Kwanzaa – Proverbs of Purpose

The wonderful wisdom filled utterances that emerge from throughout the Afrikan world are a result of the marvellous qualities of genius that have been gifted by the Creator Supreme. From the development of the first, most magnificent and longest-lived civilisations of the world delivered in all their splendour by the Afrikan, came profound and long-lasting utterances of wisdom. Throughout the world Afrikans still retain the utterances of their wisdom tradition through proverbs. Whether on the great Afrikan continent itself or throughout the diaspora, the substance of age-old Afrikan wisdom is illuminated through proverbs. In celebrating the wonderful observance of Kwanzaa the glory of Afrikan wisdom is part of the festivities. Here follows a select sample of seven traditional Afrikan proverbs adapted by this author in relation to the principle Purpose of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) – Nia. These proverbs are expressed from the beautiful language of Kiswahili with their loose approximate meaning detailed in the alien pseudo-language of English:

Nia (Purpose)

Mtu mzuri hufanya kazi kwa kupanda kwa taifa la Afrika.
A good person works for the rise of the Afrikan nation.

Mtu mzuri anakubaliana na kufanya vitu vizuri katika ukuzaji wa taifa la Afrika.
A good person harmonises with and does good deeds in the uplift of the Afrikan nation.

Kwa hatua nzuri kutoka kwa juhudi za kweli mtu anaweza kufaidi roho nyingi za Kiafrika.
With good deeds from genuine effort one can benefit many Afrikan souls.

Mtu ambaye angependa kuongeza ng'ombe haipaswi kudharau kuanzia na kuku.
One who would like to raise a cow should not despise starting with a hen.

Ikiwa unataka kula na mamba mgeni, nafasi ni wewe utamezwa.
If you want to eat with the alien crocodile, you are likely to become the meal.

mpango ni wa matumizi kidogo, ni mpango na utekelezaji wa mpango ambao hutoa malengo yaliyotimizwa
A plan alone is of little use, it is the plan and its implementation of the plan that yields a purpose fulfilled.

Daima kuendelea mbele kwa kuboresha taifa la Afrika
Always onward for the betterment of the Afrikan nation.