Twi Proverbs I: 32 in Total

  1. Asase trew na
    Onyame ne panyin.
The earth is wide but it is God that is supreme. The supremacy of God.
  1. Obi Nkyere Abofra Nyame.
No one points out God to a Child. The omnipotence of God; the existence of God is not limited only to Adults.
  1. Obi kwan nsi obi kwan mu
No man’s path crosses another path. All men have equal or direct access to God.
  1. Onyame na oworow okwabran kaa fa ne mmati.
God removes the ring from the fingers of the giant through his shoulders. God’s ability to make the impossible things perceived by men possible.
  1. Onyame ti se Odasani nka nsuo nnto da.
If God had been human, there would have been no rains. God is the provider of all things.
  1. Onyankopon danseni ne ahonim.
God’s Witness is the conscience. Humans are judged by their conscience.
  1. Onipa ye de.
Human being is sweet. Solidarity among all Akan people.

No man lives in isolation – living in a community.

  1. 8.       Nsa baako nkura adesoa.
One hand cannot lift a heavy load. Unity is strength.
  1. 9.       Onipa nnye nwura.
A human being is not weeds/thrash Value for the human

Solidarity, unity

  1. 10.   Onipa nsa ka nea ope nyinaa a anka obebo dam.
If humans were to get all they wanted in life they would go mad. Limitation of humans.
  1. 11.   Onipa ho anto no a na efi ne nneyee.
If a person is unhappy or unsuccessful, the cause lies in his conduct.  Admonishing to lead a righteous life; it pays to lead a good life.
  1. 12.   Wunni penyin a due.
Woe unto you if you are an elder or a leader. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. 

Challenging   responsibility that a leader has to battle with.

  1. 13.   Obi hwe wo ma wo se fifi a wo nso wohwe no ma ne de tutu.
Those who take care of you while  you cut your teeth, you also take care of them when they lose theirs. Children’s responsibility towards parents, the elderly or the aged.
  1. 14.   Opanyin a wommo ne bra yiye no na oda asaso.
The elderly or aged person who leads a worthless life sleeps in the living room.  Mandatory for a person to live worthwhile life in his youthful days and plan well for his future
  1. 15.   Opanyin wo nkwa na onni mfe apem
An old man may be strong and healthy but does not live for a thousand years.  Mortal nature of man ; no matter how long one lives on earth he is bound to die.
  1. 16.   Osaman pa hyira ne ba
A good spirit/ghost blesses its child even after death. The responsibility of parenthood continues even after death.
  1. 17.   Abusua nyinaa ye abusua, na yehwehwe mmetenaa so de a.
All families are families but we are looking for the ones whose members are clustered like a bunch of palm nuts. The family and community unity, solidarity.
  1. 18.   Abusua ye dom.
The family is an army.  The extended family of the Akan
  1. 19.   Abusua do funu.
The family loves a corpse. The link between the dead and the living; responsibility of the living towards the dead.
  1. 20.   Aware nye nsafufu na woaka ahwe.
Marriage is not like palm wine to be tasted. Marriage is a commitment to be made; a life long affair.
  1. 21.   Woko aware a bisa.
Make enquiries before you marry.

Be well informed about the person you intend to marry

Know your partner better before contracting marriage. 

Warns against hasty marriages.
 

  1. 22.   Awareso ne awaregyae ne fa bi gyina nsewnom so.
A successful or unsuccessful marriage depends partly on the in-laws.  Show how crucial the extended family of the couple has influence on the marriage.
  1. 23.   Aware fofro te se ode. 
A new marriage is like yam, it is sweet.  The early stages of marriage life are a delight.
  1. 24.   Obea ko aware a, ode ne na ko.  
     
When a woman enters into marriage she takes her mother with her. A mother teaches her daughter everything she needs to know about caring for her husband. 

The way a woman is brought up by her mother is reflected in her conduct as a wife.

  1. 25.   Obea ye turom mu nhwiren, ne kunu nso ye ne ho ban. 
A woman is a flower in the garden and her husband the fence around it.  A husband must protect the wife.  It shows the delicate nature of a woman.
  1. 26.   Oyere pa ye ahode. 
A good wife is wealth.  Virtuous woman brings prosperity/is a great asset.
  1. 27.   Oyere te se kuntu: wode kata wo so a wo ho keka wo; wuyi gu ho nso a, awo de wo. 
A wife is like a woollen blanket if you cover yourself with it, it irritates you and yet if you take it away you feel cold. Marriage has its ups and downs.  It needs tolerance.
  1. 28.   Odo ye owu.   
Love is death. Only death can separate those who love each other.
  1. 29.   Odomankoma bo owu ma owu kum no . 
The Creator created death only for death to kill him. Death is powerful and beyond the control of human.
  1. 30.   Owunkum oyarefo okum onipa a ne wu adu so. 
Death does not kill the sick person; it kills the one whose time of death is due. Fate of man.
  1. 31.   Ahaban mono tew, na nea aguru nso tew. 
The green leaf falls and the dried leaf also falls.  Death can strike humans at any time.  Both the young and old cannot escape death.  This reminds young reckless people that they are not immortal

Death is no respector of persons.

  1. 32.   Owu atwede obako mfro. 
All men shall climb the ladder of death. . The mortal nature of man/human beings

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