Ibo Proverbs

Ibo Proverbs distill wisdom from southeastern Nigeria. Forged in village republics, busy markets, and the memory of Biafra, they honor hard work, kinship, sharp wit, and the power of spoken truth.

A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. (Ibo Proverb)
A debt may get moldy, but it never decays. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
A man who lives on the banks of the Niger should not wash his hands with spittle. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Always being in a hurry does not prevent death, neither does going slowly prevent living. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Anger against a brother is felt in the flesh, not in the bone. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
If you want to eat a toad, you should look for a fat and juicy one. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Never kill a man who says nothing. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Never let any mechanical device know that you are in a hurry. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Ours is ours, but mine is mine. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
The rain does not recognize anyone as a friend; it drenches all equally. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
When a new saying gets to the land of empty men they lose their heads over it. (Ibo Proverb)
When the brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father's estate. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Words are sweet, but they never take the place of food. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
A snake that swallows his friend will have a tail sticking out of his mouth. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
A travelled child knows better than the old man who sits at home. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
An udara fruit that falls by the roadside must want to be picked up and eaten. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
An udara fruit that falls on the side of the road is asking to be eaten. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
At whatever age a child gets a problem, at the same age she has to shoulder the responsibility. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Bump-thump-scratch. It's all on a big man's skin. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Criticism of the brave is behind his back. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Dancing the drum will be done where the drum is. (Ibo Proverb)
Do not argue with a fool, for people will not be able to tell between the two of you. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
Dog eats excreta, but goat gets rotten teeth. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
God swats flies for an animal that has no tail. View proverb
Ibo Proverb
He who spits towards the sky is spitting on his face. View proverb
Ibo Proverb