Fridays are known generally for heralding our indigenous ways of life, especially in dressing and music. This is why I, as an indigene of the Yorùbá tribe presents Yorùbá Proverbs. In this post, I present a yorùbá proverb, it's literal interpretation and it's meaning and significance to the yorùbá people, and at times, Africa at large. The Yorùbá people predominantly live in the South Western part of Nigeria, and they speak the Yorùbá language. The theme for today's proverb is "Make a move".

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Ọmọ tó bá s'ípá, òun ni ìyá rè ńgbé

Literal Interpretation

A child that opens his arms, he his mother will carry.

This proverb reflects first of all, the care between a mother and her little child. Little children always get comfort in the arms of their mother. This could be when they need to be breastfed, when they cannot walk, when are crying and need some succor, or any other time a mother feels like carrying her child. Although carrying her baby in her arms show that she cares, she could sometimes get tired from doing this. In such times, it will take a convincing child to make her carry him/her.

According to this proverb, a child's arms stretched out means a surrender, a cry for help, support or encouragement. His open arms will then be met and embraced by the mother's caring arms. It is then that the child is consoled, supported or enjoys safety.

In relation to human life generally, the proverb means you can only be helped when you open up to those who are in position to help you. It also means you cannot get any support when you are complacent, because everyone who wants to help you in an endeavor must see that you're taking meaningful steps already in that regards. It is on this effort of yours that he also will give you a lift, some encouragement, or a boost. For example, you need capital to start off your a business, but you do not have a business plan. You have not decided what kind of business exactly you want to do, but you're just bent on getting money to start. No one will invest in your clueless idea.