Tshi Proverbs

Tshi proverbs carry Akan-style wisdom from Ghana’s old Gold Coast, where gold trade and powerful forest kingdoms shaped daily life. They prize community, clever speech, hard work, and respect for elders.

When a fool is told a proverb, it has to be explained to him.

Tshi Proverb

‘hit me but I must not hit you' is no game at all.

Tshi Proverb

A tree that has grown bent for thirty years cannot be straightened in one year.

Tshi Proverb

Although the horse is stupid, it does not follow that the rider is stupid.

Tshi Proverb

If a man is unhappy, his conduct is the cause.

Tshi Proverb

If everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.

Tshi Proverb

If there had been no poverty in europe, then the white man would not have come and spread his clothes in africa.

Tshi Proverb

If they are uttering insults and don't mean you, and yet you reply, you have condemned yourself.

Tshi Proverb

If you are merciful to the antelope, you go to bed hungry.

Tshi Proverb

If you have no time to take care of your sickness, you get time to die.

Tshi Proverb

In order to find evildoers, every human being is given a name.

Tshi Proverb

It is because of man we wear swords.

Tshi Proverb

No one roasts rotten meat and puts it in the mouth of their friend and then says ‘you mouth stinks.'

Tshi Proverb

Perhaps you will eat a whole elephant and nothing gets stuck in your throat, and then you eat a fish and a bone gets stuck in your throat.

Tshi Proverb

The animal that is coming to be killed does not hear the hunter cough.

Tshi Proverb

The one who is looking for a wife doesn't speak contemptuously of women.

Tshi Proverb

The place where you are happy is better than the place you were born.

Tshi Proverb

At someone's funeral we weep for our own mothers and fathers.

Tshi Proverb

If someone hates you, don't let her find you hateful.

Tshi Proverb

No matter how generous you are, you don't give your wife away.

Tshi Proverb