SO MUCH CAN BE LEARNED FROM ORDINARY PROVERBS FROM ANY CULTURE . BUT THE WISE SAYINGS AND PROVERBS OF THE GA PEOPLE OF GHANA ARE VERY UNIQUE IN PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHTS.

African Philosophical Thought and Wise Sayings
by REV P ADOTEY ADDO
January 26, 2001

African Wisdom and Philosophical Life

Proverbs in Africa are wise philosophical expressions generally short and sometimes
very funny. The language is rich, picturesque, and expresses a hidden or obvious
wisdom. In most African communities Proverbs are also used in teaching ethical
and moral codes of the community. Proverbs then are part of the everyday spoken
language, and they always reflect the culture and traditions of the people. They may
be a rhyme or a play on words or some other funny twist of the language using
everyday objects such as animals, plants, human behavior and events of everyday
life. Often the proverbs may be associated with visual symbols such as forest
figures, animals, and plants. Each of the popular and colorful Adinkra Symbols
used in the traditional funeral cloth has a traditional proverb associated with it.
Here are some examples of proverbs from the Ga speaking people of Ghana in
West Africa .

"If the festival is going to be great it starts from the morning."

"The prosperity of a servant is advantageous to his master."

"He who falls victim to his enemies can expect no mercy."

"Unity makes a community strong."

"Every one is a king in his or home."

"Evil doers cannot escape retribution forever."

"A Worthy cause is worth pursuing to the end."

"Anger exchange of words do not in themselves seriously injure a person."

"Only the unwise pursue a project with no goal or prospect."

"A healthy person who begs for food is an insult to a generous farmer."

"A resourceful person finds a way out of difficulties without blaming others."

"Only a sound foundation can support a good superstructure."

"Success in life comes to those who realize that one must follow rules."

"Every one hates the red ant on a kola nut because he cannot eat or sell it."

"If there is no one to collect the bark of a tree when it is scraped then the bark just
falls to the ground."

"Even the elephant can fan off flies with its short tail."

"If two crocodiles fight over the same foods, the third crocodile gets a good meal."