Collection of Yoruba Proverbs

In the Yoruba culture, whenever a child must quote a proverb before an elder, he/she must first say "toto o se bi owe", and then quote the proverb.

Omode gbon, agba gbon, lafi dale Ife
Ile la n wo, ki a to somo l'oruko
Bami na omo mi, ko denu olomo
Omo ti yoo ba je asamu, lati kekere nii ti se samusamu lo
Eyi wunmi ko wun o, ni ko je ka parapo fe obinrin
Afinju woja, a rin gbendeke; obun woja, a pa siosio: obun siosio ni yoo ru eru afinju lole
Omode o mo ogun, o n pee lefo
Owuro lojo, ise ni won fii se lotu ife
Loke loke ni owo afunni ngbe
Agbajowo la fi n soya
Ajeje owo kan ko gberu dori
Adie funfun ko mora re lagba


...to be continued