Ọmọ tó sọ̀kọ̀ sójà: ará ilé rẹ̀ ní ńbá.
Translation: Children who throw stones into the marketplace will land on community members.
Children growing up in a community need to develop emotional skills, such as critical thinking, character building, and social interaction, to succeed in life. These are not just attitudes, behaviors, and strategies, but the very foundation of their development as productive adults. It is the role of parents and adults in a community to teach these social norms, thereby enlightening and informing the audience about the importance of emotional skills in child development.
The Yoruba uses the proverb "Ọmọ tó sọ̀kọ̀ sọ́jà" to illustrate the behavior of children who turn deaf ears to the counsel of parents and elders on social norms. Throwing stones into a crowded marketplace is not just a misstep but a severe consequence for such misguided children, highlighting the urgency and concern of neglecting social norms within a community.
This painting symbolizes children who, by throwing stones into a crowded marketplace, are metaphorically betraying the community that they should be relying on for support and succor. It also serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of neglecting social norms, such as isolation and discord within the community.