GENRES OF LITERATURE (PROVERBS AND TONGUE TWISTERS ).

 PROVERBS.

A proverb is a simple, concrete, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense.

Many African proverbs are strongly tied to the earth and animals, conveying lessons of life and learning often through daily, seemingly menial, procedures. An example of a Zimbabwean proverb is “there is honey but no bees” — describing a situation when you find something free for the taking and without consequence.

Here’s a list of African proverbs from around the continent. Some are known to come from specific tribes, ethnic groups, or countries, and others have an unknown source and are listed simply as “African proverbs.” Have a read and pluck out some ancestral insight from the motherland to carry with you today.

1. A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. — Igbo proverb

2. He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad man himself. — African proverb

3. Where water is the boss there the land must obey. — African proverb

4. No matter how beautiful and well crafted a coffin might look, it will not make anyone wish for death. — African proverb

5. When the shepherd comes home in peace, the milk is sweet. — Ethiopian proverb

6. A spider’s cobweb isn’t only its sleeping spring but also its food trap. — African proverb

7. If you do not have patience you cannot make beer. — Ovambo proverb

8. He who runs after good fortune runs away from peace. — African proverb

9. Teeth do not see poverty. — Masai  proverb

10. You have little power over what’s not yours. — Zimbabwean proverb

11. If you pick up one end of the stick you also pick up the other. — Ethiopian proverb

12. Better little than too little. — Cameroonian proverb

13. You must attend to your business with the vendor in the market, and not to the noise of the market. — Beninese proverb

14. When you befriend a chief remember that he sits on a rope. — Ugandan proverb

15. The night has ears. — Masai proverb

16. The child you sired hasn’t sired you. — Somali proverb

17. A doctor who invoked a storm on his people cannot prevent his house from destruction. — Nigerian proverb

18. An intelligent enemy is better than a stupid friend. — Senegalese proverb

19. The young bird does not crow until it hears the old ones. — Tswana proverb

20. If you carry the egg basket do not dance. — Ambede proverb

21. The food which is prepared has no master. — Malagasy proverb

22. The worlds of the elders do not lock all the doors; they leave the right door open. — Zambian proverb

23. Even the best cooking pot will not produce food. — African proverb

24. The child of a rat is a rat. — Malagasy proverb

25. Where you will sit when you are old shows where you stood in youth. — Yoruba proverb

26. He who is unable to dance says that the yard is stony. — Masai proverb

27. You cannot name a child that is not born. — African proverb

28. Do a good deed and throw it into the sea. — Egyptian proverb

29. When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches. — Nigerian proverb

30. Slander by the stream will be heard by the frogs. — Mozambican proverb

31. A child is a child of everyone. — Sudanese proverb

32. Even the lion, the king of the forest, protects himself against flies. — Ghanaian proverb

33. Birds sing not because they have answers but because they have songs. — African proverb

34. If your only tool is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail. — Gambian proverb

35. When you show the moon to a child, it sees only your finger. — Zambian proverb

36. It is crooked wood that shows the best sculptor. — African proverb

37. One who bathes willingly with cold water doesn’t feel the cold. — Fipa proverb

38. Earth is the queen of beds. — Namibian proverb 39. Be a mountain or lean on one. — Somali proverb 40. A flea can trouble a lion more than a lion can trouble a flea. — Kenyan proverb

41. Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it. — Ewe proverb

42. The death of an elderly man is like a burning library. — Ivorian proverb

43. Anger and madness are brothers. — African proverb

44. Do not follow a person who is running away. — Kenyan proverb

45. An orphaned calf licks its own back. — Kenyan proverb

46. Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands. — Nigerian proverb

47. He who burns down his house knows why ashes cost a fortune. — African proverb

48. If you are building a house and a nail breaks, do you stop building or do you change the nail? — Rwandan proverb

49. You cannot build a house for last year’s summer. — Ethiopian proverb

50. We desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first one is roots, the other one is wings. — Sudanese proverb

Activity. 1.

“Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” Chinua Achebe, things fall apart.

In African tradition, proverbs are highly used to pass words of wisdom, counsel and sometimes to pass warning to an intended audience or person. But…

i. As a senior one student, what is a/are proverb/s?

ii. Mention at least five importance of proverbs to you as a student.

iii. African societies are endowed with a variety of proverbs,

write down at least ten (10) proverbs from your community.

Using your knowledge, explain the meaning of each of the proverbs mentioned.

2. Write down a collection of at least 30 proverbs from your community/tribe on any of the following themes.

i. Work

ii. Love and relationships

iii. Morals

TONGUE TWISTERS

This is a phrase that is designed to be difficult to articulate properly and can be used as a type of spoken or sung word game. Some tongue twisters produce results that are humorous when they are mispronounced while others simply rely on the confusion and mistakes of the speaker for their amusement.

Tongue twisters are a great way to practice and improve pronunciation and fluency. They can also help to improve accents by using alliteration, which is the repetition of one sound. They’re not just for kids, but are also used by actors, politicians, and public speakers who want to sound clear when speaking. Below, you will find some of the most popular English tongue twisters. Say them as quickly as you can. If you can master them, you will be a much more confident speaker.

5. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

6. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked

7. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

8. Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

9. Betty Botter bought some butter

10. But she said the butter’s bitter

11. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter

12. But a bit of better butter will make my batter better

13. So ‘twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter

14. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

15. He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood

16. As a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood

17. She sells seashells by the seashore

18. How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?

19. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

20. I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop

21. Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines she sits, and where she sits she shines

22. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?

23. Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?

. I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late

25. You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York

26. I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen

27. If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?

28. I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you

29. I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch

30. Near an ear, a nearer ear, a nearly eerie ear

31. Eddie edited it

32. Willie’s really weary

33. A big black bear sat on a big black rug

34. Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks

35. He threw three free throws

36. Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely

37. So, this is the sushi chef

38. Four fine fresh fish for you

39. Wayne went to wales to watch walruses

40. Six sticky skeletons (x3)

41. Which witch is which? (x3)

42. Snap crackle pop (x3)

43. Flash message (x3)

44. Red Buick, blue Buick (x3)

45. Red lorry, yellow lorry (x3)

46. Thin sticks, thick bricks (x3)

47. Stupid superstition (x3)

48. Eleven benevolent elephants (x3)

49. Two tried and true tridents (x3)

50. Rolling red wagons (x3)

51. Black back bat (x3)

52. She sees cheese (x3)

53. Truly rural (x3)

54. Good blood, bad blood (x3)

55. Pre-shrunk silk shirts (x3)

56. Ed had edited it. (x3)

57. We surely shall see the sun shine soon

58. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?

59. Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread

60. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit

61. A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk

62. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better

63. Of all the vids I’ve ever viewed, I’ve never viewed a vid as valued as Alex’s engVid vid

Activity.

How are tongue twisters important to a senior one student?

Using PowerPoint presentation, present your answers to the class.