Page 16 - Exposition of Dagara Morality FNAL

1. KNOWLEDGE * Among the Dagara, boys hunt lizards and roast them. The one who kills
3.a. Zum wa yi kuomi way el ke eba nimir bul'a foot ta ngmer'e o no-kpen e. If
the fish should come out of the water to say that the crocodile has an outgrowth
on one of its eyes, you do not have to argue it
* This is because both the fish and the crocodile are amphibians and co-
habit.
* The lesson of this proverb teaches is that first hand information is to be
trusted since the person happened to be present when the event took place; his
information will be more reliable than that of one who learns it from hearsay.
3.b. Yan be ter bang baaru e. Absolute knowledge is never attained.
* There I always a limit to what any one can know. Hence, nobody should
boast of having absolute knowledge.
3.c. Sogru ni bangfu. Enquiry is knowing
* This proverb is an advice to the youth. They should note tat though
knowledge is not necessarily possessed by the aged, they should learn to sit at the
feet of the adults to learn knowledge and wisdom, even if they know.
3.d. Banga be so a e. It is not for the one who thinks he knows.
* When you meddle in people's affairs, they will call you “Mr. Know-all”.
* This proverb can be used on an intruder who pokes his nose into people's
affairs unwelcomingly to desist from such behaviour of thinking that he is more
knowledgeable. Know when your help or advice will be welcomed and give it at
the appropriate time.
3.e. Bibi-wo-ku-yiiri nu be buole nikpee kura. A child who hears and never
forgets is the one they call an experienced adult.
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does not roast. He allows one of the others to roast them. However, in another
village, this lizard killer may become the lizard roaster.
* As there are different grades of skill and they are relative to individuals
and localities, so, social status is relative and so, if you go to another country or
joins another community, learn to assess your relative status and behave
according to your new status. Do not take your knowledge and status for granted
when you are in a new situation, but be prepared to re-evaluate them and let
your new estimation of your status guide your conduct.
16.b. Saan be wulle zier sulu zie i. The stranger does not show where the ladle
is.
* If he does, it shows that he is one who likes food.
* This proverb is an advice to people who like food a lot to control
themselves in a strange place.
16.c. Saa be yagr bagr binne yiele nie. A stranger does not dance bagr dance
while singing.
* Bagr is a traditional festival of initiation among the Dagara. The songs
they sing during this festival are usually about people and so as a stranger if you
sing, you may sing to the hearing of the person of whom the song has been
composed and je may attack you.
* This proverb is a caution to people to be careful about their utterances in
a foreign land.
16.d. Saan mi tir o meng a be tuou o ter. The stranger gives himself up to his
host to receive him well.
* This proverb advises us to comport ourselves well when we are in a new
place.
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