Category: Ghanaian Proverbs

  • Road

    Adinkra
    if you are on the road to nowhErE, find anothEr road.
    English
    If you are on the road to nowhere, find another road.
  • Easy

    Adinkra
    if things arE gEtting EasiEr, maybE you’rE hEadEd downhill.
    English
    If things are getting easier, maybe you’re headed downhill.
  • Kuro

    Adinkra
    obia nE ho a cdE nE nsa bEnkum kyEre nE kuro mu kwan.
    Akan
    Obia ne ho a ode ne nsa benkum kyere ne kuro mu kwan.
    English
    No one points his/her hometown with his/her left finger.
  • Lie and Truth

    Adinkra
    onE liE ruins a thousand truths.
    English
    One lie ruins a thousand truths.
  • The Lion and the Hunter

    Adinkra
    until thE lion tElls his sidE of thE story, thE talE of thE hunt will always glorify thE huntEr.
    English
    Until the Lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.
  • Kokosakyi

    Adinkra
    kckcsaCQi si ctoC nEC kosua wc soCroC, efiri se bcmmcfoCc hoC ye hu.
    Akan
    Kokosakyi si oto ne kosua wo soro, efiri se bommofuo ho ye hu.
    English
    Though I am not edible, “says the vulture, “yet I nurse my eggs in the branches of a tall tree because man is hard to be trusted.
  • Democracy

    Adinkra
    by thE timE thE fool has lEarnEd thE gamE, thE playErs havE dispErsEd.
    English
    By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed.

    Adinkra symbols above are: “Wo Nsa Da Mu A” (Democracy), Kokuromotie (Thumb or Voting) and “Ananse Ntontan” (Spider web or Game).

  • Begging

    Adinkra
    in a Community of bEggars, stEaling and not bEgging, is ConsidErEd a CrimE.
    English
    In a community of beggars, stealing and not begging, is considered a crime.
  • President J.J. Rawlings

    Adinkra
    dua kontonkyikuronkyi na ema yEhunu cdwomfo.
    Akan
    Dua kontonkyikuronkyi na ema yehunu odwomfo.
    English
    It is the crooked stick that reveals who the true sculptor is.
  • Leopard

    Adinkra
    rain bEats a lEopard’s skin, but it doEs not wash out thE spots.
    English
    Rain beats a leopard’s skin, but it does not wash out the spots.