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).

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.  

IT IS ONLY BY ENDURANCE AND PERSEVERANCE THAT A PORCUPINE GIVES BIRTH TO BABIES COVERED IN SPIKES. SOME PROBLEMS CAN APPEAR INSURMOUNTABLE, BUT WITH ENDURANCE AND PERSEVERANCE, WE WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH.

THE GOAT MIGHT BE SWEATING PROFUSELY, BUT ITS FURS WILL NOT LET PEOPLE NOTICE. (AN ADMISSION THAT ONE'S EXTERIOR DEMEANOUR CAN CAMOUFLAGE ONE'S INTERNAL TURMOILS).

THE GUINEA FOWL SAID THEY WALK IN PAIRS SO THAT IF ONE FAILS TO SPOT A SOURCE OF DANGER, THE OTHER WILL. TWO GOOD HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.

GLUE NEVER DROPS ON THE FLOOR AND FAILS TO PICK UP SAND. WHERE THERE IS A CAUSE, THERE'S AN EFFECT.

THE DEATH OF A HERO IS NEVER PLEASING TO HIS CLAN, BUT NEITHER IS HIS LIFE....(A PROPHET IS NEVER RECOGNISED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY).

A FAVOUR DONE TO A FELLOW MAN IS A GIFT HELD IN TRUST; IN DUE TIME, IT WILL RETURN TO THE GIVER. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

THE FOREST THAT DENIED A DAMSEL FIREWOOD MADE HER LOAD LIGHTER. EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

IT IS THE NOSE THAT IS CLOSEST THAT PERCEIVES THE SMELL THE MOST. THE IMPACT OF OUR MISFORTUNE IS FELT MOST BY THOSE CLOSEST TO US.

THE FLAME THAT A MOTHER PLACES ON HER CHILD'S PALMS WOULD NEVER SCORTCH THEM.... (A MOTHER WOULD NEVER DELIBERATELY CAUSE ANY HARM TO HER OWN; ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT IS BROUGHT ABOUT BY A MOTHER'S ACTIONS IS ALWAYS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS).

IT IS ONLY BY DRAGGING IT ABOUT AT THE FAIR THAT ONE GETS TO SELL A HE-GOAT. SAME CONTEXT AS ABOVE.

IT IS ONLY BY MOVING AROUND WITH IT THAT YOU GET TO SELL A TORTOISE... SAME AS ABOVE.

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

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!)

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.

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.  

 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.

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.

IF A FOWL COMES OUT OF ITS ROOST IN THE MORNING AND BEGINS TO CHASE AFTER YOU, BY ALL MEANS GIVE IT A WIDE BERTH, FOR YOU NEVER KNOW WHETHER IT GREW SOME TEETH OVERNIGHT.(WHEN SOMEONE BEGINS TO EXHIBIT A VERY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOUR, BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THEM; YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAVE COME OVER THEM).

THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN OFFERING A MONKEY A CUP OF WATER; IT IS IN RETRIEVING THE CUP AFTERWARDS. THERE ARE CERTAIN PROBLEMS YOU CAN AVOID IF YOU THINK FIRST ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR INITIAL ACTION.

WHEN A PERSON FINDS AN ENTERPRISE GREATER AND MORE LUCRATIVE THAN FARMING, HE GETS RID OF HIS BARN. (WHEN CONFRONTED BY A MORE PRESSING PROBLEM, YOU PUT ASIDE ALL OTHERS). 235  

THE PERSON WHO RUSHES INTO A BRAWL HAS NO IDEA THAT WAR MEANS DEATH.

IF A CHILD IS BANISHED FROM HIS PATERNAL HOME, HE TAKES REFUGE AMONGST HIS MOTHER'S KINSMEN. A RECOGNITION OF THE SANCTITY OF MOTHERHOOD.

LS THE SHODDY HAIR-CUT DOWN TO MGBEEKE'S LACK OF EXPERTISE, OR THE CASE THAT HER SHAVER IS NOT SHARP ENOUGH?... (WHEN A PIECE OF WORK IS VERY POORLY EXECUTED, QUESTIONS ARISE AS TO WHAT TO BLAME: THE WORKMAN OR HIS TOOLS).