being proudly Nigerian begins with knowing why you should be proud
Yorùbá Proverbs
"Obì kékeré kọjá òkúta ńlá."
Literal Translation: A small kolanut is superior to a large stone.
Meaning: A small gift is better than none at all
"A kì í rí i ká tún sọ pé a ò ri mọ́."
Literal Translation: One does not see a thing and then say one does not see it.
Meaning: Always stand by your word.
"Má sẹ̀ẹ́ kí ọ̀ràn má pọ̀."
Literal Translation: Do not deny your responsibility; that way the problem will be minimized.
Meaning: Refusing to accept one's responsibility only aggravates one's difficulties.
"A kì í fi idà pa ìgbín."
Literal Translation: One does not use a sword to kill a snail
Meaning: Remedies should be commensurate with the problem.
"Ewúrẹ́ ò ṣe-e fiṣu ṣọ́."
Literal Translation: A goat is not a wise choice as the guard over yams.
Meaning: Do not entrust your affairs to your enemy.
"A kì í fi ọlá jẹ iyọ̀."
Literal Translation: One does not consume salt according to one's greatness.
Meaning: Too much of a good thing can be dangerous.
"Àjò kì í dùn kónílé má relé."
Literal Translation: The journey is never so pleasant that the traveler does not return home.
"Bí ọmọdé bá ṣubú a wo iwájú; bí àgbá bá ṣubú a wo ẹ̀hìn."
Literal Translation: When a youth falls he looks ahead; when an elder falls he looks behind.
Meaning: The youth is mindful of what his superiors think of him, while the elder is mindful of what the young thinks of him.
"Adìẹ ò lè ti ìwòyí sunkún ehín."
Literal Translation: Chicken cannot at this late date bemoan its lack of teeth.
Meaning: Everything at its proper time.
"Ètò lòfin kìn-ín-ní lóde ọ̀run."
Literal Translation: Order is the first law in heaven.
Meaning: Whatever one does, one must be orderly.
"Ẹni tí yó fò yó bẹ̀rẹ̀."
Literal Translation: The person who will leap must first crouch
Meaning: One must make adequate preparations for any project.
"A-ṣoore-jókòó-tì-í, bí aláìṣe ni."
Literal Translation: A person who does a favor and squats by it is like a person who has done no favor.
Díẹ̀-díẹ̀ nimú ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ẹ́ fi ńwọgbà.
Literal Translation: It is bit by bit that the nose of the pig enters the fence.
Meaning: A small problem, if not attended to, becomes unmanageable.