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 Mutualism

Owo omode ko to pepe, t'agbalagba ko wo keregbe

Literal Interpretation

The hand of a child does not reach a high platform; likewise, the hand of an adult cannot enter a gourd

In ancient times, gourds are naturally produced vessels for conveying all forms of liquid including water and most especially palm wine, which is still in practice today. Women would carry gourds of various sizes to the stream to fetch water, into much bigger containers in the house. The gourds are suited for these purposes because they are easy to carry, and they are also good at preserving the content kept in them.

High platforms like large cupboards and cabinets are too high for children to reach. This is why at times when an adult wants to stop a child from playing with something, the adult could put it on that high platform so that the child is unable to reach it no matter how much he tries. Likewise, the hand of an adult is too big to enter a gourd. The entrance of gourds is very narrow, too narrow for the hand of an adult to gain entrance into it.

From the foregoing, it is evident that for a child to get whatever is put on a high platform, he needs the help of an adult to get it for him. The child must therefore be well behaved and be appealing enough to the adult. In the same vein, for an adult to get something that is stuck in a gourd, he needs the help of a child to get it out.

The proverb teaches that everyone is useful in one way or the other, so treat everyone with dignity, with some level of respect. No one is an island; when your strength or wisdom seems to fail, the person you least expect could just come through for you.