The following DEEP Yoruba proverb came to my mind few days ago:
“Won ti ti òjé bo olosa lowo. Owa ku baba nla baba eni to o bo!”
I explain below, how it gave me interesting insights relevant to General Buhari’s impending presidency.
But first, here’s a not-easy-to-do contextual translation into English for non-Yoruba speaking readers…!
My time in Unibadan (1987 to 1992) exposed me to some room mates who ate Yoruba proverbs like food. They helped me develop appreciation for proverbs.
But doing accurate translations of Yoruba proverbs to English can be hard to achieve.
One needs to provide a context relevant interpretation to ensure the meaning the English speaking listener gets is that which a Yoruba speaking listener does. That’s not always easy to do.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Afro beat creator and legend, once said in an interview(I heard it on a Lagbaja CD, that I took with me as a gift for family friends in Sheffield, when I visited the UK back in 2000):
“English is not expression. Expression is in all other languages all over Nigeria”
To illustrate, he said to the interviewer:
“Oya tell me what is ‘Eku ile’ in English?”
The journalist had no answer – because there was/is none:
It’s linguistically impossible to accurately communicate what “Eku Ile” really means in Yoruba, using English language, to a non-Yoruba speaker!
There is simply no way to use English words in any combination, no matter how clever, to FULLY communicate what is understood by native speakers when they hear “Eku Ile”!
The above situation applies to the proverb I began this article with…
I’m not sure one can really fully translate it for English speaking others to understand the way one versed in Yoruba would.
And so, for that reason, I apologize to non-Yoruba speaking READERS who may be here, if they still do not “get it” after I’m done below…
So, here’s my humble attempt at a literal translation the above proverb:
“The ring of spiritual authority/power has been put on the finger of the “wizard”. Let’s now see who has the guts (or as Nigerians would say “the liver”) to try take it off him!”
Below, I use General Buhari’s current situation as a basis for providing a contextual interpretation for this proverb.
Here’s the insight I gained about General Buhari’s impending presidency based on the above proverb:
I’ve been reflecting on what’s happening in Nigeria as the date for handover to Buhari as president-elect approaches.
Certain signs strongly suggest to me that many naughty power players in the Nigerian space have come to the realization that it will NOT be business as usual under the incoming General’s government. And they are trying to make the most of the time they have left, so as to move on to other things or to other places.
In the past, with some other “Nigerian” as incoming president, who would NOT have had the squeaky clean reputation of Buhari, and his renowned aversion for all things corrupt, they would have boldly stuck around and plotted/schemed ways to remain relevant or in control.
However, with the MAN they know, who has remained the SAME despite aging over MANY decades after leaving office, they are under no illusions about his incorruptibility.
What’s more, they KNOW that his antecedents prove he cannot be pushed around or led by the nose.
Far from it. They KNOW he is a MAN of his own, who will do what NEEDS to be done, no matter whose Ox is gored. And so, they KNOW the wise thing to do is to FLEE!
That’s why this proverb came to my mind.
You see, if Buhari had not won, they would have continued all the nonsense they did – and said – up till the elections ended.
But now that he has WON legitimate access to the presidency as the C-I-C, it obvious to them the game is up (For instance, look how quickly the Army “found” his certificate that was being “demanded” right up till the elections took place!!).
In other words…
“Won ti ti òjé bo olosa lowo. Owa ku baba nla baba eni to o bo!”
Sai Buhari!!!
PS: By way of interest…ON THE SUBJECT OF LEARNING YORUBA PROVERBS…
To ensure my kids arrive adulthood better equipped to use Yoruba proverbs than I was, I published recently, the first in my audio book series titled “10 Storyfied Yoruba Proverbs for Children – and Other Learners”. Click here to watch/listen to the audio book playback on my Youtube Channel.
It is available as a PDF from my Online Store (click here): Online store buyers are advised to get in touch with me via tayo at tksola dot com, if they want the slideshow version with autoplay audio. You can also use this web form to send a message.
You can also get it as an automated Slideshow with autoplaying MP3 Audio files (click here for details) via direct download from the web or it can be delivered on branded auto run DVD to your doorstep.
BELOW: A screen shot of the DVD’s branded navigation menu, which is always personalized for the owner will be embedded below tomorrow…
Click here to read the true story about how a lady banker called about purchasing my “Ten Storyfied Yoruba Proverbs for Children” – and later revealed she knew me from way back in 2002, my startup year, when we both served with an NGO as volunteer tutors.
In addition to buying my DVD, she had some VERY nice things to say to me, about me, with regard to how I’d influenced her without knowing it.
What was that saying again: It’s GOOD to be GOOD! Click here to read the full story.
2. A short Youtube clip showing the DVD in use …
The DVD sells for N5k, and comes with PDF versions of some other books I’ve published as FREE bonuses. Buyer just pays courier fee.
[NB: Read this article (click) in which I first announced this proverbs learning product for sale. It’s available in my online store as a PDF. Those who want the Slideshow audio book version with clickable links to MP3 files, that’s delivered on DVD have to send me a message for details of how to get it using THIS form (click)]