THE ANT'S GOAT ATE THE ANT'S OKRA.WHEN THE CULPRIT OF A CRIME BELONGS TO THE VICTIM OF HIS CRIME, THERE IS USUALLY NO RECOMPENSE FOR SUCH AN OFFENCE.

NO ONE SHIELDS A PREGNANCY WITH THEIR BARE HAND....(NOTHING IS HIDDEN UNDER THE SUN).

WHEN THE BELLY CONCEIVES, THE NAVEL WILL TELL THE TALE. NOTHING REMAINS A SECRET FOREVER.  

GOD DRIVES AWAY FLIES FROM A TAILESS COW. PROVIDENCE DEFENDS THE DEFENCELESS.

YOU MAY THROW A BANANA SKIN IN THE STREAM, BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESURFACE AND FLOAT. A REFERENCE TO A PERSON'S RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

AS BAMBOOS ARE CU DOWN,MANY MORE BAMBOO SHOOTS GROW IN THEIR PLACE. SAME MEANING AS ABOVE.

YOU MAY DESPOIL AND DISPARAGE A STREAM TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT, BUT YOU WILL COME ROUND TO DRINK OF IT. BE CAREFUL IN YOUR CONDEMNATION OF OTHER PEOPLE, AS YOU MAY ONE DAY NEED THEIR FAVOUR.

WHEN A WOMAN HAS BEEN MARRIED TWICE, SHE CAN TELL WHICH MAN WAS A BETTER HUSBAND.EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER.

HE WHO HAS CARRIED WATER AND OIL CAN TELL WHICH IS HEAVIER. EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER.

A DOG SAID YOU SHOULD THROW OUT A BONE FOR HIM, AND LET HIM WORRY ABOUT ANY POSSIBLE FIGHTS WITH THE DEVILS OUT THERE IN THE DARK! GIVE ME FIRST A FIGHTING CHANCE AND LET THE FAULT BE MINE IF I FAILED TO USE IT.

 A DOG SAID NO ONE SHOULD PRAISE HIM FOR HIS SPRINTING ABILITY AS HE NEVER HAS TO ADJUST ANY LOIN CLOTHS WHILE ON A RACE. AN EXPRESSION OF GENUINE HUMILITY.

WHEN A HOUSE RAT ENCOUNTERS A PIECE OF GOOD FORTUNE, IT BECKONS ON ITS KINSMEN. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SHARE OUR BLESSINGS WHEN WE ARE IN A POSITION TO DO SO.

SHAME ONTO HIM WHO COULD NOT GUIDE HIS BLIND BROTHER AS HE MISSED THE FOOD SET BEFORE HIM AND PICKED THE FLOOR INSTEAD. AN INDICTMENT OF ANYONE PRIVILEGED TO SHOW OTHERS THE WAY BUT CHOSE NOT TO OUT OF SELFISHNESS.

ONE MOTHER MAY GIVE BIRTH TO ALL DIFFERENT CHILDREN, BUT EACH IS CREATED BY A DIFFERENT GOD...(REGARDLESS OF OUR PARENTAGE, WE ALL COME INTO THE WORLD WITH OUR DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES AND PERSONALITIES, HENCE WE BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY).

ONE WHOSE RELATIVE PERFORMS SO BADLY AT THE DANCE ARENA SCRATCHES HIS EYEBROWS. WE SHARE IN THE EMBARASSMENT WHEN A CLOSE ASSOCIATE MAKES THEMSELVES THE OBJECT OF PUBLIC RIDICULE.

 IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO LOOK FOR THE BLACK GOAT WHILE IT IS STILL DAY TIME (AS IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND IN THE DARK WHEN NIGHT FALLS). A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE.  

 IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO BALE THE FLOOD WHEN IT IS STILL AT THE SOLE OF THE FEET. AS ABOVE.

ONLY THE PERSON THAT SITS CLOSEST TO A MONARCH PERCEIVES THEIR MOUTH ODOUR. (FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT).

ONLY THE HAND THAT IS CLOSE TO THE CHEEK CAN SLAP THE JAW. FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.

 IT IS THE ANT THAT INHABITS THE GARMENT THAT STINGS THE GARMENT. A COVERT REFERENCE TO THE ENEMY WITHIN.

IT IS HE WHO OCCUPIES THE KITCHEN THAT KNOWS THE DIRECTION THE SMOKE GOES OUT. IF YOU NEED ADVICE ON CERTAIN MATTERS, SEEK OUT THE PERSON WITH THE PRIVILEGED INFORMATION.

ONLY THE PERSON WITH WHOM YOU SHARE A HOME IS FAMILIAR WITH YOUR NAKEDNESS... (THE PERSON WHO WILL DIVULGE YOUR MOST INTIMATE SECRETS IS MOST LIKELY A PERSON WHO IS VERY CLOSE TO YOU).

IT WAS THE HOUSE RAT THAT TOLD THE BUSH RAT ABOUT THE FISH IN THE STORAGE BASKET.YOUR INNERMOST SECRET IS USUALLY REVEALED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU.

THE CAT SAID THAT BODILY CONTACTS ARE THE REASONS FOR MOONLIGHT OUTINGS; IT'S NOT AS IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THE MOONLIGHT IN HIS OWN HOME...(WHEN THEY ARE NOT THREATENED, DOMESTIC CATS HAVE A HABIT OF BRUSHING THEIR FURS AGAINST HUMAN SKINS FOR COMFORT; WE UNDERSTAND THIS BEHAVIOUR AS A CALL FOR BETTER HUMAN RELATIONS).

WHEN AN ANIMAL FEELS AN ITCH, IT BRUSHES ITS SKIN AGAINST A TREE; BUT A HUMAN WOULD APPROACH ANOTHER HUMAN FOR A SCRATCH... IT IS THE CO-OPERATION AND INTERDEPENDENCE ON ONE ANOTHER FOR SURVIVAL THAT MAKES MAN DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ANIMALS.

A FOWL NEVER FORGETS ANYONE THAT PRUNED ITS TAIL FEATHERS DURING THE RAINY SEASON.(ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER. KINDNESS BEGETS KINDNESS).

HE WHO KNOWS NOT WHERE THE RAIN BEGAN TO BEAT HIM WILL NOT KNOW WHERE IT DRIED UP (OR, MORE TO THE POINT, WHERE HE DRIED HIMSELF). MESSAGE:ONLY THE FOOL WOULD FORGET SO SOON WHAT HARDSHIP THEY WENT THROUGH AND WHAT KINDNESS THEY RECEIVED IN MOMENTS OF GREAT DIFFICULTY. SUCH A PERSON IS UNLIKELY TO APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU RENDER IN THOSE MOMENTS.

IT IS NOT EVERY YAM TENDRIL THAT MERITS A SUPPORTING STAKE. (Ò BÚGHī ōKWū NīILE KÀ Á NÀ-ÁSā ÀSÀ). IT IS NOT EVERY UTTERANCE THAT IS REWARDED WITH A RESPONSE. SILENCE IS GOLDEN.  

HE WHO MUST SEE OFF A GUEST SHOULD ESCORT THEM UP TO A TREE WITH A POPULAR NAME, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW.ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL, IF ONLY FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

HE WHO MUST HOST AN OZO TITLE FEAST SHOULD FIRST INSPECT HIS YAM BARN.... (MESSAGE: MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN AFFORD AN UNDERTAKING BEFORE YOU COMMIT YOURSELF,AS YOU MAY BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW).

THE LITTLE LAMB THAT MUST GROW HORNS HAD BETTER HAVE A VERY STRONG NECK. AS ABOVE. BE SURE THAT YOU ARE EQUAL TO THE TASK BEFORE YOU UNDERTAKE A DEMANDING MISSION.

NO ONE ADMIRES A BABY'S FIRST TOOTH EMPTY HANDED. (TO MARK THIS IMPORTANT RIGHT OF PASSAGE,ANYONE WHO WAS FIRST TO ANNOUNCE THE SIGHTING OF A BABY'S FIRST TOOTH WAS REQUIRED TO OFFER THE BABY A WHITE COCK. THE TRADITION MAY NOW BE DEAD, BUT THE SAYING SURVIVES AS A REMINDER THAT EVERY GOOD THING COMES AT A COST).

NO ONE CONFRONTS AN ANIMAL THAT BITES EMPTY HANDED. TO UNDERTAKE A TOUGH AND CHALLENGING TASK, YOU MUST ENSURE THAT YOU ARE READDY AND WELL EQUIPPED.

A BABY MONKEY ONCE COMPLAINED TO ITS MOTHER ABOUT A TORRENTIAL RAINFALL, AND THE MOTHER ASKED: “FOR WHOM IS THE CLOUD STILL GATHERING?" (MESSAGE: NEVER MOAN ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR CONDITION; IT COULD BE WORSE!). ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL NEVER STOP. WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS. WHEN THINGS WANT TO GO WRONG,THEY TEND TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE... BUT ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

AFTER THE STENCH OF FERMENTED OGIRI SEASONING COMES ITS DELICIOUS TASTE. COUNT NOT THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE TO ACHIEVE A DESIRED END, FOR THE ENDS WILL ALWAYS JUSTIFY THEIR MEANS.