Appendix III - Ibo Proverbs collected by the Rev. J. C. Taylor

Summary

1 Atoroomara ya mara; atoro ofege nya febiri.

When a parable is spoken to a wise man he understands it; but with the foolish it is not so.

2 Onye noru se odi iri were ya ti na akpa?

Who will (be satisfied to) hear (you) say, (It was) ten (pieces) that you put into the purse (without allowing you to see how many there are?) i.e. No one is satisfied without ocular demonstration.

3 Obiaru be onye abia bune mboolaga mkpumpo apuni ya na asu.

He who comes to pay you a visit without doing you harm, when he returns will not have a hunchback: i. e. No harm will happen to him.

4 Akpara okpu issi ahara issi tiya na ubu aka.

A hat is made for the head, but (fools) leave the head (uncovered) and put it on the shoulder.

5 Ori ohan ošúi ohan ugwo.

He who embezzles the public fund will have to refund it.

6 Onu šúi odika onu nwa.

Like the sprouting of the yam is the birth of the first-born: i. e. As the farmer rejoices to see the young yam, so does a father to see his first child. A proverb often used by the people to express their pleasure at the news of the Gospel.