Lugbara proverbs locally known as ''E'yo O'beza'' refers to

wisdom Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to contemplate and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowle ...

from the

Lugbara people The Lugbara are a Central Sudanic ethnic group who live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda, in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and few in South Sudan. They speak the Lugbara language, a Central Sudanic langua ...

passed down by grandparents, parents and other relatives to younger generations since time immemorial through stories,

parables A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, ...

idioms An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, ...

and simple phrases, usually around a bon fire. In modern times though, due to formal education, it's not a celebrated activity but elders still teach and advise the young in their day to day encounters. Below are some ''examples'' (the English translation) and : meaning.

Wise sayings

''Afa eii ma drikulu'' (The owner has a big head): The owner has the biggest say in what to do with his property. ''Aparaka ma tibi agobi / Eka eyo du aparakasi, mi isu afazi ku'' (Unseriousness feeds on pumpkin leaves/ If you take things jokingly, you don't get anything): Unseriousness misses out on the good things! ''Ata abu-a ri, le mima nga azi raka mima nya ndo'' (Even in the valley plantation, you must first work before you eat): No work, no food! ''Awoko so ti andre'' (Anger pierced the cow's tongue): Don't get angry or else you will get hurt! ''Ayia ma ndu yo'' (There is no other mother): Cherish your mother, there is no other woman who can replace her! ''Ayia nduri ozuku fi ni'' (A stepmother is

ike Ike or IKE may refer to: People * Ike (given name), a list of people with the name or nickname * Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II and President of the United States Surname ...

a porcupine's intestines): Stepmothers are usually bitter. ''Ba azini ma afasi ba ze oli oli'' (Because of someone else's things, you defecate air): If you rely on another man's things, you won't enjoy fully nor have peace of mind! ''Ba je obuka mva alea si ku'' (You cannot buy a baby strap because of an unborn baby): Similar to the English proverb: Don't count your chicks before they hatch! ''Ba yori ni ba je oku ku'' (For an absent person, you cannot buy a wife) ''Ebu/ Aco si aza oye ku'' (Using the hoe is not madness for nothing): When you cultivate, you harvest something. So whatever you do, expect a benefit! ''Embeleke ka i-agi ma iti ne, eri gu sibe inve'' (When an ape sees its friend's behind, it laughs with white teeth showing): Don't laugh at other people's shortcomings! Afterall, you also have yours. ''Eri mi te era liri etia'' (It is waiting for you under the high granary): If you don't listen now, you will meet issues later on in future. ''Ezo anzi inguleni-i angu vo re'' (Girls slash very far): If girls are found and married, they don't stay; they are taken but prepare a way for their relatives to go to a new place. Girls are like slashers and can go and marry anywhere. ''Mi owu lesu i-adapibori si ku'' (Do not cry because of spilt milk): Whatever has already happened cannot be changed, let bygones be bygones! ''Nyatu li odjimata'' (Too much eating cut the baboon): Odji was sitting on a tree branch and ants were flying in circles. He picked ants one by one but greed in his mind made him jump to catch the whole circle and he fell. This teaches us to do everything sparingly and not greedily. ''Obibiasi etto ma jo ve ra'' (Because of copying, the hare's house got burnt): Be yourself! ''Ocoo ini ri atuluku dria'' (A black dog is sitting on the kitchen-stove): No food will be cooked nor eaten tonight. ''Odidia nya puro ibi'' (Newness ate

raw Raw is an adjective usually describing: * Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made * Raw food, uncooked food Raw or RAW may also refer to: Computing and electronics * .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...

grasshoppers): A stranger or somebody new in a place can be made to do anything. ''Odru fu Anira ni te'' (The buffalo killed the man who thought he knew it all)/ ''Ajobe odru fu ni'' (Ajobe was killed by a buffalo)/ ''And(r)era ni odru fu ra'' (The one who claimed he had seen was killed by the buffalo): Listen to advice! ''Okuku dra drinza si/ Drinza si, okuku dra oboa'' (The

tortoise Tortoises () are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin: ''tortoise''). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like oth ...

died of

shyness Shyness (also called diffidence) is the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness especially when a person is around other people. This commonly occurs in new situations or with unfamiliar people; a shy person may simply opt ...

/ Due to shyness, the tortoise died in its shell: Life saving opportunities will pass you by because of shyness.http://www.afriprov.org/index.php/african-proverb-of-the-month/31-2005proverbs/218-october-2005-proverb-qkutokana-na-woga-kobe-alikufa-mashuaniq-lugbara-uganda-and-drc-.html, African Proverb of the Month, October 2005 ''Pati ifi i-deni re ku'' (The seed of a tree doesn't fall very far): A parent's behaviour can be reflected in his/ her children. ''Sindani tokoa bongo sozuri ka di tajiri nde'' (A mere cloth-sewing needle can defeat a rich man to own): Poor people are actually wealthier than rich people in certain aspects.

Wise sayings

See also

References

Further reading