Parents and teachers! When the going gets tough this school year, harness the wisdom from around Africa to inspire and motivate you and your children and students.
These proverbs and sayings are plucked specifically to re-energize the value of learning, perseverance, and creativity. Take a look and get charged up ahead of the fall!
West Africa
“Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.”
- Encourages collaboration and collective effort in learning.
“A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”
- Highlights the importance of community love and support in education.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
- Emphasizes the importance of starting now to achieve long-term goals.
East Africa
“He who learns, teaches.”
- Celebrates the value of sharing knowledge with others.
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”
- Encourages self-confidence and resilience in the face of challenges.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
- Promotes teamwork and collaborative learning.
South Africa
“The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.”
- Highlights that every effort, no matter how small, contributes to overall success.
“It is not what you are called that matters, but what you answer to.”
- Focuses on personal responsibility and self-definition.
“A river is only a river because it has many streams.”
- Emphasizes the importance of diverse sources of knowledge.
Central Africa
“You learn how to cut down trees by cutting them down.”
- Recommends that practical experience is the best teacher.
“He who learns, and learns, and learns but does not apply what he learns is like one who plows and plows but does not sow.”
- Champions the importance of applying knowledge.
“The wise man does not judge another until he has walked two moons in his moccasins.”
- Encourages empathy and understanding in the learning process.