For some who have never heard of the Nupe tribe,
The Nupe people are called different names by various tribes in Nigeria. For example, the Yoruba refer to them as Takpa, the Hausas call them Nufawa (Plural) or Banufe (Singular). Gwaris refer to them as Anupeyi. The Nupe people refer to themselves as Nupecizi (Plural) and Nupeci (Singular). The Nupe comprises other
related ethnic groups or sub-tribes namely; Beni, Benu, Kusopa, Dibo, Gana-Gana, Kakanda, Basa, Cekpan, Kede, and Kupa.

Here are some great Nupe proverbs to make your day.

1) A de lukuku fia a, cin gwapa u le:

You don't get a pigeon for nothing, so look at the wings (I.e, someone did something to the pigeon first)

2) A de gavo manin a, nya na wu u na, u ma gi:

Don't rejoice over the finding of decayed fish, for what killed it, would have eaten it if it has been good

3) A edzu de na ko kuru a, kuru ga agena, ke wo ga a ku da kun o?

If she wears her best clothes when making kuru food, when it is cooked and taken out to be sold, what will she then wear?

4) A ela emi woro pa fini a:

Ground-nut oil cannot be wrapped in a leaf

5) A ekun esi nyikankpinci ya eza mi a:

One would not sell a toothless dog to one's own household (i.e do good to your own)

6) A ele 'bi, doko u sa waniko a:

When they are sharpening a knife, the horse has no fear

7) A elo a 'mi lo na, a elo a nin a:

Even though you may enter the house, you don't always enter the hearts.

8.) A ga ekpa nya nya, a a kpa biye du:

When one is thinking of dancing, he must also consider that his body will shake

9) Ajin a ce kpa kin yaba?

When one shoots an arrow, does the ground move out of the way?

10) A jin nyina ge ebo 'sun o:

Do well to-day on account of tomorrow.

11) A lo lati zin be tsun a ma mma; a lo lati zin be tsun a ma yaya a:

To go to the farm and return, and find that an uncle has been born is possible; but to go to the farm and return, and find that an older brother has been born is impossible.

12) A ma 'gi dede a la ya makunduunnu a:

If a bad child is born, they won't give it to the hyenas

13) Asa! Dunguru n de bida a:

Oh! My banjo has no bells on it (I.e just because there is no outward show connected with your work do not think it is useless)

14) Asiada u ka fu nyi ma a:

To belittle honey does not hinder it from being sweet.

15) A tu 'mi ka ye na, a tu mi ka tukpa a:

You may build a wall to stop people looking, but can't build one to stop people hearing

16) A yi we nna bakogi wo jin gaga, bise na ema guwo na sunkun?

They call you the mother of twins and you are very proud, what about the hen that has twn chicken?

17) Bankotibu! Nuwon ese zin a:

Water never fills a fish trap

18) Berebere ga, u le be ye, ebe ma ga u le wuntso ye bedzo:

One with good eyesight said that he saw a monkey, the monkey said that he saw him first

19) Bise sunsungi nya talaka wun ga yi nanko ruga wun o:

The poor man's chicken are his cattle.

(Make the best of what you have)

20) Bise sunsungi nya zunzunka u kpe lugbe ye a; nna u kpe u ye:

Chicken hatched in the rainy season knows nothing about hawks, but the mother hen does.

21) Boloboloko! Ebo bo nuwonjeci a :

Running water never gets tired

22) Cigban na ma 'na na, u kno a:

Wood that burns well will not last long
(I.e the man that over-works shortens his life)

23) Cigbe na a le be koko nyi na, kaga u zo gun a wun a zo mada:

Medicine that is mixed with food, even if it doesn't cure the disease, will cure hunger

24) Dagba ga a tsun ce, dagba ga a go wun o:

When an elephant kicks, only an elephant can receive that kick.

25) Daga fumfuruyi o, acin a ka nyika o

When the fish is fresh is the best time to bend it. (Train a child when from young)

26) Dinniko ga yize yi vwonyi, edzu ga u yi finyi:

The fly says that the world is very large, the spider says it is very small. (Vwonyi is the sound the fly makes when flying at large, finyi when caught in a web. (Circumstances alter cases)

27) Dzakangi u ga der yikuru, nusa a gba u bara:

If a child has food an old man will become his follower (I.e a man will do anything for a living)

28) Ebi nu, u din fu ninmi wun a :

However sharp the blade may be, it never makes its own handle

29) Egba guba ta daga, gulu a le mada:

When two expert warriors join battle, ther vultures will go to sleep hungry (I.e neither will kill the other)

30) Egban ga nya kin:

Wisdom, used while sewing, accomplishes more than the needle (ie no matter how good the tools may be, one must understand the work)

31) Egi, kpatsun rakun u yi o, ba na aba u na wun a ta nya u lo:

A child is like a camel's neck, it goes where it pleases

32) Egun na ta gorozo na, u gaga a edun u gbin o:

When a great man is ill, he doesn't speak, he only groans

33) Egi wun a ga, ga, wun a ku 'wo nda u fa, u ga agba u kin

If a lad says that he will wear his father's clothes, they will drag on the ground

34) Eti u lo etitso a :

The head is never too heavy for its owner

35) E toto dangi a, enya na ewon bise na dokun:

There are many things that catch chicken besides cats
(Don't accuse hastily)

36) Ewa ga u kpe binakun ye, tsukun kpe ga u:

The snake says that it can do a mean trick (harm) but a stick can do more

37) Eya we ma 'koce we emanin, wo tswa 'fo na eko u a be gun be wotso nyi na:

Your friend is a good fighter and you are glad, but guard against the day that he may fight you

38) Ewo ma yi nyada, gbatawo yi kasa:

One comes to borrow money like a turtle with his head on the ground, but pays it back like a crocodile with his head in the air.

39) Eye din tswa u ce lazin a:

The new moon is never in such a hurry that it appears in the morning (lalasticlala is never in such a hurry that he moves a "tomorrow" news to FP today)

40) Eza agban u ta a:

A wise person will not talk about his wisdom

41) Eza ga le zi nimi be sokogunci nyi, wun a le gwa tsun ko:

For one living in a leper-town, it is better to close the fists so as to appear to have no fingers

42) Eza awunkpa daga 'zi babo a le u ye ezi ndoci bo a: suna a tsa a lo bo.

A person is never so tall that he can be seen from one town to another, it is his name that will reach there.

43) Eza eta ga, wasa u ma, wun a la gwa da emi 'wa bo a:

Even though a man may boast that his antidote for a snale bite is the best, he will not put his hand in a snake's hole to prove it.

Proverb credit: Nupecizi



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Any Nupeci in the house? Keep em Nupe proverbs coming pls!

And you can also rep the tribe you represent..just keep em coming.

no mata how Toto water small reach e go reach prick to tak bath.....pidgin English

olihilistic:
no mata how Toto water small reach e go reach prick to tack bath.....pidgin English

thatNUPEboy:

I lie??

lalasticlala, dominique, mynd44