Give me Your Interpretations of these Three African Proverbs...?

Question

Please Number them (1,2, and 3)

1. A chick that will grow into a c.o.c.k can be spotted the very day it hatches.

2. It takes a whole village to raise a child.

3. The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did.


How would these three Proverbs be interpreted in contex to the western world?

Answer 1

1. That at birth some children are born to be strong, independant, leaders.
2. That everyone a child comes into contact with influences how a child turns out not just the family they come from
3. I'm not sure: I would think it means that the lizzard is confident in his ability to do something and that if other people didnt give him credit for it that his just knowing that he could do it is reward enough

Answer 2

1. I was never taught this proverb but ill get a shot at it. You start learning how to be you or your characteristics the very day you are born. You start learning. So fill your brains with noble things, as it will prepare you to be a man or woman...a real one.

2. This one I heard all my life, constantly. Of course, the parents have the major affect on how the child is raised, but it's up to everyone else. The teacher teaches, the neighbors watch the behavior, the baker makes sure he is fed, everyone makes sure they live respectively. Or as my grandma says whenever they got a beating by the teacher, the news spread fast. The neighbors would beat you, then your uncle and aunts, grandparents, and distant relatives. By the time you got home, your behind will be worn, but you still have the beatings to come by your parents. Dont dare try to run, a neighbor will catch you and bring you back because everyone watched out for each other. This phrase is simply hard to break down.

3. No matter how small the accomplishment is, it is worthy to be praised. Congratulate yourself, even if no one else does. Learned this one as well.

Answer 3

1.It seems this is about destiny and seems to suggest that there is path that we WILL follow. It also seems to say that how we appear early on will colour the way we are and how we are when we are older and that we cannot escape our early years/influences. Maybe the whole Leopard can't change it spots thing is similar.

To me, this seems to be very negative and seems to suggest there is very little free will and that while important, we cannot escape the past.

While a chick that will grow into a c.o.c.k that is born one, people CAN change .. their sex as well.

2. Similar to "No man is an Island." I think it means that children are the responsibility of us all.. they are, after all, are future. Also, while parents impart important knowledge, they cannot teach a child everything. The more we are exposed to, the more we learn and grow us people.

I think it has extreme relevance in today's Western World. To often we turn away.. too often there are reports in the news of child abuses. Too often there are hurt, angry young people crying out for knowledge, crying out for someone to care, crying out for teachers.

We all need to start thinking like a village, like a community and raise our children well.

3. That we need validation and that if we don't get it from someone we should give it too ourselves?

Answer 4

As i am not African, my interpretation is not the best one. However, to me as a non-African, my best guess is that 1. means that a child who will grow into an adult who has some attribute that the particular African culture that this proverb from places on cocks (being cocky?), cen be seen to be showing promise of turning out like that whilst still a child.

2. means that children should be raised by the whole village, all have a responsibility to help raise the child.

3. is used for people who like to blow their own trumpet.

Answer 5

1. leadership

2. Cooperation

3. self esteem

Answer 6

1.- things are the way they are

2.- cooperation is best

3.- who hits first, hits twice