Informational

Proverbs as we remember, whether they come from the Bible, “Big Mama” or our “Sista’ Cousin” always have a purpose and usually a deep meaning. During any given conversation you will hear a proverb or two and to some a proverb is artistic because it has poetry, rhythm and rhymes. The basic reason and purpose of a proverb is to teach; specifically to teach a life lesson. Life lessons in the Proverbs of Solomon, are a teaching tool from God, with words of wisdom about human behavior.

The following African proverb is familiar to many with credit usually given to Hillary Clinton who used several African proverbs in her book, “It Takes a Village”.

“It takes a whole village to raise a child.” Which means: The society where the child is living, has the responsibility for the moral characters it creates and everyone in a community should be responsible for helping to train a child irrespective of who the parents are offering correction where they are needed.

Another is: Ran does not fall on one roof alone. Which means: Trouble comes to everyone at one time or another. Either one of these can be used to advise a generation or both of these can be applied to many people especially in describing a rule of conduct that should be applied.
Every cultures on this planet has proverbs that are associated with and come from wise men and women. In African cultures it would be a wise man/woman to say one but it is “unacceptable” to tell an African proverb and still be the one to explain the meaning.