I've just started reading Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and was immediately taken with this line talking about how darkness held a "vague terror" for the people (the book is set in pre-colonial West Africa) and how moonlit nights were welcomed: "When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for walk". It got me looking for other sayings and found this excellent site on African Proverbs. The proverb of the month for June is "Like vomit and shit under your feet (the rumormonger spreads scandal)". Or in Sumbwa Gaba malusi ne mamvi, and in Swahili Yamekuwa matapishi na mavi. Reminds me a little of the pre-war shenanigans of certain world leaders.
Posted by Joe at June 8, 2003 03:24 PM