.

A strong man is not afraid of a fierce woman.

The tree that bears fruit is the one that gets stoned the most.

A child that says his mother will not sleep might end up in her arms.