An Anthology of Enuani Proverbs and Sayings on Death with Literal Meaning as Compiled By Emeka Esogbue

The Enuani subgroup of Anioma is known for its richness in proverbs and saying which may be applied to common situations, which enriches the dialect of the people. Usually, the phrases express basic truth which are striking or paradoxical to the hearer but they can be enigmatic.

The good speakers of Enuani are known by their familiarity with the people's proverbs, which is also the reason the traditional lyrics of the people are full of proverbs. Proverbs may also contain contemptous references in some cases but it depends on the situation at hand.

This particular compilation is about death. The compilation expresses the people's submission, abhorrence, condemnation and praise and avoidance of deathly situations. It is better appreciated by the readers.

THE PROVERBS

1. Mbonsi onye kwa nmadu, ka okwa onwea - A person who is mourning the dead is mourning himself
2. Onye lote onwu omea nwayo - One gets calm when he remembers death
3. Onwu ka dike - Death is mightier than the warrior
4. Onwu bata obodo ajulu oyi - The news of death often leaves a city cold
5. Onwu nyi dike obubu - Death is greater than the warrior
6. Onwu ka njor - Death is the worst situation
7. Onwu ajor ka - Death is too bad
8. Onwu sor ojinea - Death gladdens the heart of the enemy
9. Onye mali mbonsi onwua - Who knows the day of his death?
10. Ani elike ife di nma - The ground swallows the best
11. Onye obuna ga anaa na - Everybody will die
12. Onye ji ndua aka - Who is responsible for his life?
13. Ogbu nmadu ga anwu anwu - He who kills will die someday
14. Wadie ji kwa oge eni ozu - Burial is not done on daily basis
15. Ofu onye adi enyi ozu ekpo aja - One person does not ceremonially burial a person and cover the ground
16. Ozu ozor ga nwu ta - Another death will soon occur
17. Wa bulu ozu onye ozor odi ka wa bu osisi - When the corpse of another is carried, it looks like the wood is carried
18. Ebe esu no nwu obulu inyie - Wherever the milipede dies is his grave
19. Onwu bata fodu be onye - Death goes round every household
20. Odi ndu ga nwu anwu - The living will die
21. Onye ka li onwu - Who is bigger than death?
22. Onye je be Chukwu gbala nmanya - Who went to God with a bribe to avoid dying?
23. Onwu bu uya - Death is sorrow
24. Onye si na oma nwu anwu - Who has declared that he cannot die?
25. Onye ebu enu ana - Who carries the world to the world beyond?
26. Onye nwe uwa - Who owns the world?
27. Ya di ba zia ka ogoli ji akwa di e - The wife soon comes to term with the death of her husband
28. Oje ga egbum gbue onwea abu hor ajor ogwu - The charm to forces one to himself instead of me is not a bad charm
29. Agwor nata mbekwu nana ezea niyi - The snake biting the tortoise is biting to kill himself
30. Ogbulu onye na onye yi - He kills another will surely die
31. Wasi ka wa gbue dike ka obodo julu oyi, wa egbue dike obodo enwulu oku - The decision to kill the warrior to usher peace invited conflict when he was killed.
32. Obu nma na na na nma- He who lives by the sword dies by the sword
33. Onwu yalim - Death should spare
34. Onye agba na shi onwu - Who avoids death?
35. Onwu abuhor ani ife ofuu - Corpses are not strange to the ground
36. Ozu adi tor na enu - The death will surely be buried
37. Onwu si wa kwube - Death permitted mockery
38. Onwu gbue ani elie - When death kills, the ground eats
39. Onwu ka nke iga eme - Death, what will you do next
40. Onwu egbulu akpati, gbulu onye pia ni - Death consumed the casket and the maker
41. Onwu mea njor - Death did evil