THE MEDICINE MAN THAT PRESCRIBES A CURE FOR DIARRHOEA, HAS HE GOT HIS ANUS SECURED SOMEWHERE HIGH UP? HE WHO HAS A LOG IN HIS EYES SHOULD FIRST REMOVE THEM BEFORE THEY CAN SEE A SPECK IN ANOTHER'S.           

AN IROKO TREE GROWS OF ITS OWN ACCORD; IT'S NEVER SOWN... (HEROES ARE BORN, NOT MADE).

THERE MAY BE PLENTY OF STARS IN THE SKY, BUT NEVER COULD THEY YIELD AS MUCH ILLUMINATION AS THE MOON... (A DERISION OF AN IMPOTENT AND INEFFECTUAL GROUP).

ONE WHO BLOWS THE TRUMPET GETS TO WIPE HIS MOUTH... (AN EXPECTATION OF SOME GRATIFICATION FOR ONE'S EFFORTS).

HE WHO IS BEING FED BY MOUTH HAS A DUTY TO BRING HIS MOUTH CLOSER... (IF YOU EXPECT A FAVOUR FROM ANYONE,THERE IS A LEVEL OF CO-OPERATION THAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU TOO).

ONE'S EXPERTISE LIES IN THE KIND OF ENTERPRISE ONE IS ENGAGED IN. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW.

IT IS ONLY AN EXCEPTIONALLY UNLUCKY PERSON THAT HAS WATER STUCK IN THEIR TEETH AS THEY DRINK.SOMETIMES, IT FEELS THAT NOTHING THAT WE DO WILL EVER GO RIGHT.

IT IS THE DAY THAT L GO HUNTING THAT ALL THE DEERS TAKE TO THE TREE TOPS. SAME CONTEXT AS ABOVE.

IF ANYONE HAS TRIED THEIR UTMOST WITHOUT SUCCESS, LET NO ONE HOLD THEIR FAILURE AGAINST THEM.(THEY MAY BE JUST UNLUCKY, NOT LAZY!)

 WHEN YOU SNATCH A CHILD'S BELONGING AND HOLD IT OUT OF HIS REACH, YOUR HANDS WILL TIRE OUT AND COME BACK DOWN AND THE CHILD WILL RECLAIM HIS ITEM. WHEN YOU DENY ANYONE THEIR DUE FOR NO REASON,JUSTICE WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL.

HE THAT MUST PURSUE AN INNOCENT CHICK, TO HIM IS A SHAMEFUL FALL, AND TO THE CHICK IS A DESERVED LUCKY ESCAPE. (A RETORT FOR A PERCEIVED INJUSTICE).

THE FOREST THAT FORBIDS A BASKET HAD BETTER NOT GROW MUSHROOMS. IF YOU DO NOT WANT PEOPLE DOING WHAT YOU DO NOT APPROVE OF, THEN DO NOT GIVE THEM A REASON TO.

 SWAPPING A SICK CHILD BETWEEN ITS PARENTS DOES NOT PREVENT THE CHILD FROM DYING. WHAT IS DESTINED TO HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN, WHATEVER PRECAUTIONS WE TAKE.

WHEN A RENOWNED MEDICINE MAN GOES ABROAD, HE EATS THE FOOD HE ONCE FORBADE IN HIS OWN HOME.CIRCUMSTANCES MAY SOMETIMES BRING PEOPLE DOWN TO A LEVEL THEY ONCE CONSIDERED BENEATH THEM.  

THAT WHICH WOULD COST THE KING HIS HEAD,LET IT TAKE THE CROWN INSTEAD. COMPARED TO A KING'S LIFE,THE LOSS OF A CROWN IS BUT A TINY SACRIFICE. USED TO CONSOLE ANYONE WHO SURVIVED A MAJOR INCIDENT BUT EXPERIENCED A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF PROPERTY.

YOU DO NOT USE A PICK DESIGNED FOR THE EARS ON THE EYES. IF YOU PLAY WITH FIRE, YOU GET BURNT.

WHEREVER THE MILLIPEDE DIES,THERE ALSO IS HIS GRAVE.... (A REFERENCE TO A TRAVELLER WHO IS EITHER INCAPABLE OF RETURNING HOME, OR HAS NO DESIRE TO DO SO).

THE HUNGER THAT HAS A PROMISE OF FOOD DOES NOT KILL.... (WHERE THERE IS HOPE, THERE IS LIFE).

AS SLEEP GETS DEEPER AND SWEETER,SNORING NATURALLY FOLLOWS. THE SUCCESS OF YOUR CURRENT ENDEAVOUR DETERMINES THE ZEAL WITH WHICH YOU PURSUE YOUR NEXT AGENDA.

YOUR VISION OF THE UNIVERSE IS LIMITED BY HOW FAR YOU HAVE TRAVELLED... (LITERALLY AND PHILOSOPHICALLY).

THE TRAVELLER HAS MORE TALES THAN THE PERSON WITH GREY HAIR. WISDOM COMES FROM EXPERIENCE, NOT AGE.

THAT MY CHILD HAS GOT LONG LEGS IS NOT AN INDICATION THAT MY CHILD IS GROWN... (MATURITY IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW TALL WE HAVE GROWN; IT'S IN THE CONTENTS OF OUR CHARACTER).

ASK A CHILD TO FETCH A CANE AND YOU CAN ASSESS THEIR LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE (FROM WHAT THEY BRING BACK). A PERSON'S RESPONSE TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS BETRAYS THEIR MATURITY OR LACK OF IT.

THE LITTLE BIRD THAT FLEES THE GROUND AND PERCHES ON AN ANTHILI IS STILL STANDING ON THE GROUND.... (USUALLY A REFERENCE TO SO MUCH MOTION BUT NO MOVEMENTS).

HE WHO GETS RID OF HIS DOG BECAUSE IT SQUATS A LOT, AND THEN BUYS A MONKEY IN PLACE OF IT SHOULD KNOW THAT HE HAS JUST REPLACED ONE SQUATTING ANIMAL WITH ANOTHER. SAME AS ABOVE.

THORNY WEEDS (THISTLES) ARE NOT IDEAL FOR A LOAD-BEARING PAD... I WOULD RATHER BEAR MY LOAD ON MY BARE SCALP THAN RELY ON A THORNY PAD... (USUALLY A WARNING TO BEWARE A SHADY AND UNRELIABLE CHARACTER).

ONE WHO GOES TO A TOAD AND DEMANDS A SEAT, DID HE FIND THE TOAD ON ANY SEAT?... (A TOAD HAS NO USE FOR A CHAIR, AS IT HAS RESIGNED ITSELF TO SITTING ON THE BARE FLOOR, SO DO NOT EXPECT ANYTHING MORE GRAND WHEN YOU VISIT.... THE MESSAGE: DO NOT MAKE SUCH DEMANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHICH YOU KNOW THEY CANNOT AFFORD).  

IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO SECURE A PORTION OF THE SLEEPING FLOOR BEFORE STRUGGLING FOR A MAT TO PLACE ON IT....AS OTHERWISE, YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE SECURED A MAT BUT NO PLATFORM TO PLACE IT ON... REMINISCENT OF ANERA WHEN PEOPLE SLEPT ON FLOOR MATS. (PRIORITIES COME IN GRADES: ALWAYS SEEK THE FIRST THINGS FIRSTL)

WHEN YOU FIGHT OVER A PIECE OF LAND EMPTY HANDED, THE PARTY THAT CAME WITH THEIR SEED YAMS WILL CONTINUE TO SOW. (A WARNING ABOUT ENGAING IN A POINTLESS CONFLICT).
 

 THE QUAIL ONCE SAID TO ITS CHICKS, "HE WHO TAKES A PINCH OF THE YAM SHOULD ALSO TAKE A PINCH OF THE ROOTS, IN CASE THE FARMER DIGS UP HIS YAMS, SO WE CONTINUE TO SURVIVE ON THE ROOTS". (THE MESSAGE: NEVER FORECLOSE ALL YOUR OPTIONS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD... ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN, JUST IN CASE).

THE OKAZI VEGETABLE SAID TO THE OLD LADY: "IT IS MORE SENSIBLE TO PLUCK A FEW LEAVES AT A TIME THAN TO ROOT UP THE ENTIRE PLANT, FOR THE FAMINE THAT VISITED THIS YEAR WILL VISIT AGAIN THE YEAR AFTER". A CALL FOR A SENSIBLE UTILIZATION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

NO ONE THROWS A STONE IN THE DIRECTION THEY HAVE KEPT A WATER POT. (MESSAGE: NEVER TAKE A POSITION OR ACTION THAT MAY UNDERMINE YOUR OWN INTEREST; CONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS BEFORE HAND AS THEY MAY COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU).

WHEN A CHILD CRIES AND POINTS IN A PATICULAR DIRECTION, KNOW THAT EITHER OF HIS PARENTS MUST BE OVER THERE. ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS.THERE IS NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE.

IF THE BURIAL OF THE IRONSMITH HAD TO BE PUT OFF UNTIL ALL HIS KINSMEN ARRIVED, THEN HIS CORPSE MAY DECOMPOSE. USUALLY A WARNING AGAINST POTENTIALLY COSTLY DELAYS IN COMMUNUAL AFFAIRS.

IF A RAM MUST BE SLAUGHTERED, THEN LET IT BE; IF NOT, LET IT BE FREED FROM THE LEASH.(A CALL FOR A DECISIVE ACTION IN THE FACE OF A COLLECTIVE INDECISION).

THERE'S NO DECREE THAT-A GRAVE MUST BE FILLED WITH BODIES BEFORE IT CAN BE SEALED OFF. TO MAKE PROGRESS, THERE COMES A POINT WHEN WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE AND MOVE ON IN WHAT WE ARE DOING. SAME CONTEXT AS ABOVE.