Part 4: On perseverance, industry, resilience, self-confidence, self-reliance, resourcefulness, daring, fortitude, and invulnerability

E

A single heap on the farm does not warrant “I am just about done.”

It is hunger that will force sense into the imbecile.

The snake is hungry, and the tortoise saunters by.

Hunger keeps one from folding one's hands; hunger causes the mouth “or cheeks” to shrink.

Insults do not attach to one's body like pods.

No charm can act upon the day and keep it from dawning.

The masquerader who is accustomed to eating horse heads will not be daunted by ram heads.

Okro that has gone fibrous has delivered itself from the knife.

Being bothered by sandflies is no misfortune.

An angry curse does not kill an enemy.

The curses of okro leaves do not affect the deer.

Creeping weeds cannot kill the silk rubber tree.

The elephant forages a long time without cutting its hand on a spear; the buffalo forages a long time without falling into a trap; numerous small birds fly across the sky without colliding with trees.

Error does not await the king before it dons a crown; Ogunṣọṣẹ [17] does not wait for the sun before it dons a bloody cloak; the flower does not wait for the sun before it brightens; brightness comes with the child from its house.

The fly is procuring wine while the worm is cooking bean-meal, and the sugar-fly asks them to find something to cork the gourd so nothing would enter into it.

The locusts are done feeding, the locusts have departed; the locusts have gone to Wata, their home.

As far as the broom is concerned it is taboo: one does not make kindling of broomsticks.

The African black kite is never killed in a brushfire emergency.

The goat is celebrating an event, the sheep is in a procession with drums, and the he-goat asks to be accompanied to its in-law's home.

A goat can in no wise take the fig tree's leaves aloft for any purpose.

The bitter-leaf did not become bitter as a result of cowardice.

Whether a person be short or ugly, if there is no debt, there can be no disgrace.

16. Okro is the favorite food of deer; for that reason if okro curses deer the curse is in vain.  [Back to text]

17. The name means “Ògún (the god of iron) has caused a disaster.”  [Back to text]

18. It is used in the context of an incantation to ward off all disaster.  [Back to text]