Yàrá kótópó gba ogún ọ̀rẹ́ (learn insight from this proverb)

Yàrá kótópó gba ogún ọ̀rẹ́, 

bí ìfẹ́ bá wà láàárín in wọn. /

A little room is good enough for 20 friends, 

if there is love among them.

[Little is much when love is in it; with love, other concerns pale.]

Continue Reading

Òwe: Àgbàtán làá gb'ọ̀lẹ,

Òwe: Àgbàtán làá gb'ọ̀lẹ, 

bí a bá d'áșọ fún ọ̀lẹ, 

àá paá l'áró.

Literal Translation: A lazy person must be helped completely,

 when we gift a lazy person clothes,

 we should also dye it.

Meaning: Do not do things half-measured.

Continue Reading

Rírà ni í kẹ́yìn pupa ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ tí kò bá rí ẹni jẹ ẹ́ (Read insight to this proverb)

Rírà ni í kẹ́yìn pupa ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ tí kò bá rí ẹni jẹ ẹ́. /

Rottenness is what ends the life of a ripe banana, if it gets no one to eat it. 

[Promptly take advantage of opportunities; 

make hay while the sun shines.]

Continue Reading

Àgbẹ̀ tó jẹun yó tó fọ́ akèrègbè (Read insight to this proverb)

,Àgbẹ̀ tó jẹun yó tó fọ́ akèrègbè

 ti gbàgbé pé ọjọ́ òǹgbẹ ṣì ḿbọ̀ /

A farmer who ate, 

had his fill,

 and broke the water gourd forgot that days of thirst are still ahead.

[Never repay good with evil; 

never slam the door on your way out; 

keep the future in view.]

Continue Reading

Ewúrẹ́ tó lè kígbe jù, kọ́ lebi ńpa jù (Read insight to this proverb)

 Ewúrẹ́ tó lè kígbe jù, kọ́ lebi ńpa jù.

/

The goat that bleats the loudest, is not necessarily the most famished. 

[Appearance isn't necessarily reality;

 noise or drama isn't necessarily substance.]

Continue Reading

Bí a bá fi àgbò fún eégún, à á jọ̀wọ́ okùn rẹ̀ (Read insight to this proverb)

Bí a bá fi àgbò fún eégún, 

à á jọ̀wọ́ okùn rẹ̀. 

/

If we hand over a ram to the masquerade, 

we must release the tethering rope to the masquerade as well. 

[When we make a major move, 

we shouldn't hold back on other relevant, 

even if minor, 

ones; 

finish whatever you start.]

Continue Reading

Ọlọ́run á mú olè

Ọlọ́run á mú olè, ṣùgbọ́n òtútù á pa aláṣọ. 

/

God would eventually apprehend the thief, 

but the owner (whose clothes were stolen) would catch a cold.

[Prevention is better than cure.]

Continue Reading

Àgbàlagbà tí ò kẹ́hùn sọ̀rọ̀ bá ọmọ wí ní kékeré

Àgbàlagbà tí ò kẹ́hùn sọ̀rọ̀ bá ọmọ wí ní kékeré, 

á kẹtan sáré lórí ọmọ náà tó bá dàgbà, 

tí ẹnu ò káa mọ́. /

An elder who won't sharply reprimand a child when young would be compelled to run helter skelter when the child is fully grown, and becomes grossly disobedient.

Continue Reading

Ìrọ̀rùn igi ni ìrọ̀rùn ẹyẹ

Ìrọ̀rùn igi ni ìrọ̀rùn ẹyẹ.

 / 

The peace of the tree is the peace of the birds that perch on it.

[Pursue and seek what makes peace for all: 

if it can be well with all,

 the individual won't have issues.]

Continue Reading

A kì í fi oró yán oró

A kì í fi oró yán oró; 

aforóyánró kì í jẹ́ k'óró ó tán; 

afìkàsànkà kì í jẹ́ ki ìkà ó tán bọ̀rọ̀. /

Do not repay evil with evil; 

those who repay evil with evil 

or wickedness with wickedness exacerbate them.

[Don't seek to get even: 

forgive and just move on; let go and let God]

Continue Reading

Ojú ló ńkán àrẹ̀mọ tó ńdé fìlà

Ojú ló ńkán àrẹ̀mọ tó ńdé fìlà, 

tó bá gorí ìtẹ́ bàbá a rẹ̀, 

yóò dé ohun tó ju àrán lọ /

A royal heir who's wearing a cap is simply in haste; 

he'll get to don far more than velvet caps upon ascending his father's throne.

[Be patient; don’t force issues before their time]

Continue Reading

Bí onílé bá ti ńfi àpárí iṣu han àlejò

Bí onílé bá ti ńfi àpárí iṣu han àlejò, 

ilé ti tó ó lọ nìyẹn. /

Once the host begins to show the guest the left-over yam, 

it's time for the guest to leave.

[Don't overstay your welcome; 

read between the lines: 

action often speaks louder than words.]

Continue Reading

ÈÈRÀ KÒ FẸ PÒPÓRÒ DÉNÚ, TRUST YOURSELF

ÈÈRÀ KÒ FẸ PÒPÓRÒ DÉNÚ

TRUST YOURSELF 

Ifá ní dùgbẹ̀dùgbẹ̀ òkè níí fò ganranhìn-ganranhìn

Adifafun Èèrà

Èèrà nlọ sínú PÒPÓRÒ lọ ree bímọ sí

Ẹbọ ni Awo pé kí ó

O gbẹbọ níbẹ̀ o rúbọ

Ńse bẹ́erí Èèrà

Bẹẹ rí PÒPÓRÒ

Gúnmọ́-gúnmọ́ niwọn rí

À sé Èèrà kò fẹ PÒPÓRÒ dénú.

Ifá says

Dùgbẹ̀dùgbẹ̀ òkè is the one that flies here and there

Casted Ifá divination for Èèrà (Ants)

When she was going to to have her babies inside PÒPÓRÒ

The Ifá Priests advised her to perform sacrifices

She performed the sacrifices

If you see the Ants

And PÒPÓRÒ

They are very closed 

Alas! The Ants does not truly love Pòpórò...

Olodumare will make us overcome every tribulations that may come our way.

Continue Reading

Ẹni sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ;

Ẹni sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ; 

àsọjù ló ńmú ìyá ọba pe ara rẹ̀ ní ìyá ọ̀bọ. / 

Whoever talks excessively will misspeak; 

excessive talk was how the king's mother (inadvertently) referred to herself as the mother of monkeys. 

[Be moderate even in a good cause.]

Continue Reading

Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ ọ́ tán

Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ ọ́ tán, l'agbọ́n ò ṣe l'óró bí oyin. /

Wasps' claim to be the wisest and the best is why they have less potent venom than bees. 

[Humility is it: pride and arrogance weaken; not smart to brag and boast, regardless of your success: no one has it all made]

Continue Reading

Ọ̀kàndínlógún tó lóun ò bá oókan ṣe

Ọ̀kàndínlógún tó lóun ò bá oókan ṣe, à ti di ogún un rẹ̀ á nira. /  

The number 19 that insists it won't be associated with 1, will find it tough to become 20.

[Isolation is risky: build bridges and collaborate more; we need one another: together we all achieve more.]

Continue Reading

Báa gún iyán, táa ro ọkà fún kòfẹ́kògbà

Báa gún iyán, táa ro ọkà fún kòfẹ́kògbà, kò ní fẹ́, kò ní gbà, náà ni /

Even if one pounds yam and prepares yam flour meal for a difficult fellow, he'll yet remain difficult.

[Regardless of what you do or say, a difficult fellow can't but be irrational; do your best & move on]

Continue Reading

Bí ọmọdé bá gun òkè àgbà

Bí ọmọdé bá gun òkè àgbà, ó níláti gbọ́n. /

When a youngster attains to the position of an elder, he cannot but be wise.

[Be audacious: to be exposed to higher responsibilities is to be toughened; when exposed to a swim or sink situation, most will swim.] #

Continue Reading

Nínú ìkòkò dúdú

Nínú ìkòkò dúdú ni ẹ̀kọ funfun ti ńjáde. /

Out of the black pot nonetheless comes the white corn gruel (or pap).

[Write-off no one; no matter how deplorable a situation is, good may still come out of it: always remain positive and keep hope alive.] #

Continue Reading

Ìyànjú l'àgbẹ̀ ńgbìn

Ìyànjú l'àgbẹ̀ ńgbìn, Elédùà nìkan ló mọ b'íṣu ṣe ńta. /

Farmers merely sow efforts; God alone knows how the yams are formed.

[We simply do our best; the ultimate result is from God; whatever is good must be from Him.] 

Continue Reading