📝 Archive

Tiv Proverbs

Ancient wisdom passed down through generations

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“Ka we a dugh ityôndo gbaaye u ngôôr zende ga. Ityondo g…”

Whoever carries a burning stick of African mesquite does not waste time on the j

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“Akuzwa doon hodon iombor ga, ka i mir an-mnger keng.”

A moustache is not good to be shaved when it is dry; wet it first.

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“Aôndo u a hee u kpesa la un a nau akuur a aan.”

The God who gives you an itch will also give you fingernails to scratch it.

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“Anyigôr u atem ya ken Mngishi vaan ijen ga. Tiv mba er …”

A worm that builds its home inside a garden egg never cries from hunger.

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“Mba Aõndo A kende ve tsar yô, ve a vihi vanger sha mboh…”

Those for whom God has made a bridge do not crawl across Gardenia erubescens.

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“Ayôôso a ken kasua nga yangen ivyo ngeren ga. Tiv mba e…”

The noise in the market square does not stop a goat from drinking water.

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“Avange u a undu Haa yô, kera ngu wanye ga. Tiv mba soon…”

A lizard that climbs a mahogany tree is no longer a baby.

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“TingeBagu tse ku ka myenge.”

An old monkey lives long because of its watchfulness.

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“Orapirashe u a ngohol imenger yô, ngu tuhwan iyolna.”

A blind man who carries a lamp is mocking himself.

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“Avange u pirinashe yô Aôndo koson un iyolna.”

It is God who feeds a blind lizard.

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“Anjande ú ágbeityő a nyer ken kungô ifi lun a akambe ts…”

A stream that flows into a river has not only crabs but fish as well.

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“Ivaan i í ker sha ada ú mimi ga, ngi te kwagh ga, ka i …”

An arrow not shot from a truthful bow does not hit the target.