1. Qarro nafii ill
English: The body of a wise person has eyes
2. Gowa man it naqi, qarro fuul it debis.
English: Lead a fool into the house but just show the path to the wise .
3. Saa bor dhalule wahin egatine.
English: Even if the cow may give birth tomorrow, there has to be something to feed on till then.
4. Galanat walt yaa male, garachi walt iyau.
English: Rivers flow into each other but stomach do not.
5. Dubbi qamna, hujji gamnat irjira.
English: It’s more pleasing to hear of someone busy with work, than hearing of them busy handling dispute.
6. Galatan gati injenne, achuman bad injenne.
English: I did not ask for a payback for a generous act, nor did expect it to disappear altogether.
7. Garrin wanjetu, yaadi taka, firin gargar.
English: Even people who share the same opinions have different individual thoughts.
8. Dukubi iyeesa, madha binensa.
English: A poor man’s ailment is like a wild animal wound.
9. It gomti balla ilti d’ooti, jet nad’een.
English: Women’s say that it’s fairer for the blind man that his eyes are gouged out.
10. Ma qaqaria demt ak dures belae.
English: Why are you staggering like a rich man who is hungry; they ask.
11. Woo injed’ini, woo jed warabesi
English: Do not say woo, say woo, the hyena taught people the correct way to howl.
12. Hiyes Aad’ daltet jiba.
English: A poor man is detested by his own mother.
13. Afuran garacha tap’ata uftolcha.
English : One greedy for food makes himself playful.
14. Fardi arre kees ollu, dufu barata.
English: A horse that grazes, in the same field with donkey, learns how to fart.
15. Ka duan egan jarsa kaduu dargagesa, jet sidamti
English : Those who are thought to be dying are the old, but those who actually die are the young; said sidam.
16. Mucha bou fed’u yabbin ir ejat
English : The boy who wanted to cry was stepped on by a calf.
17. D’a male inhorani faro male indhegan
English: Optimism leads to riches and pessimism leads to poverty.
18. Ulen yowal irat qaban ta abba murate taat
English: If an argument over ownership arises about stick, the person who original cut it from the tree assumes ownership.
19. Jarsi tok wanjed’e, kijib an woma imbau, kijibilen woma naa imbau
English: An old man said; I do not benefit from a lie and neither does a lie benefit from my lie
20. Mali ijeese warani lubbu kuta
English: The plan kills, the weapon only does the deed .
Reblogged this on Kendi Borona and commented:
Beautiful work here articulating the power of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems!