Page 18 - Exposition of Dagara Morality FNAL

* Patient endurance in life is of vital importance. We should not be * This is a metaphorical way of expressing infinite gratitude to one's
impatient in life when things are being delayed.
4.d. Teng-bie be mine nyuo wuo yange. The son of a landlord should never
be eager for the skin of the tiger
* In Dagara society, when a big animal is killed, part of the meat and skin
are given to the tendaana, the custodian of the land. Thus, the son of the
custodian of the land should not be eager for the skin of the tiger since at all cost
it will be brought to his father and he can have access to it.
* Impatience can ruin one's prospects, therefore, learn to be patient.
4.e. Pantir kyiine be pagr panti-yaga puo e. One who looks after toads does
not hurry in the midst of many toads
* Toads are generally very slow in hopping about. So, to look after them,
one has to be patient.
* If you are a leader, you should learn to be patient with your people
because some may be slow in understanding things.
4.f. Kanyir nome na e kye a o dib tuo. Patience is sweet but to “eat”
(exercise) it is very difficult.
* Nothing good comes easily and so, we need perseverance and patient
endurance. No venture is easy to undertake but when you achieve it, you find
joy in it.
4.g. Kanyir tuo u kpeng. Patience conquers strength.
* When two people are wrestling or fighting, if one is patient and another
strong, if they wrestle or fight for long, the patient person can easily win.
* The Latin equivalence is “aequus animus monia vincit”. Perseverance
overcomes all difficulties. Through patience, you can carry out a task that
seems to be beyond your capacity.
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benefactors for their continual support. Whenever this proverb is used, it shows
how deeply a person appreciates what has been done for him. Hyperbolically
speaking, it is a way of saying that I owe you a million thanks.
12.b. Nuo yel ke suu nomena. The hen says that “suu” is sweet.
* Suu is the sound that is made to chase the hen away. It shows
recognition. You are aware that it is around.
* This is a way of saying that it is courteous to acknowledge the
benevolence of people towards you. We should show due sense of appreciation
and recognition and never belittle any help.
1. SACRIFICE
13.a. Bongkang bile nu mi kpi a zier nume. The young of something dies to
make the soup palatable.
* Soup is hardly prepared with meat in the house. It happens once in a
while. So, when they kill an animal or when it dies, the soup becomes tasty.
* When one sacrifices one's life in one way or the other, others benefit
from it. Just like Jesus Christ, our Saviour who was crucified on the cross and He
redeemed us. When one suffers as a result of sacrificing, others also enjoy the
fruits of that sacrifice. We should learn to sacrifice at times for the benefit of
others.
1. RECONCILIATION
14.a. Nibe ayi be dang geme. Two people can not be foolish.
* If two people have a dispute and cannot settle it amicably through
mutual understanding and compromise, then according to this proverb, they are
foolish. If one is wise enough to bring about the settlement of the dispute, the
other party should do so.
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