Page 14 - Exposition of Dagara Morality FNAL
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1.b. Nyime ni zel mi langna kpier kye a nyime mi wa dun a zel bibir kang. The * This proverb is an advice to people who cultivate certain vices in their
teeth and the tongue stay together under one “roof” but the teeth do bite the behaviour to be reasonable or to desist from them because they can even do
tongue one day. them in places that they do not want to do them, it is better to form good habits
from the beginning.
* The “roof” here refers to the mouth. Despite the fact that the teeth and
the tongue stay together in the same mouth, misunderstandings are inevitable, 1. APPRECIATION
however, that does not mean that community life is impossible. 20.a. Kur yel ke wuo puo vooru be I fii e. The tortoise says that breath in the bag
is not small
* This proverb can be used to advise people who have misunderstandings
in their community life, to iron out their differences, each party should try to * It is grace period between the time it is caught and put it in the bag and
reconcile with the other so that they can live amicably again. the time it is roasted.
1.c. Zanzankyile yel kee do lang ter'I zuur. The vampire bat says that a paired * Appreciate life no matter how short it is and be thankful to God for the
room has smoke. gift of life. No time is too little, no gift too small.
* When you stay together, there are certain things people will do which you 20.b. Bang-natuo nu nyogr bang-natuo gane. The once-experienced-the-like
will find it hard to stomach. These unbearable things or behaviors are being will hold the “gane” of the now-experiencing-the-like.
referred to as “smoke”.
* The gane is a fiber band used to tie round the left hands or waist of
* This proverb exhorts us to bear with others in our communities. We bereaved family members during funerals. Friends hold these people as a sign of
should know that when we stay together, there may be some discomfort once in a sympathy and checks. So, one who has ever suffered the loss of a dear one will
while but it does not mean that we live individually. This is because a support understand others better when they also lose their relatives.
system in a community life is of vital importance. In another sense, this proverb
stresses the value of individuality. It stresses the difficulties of individuals with * People appreciate things better if they have ever experiences them.
different characters find it hard to stay together. People who have gone through like experiences can understand one another's
pain, suffering and worries better and so, can better give one another pieces of
1. JUSTICE advice and sympathy.
2.a. Le a Ziem daa na dug'a, le na a Naab daa mi na dug. The way the pito of
the first of the twins was brewed, that is the way the pito of the second should 1. ADAPTABILITY
also be brewed. 21.a. Foo wa kyen ta-teng tin ye be yagr'I gbe beyeni a foo mi yagru gbe beyen.
If you go to a place an see the people dancing with one leg, you also dance with
* The common practice among the Dagara is to treat twins equally. If this is one leg.
not done, it is believed that they will both die. Pito is the local beer brewed from
Guinea corn. * The English equivalence of this is “when you go to Rome, do what the
Romans do”. People are advices to adjust themselves to new situations. This
proverb teaches the general virtue of adaptability. However, in a special sense, it
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