Àbọ ọrọ là á sọ fun ọmọlúwàbí.
Tó bá dé inu rẹ á di odidi.
We speak half of a word to the child born of Olu-iwa(the source of all wisdom).
It becomes a hole in him when he digests it. Half a word is enough for the wise.
We only need to speak half of a word to the child born of Olu-iwa, the source of all wisdom. When the child internalizes that half-word, it becomes a complete sentence. For the wise, half a word is often sufficient. Yorùbá society, with its rich cultural heritage, values the ability to communicate with wisdom, confidence, and conviction. This important trait is usually expressed through the artful use of "Òwe." Yorùbá Òwe, which can be loosely translated as proverbs, is not just a collection of words, but a practical guide drawn from centuries of observing human behavior, social interactions, and the environment. In English, proverbs—derived from the Latin word "proverbium"—are typically concise phrases conveying truths based on common sense and experience. They serve as expert advice in conversations, teaching moral lessons and warning against the consequences of poor choices. The Book of Proverbs in the Bible, along with various ancient philosophical texts, shares concise sayings that reflect the wisdom of the Creator, offering practical guidance to help us lead a good life. Unlike English proverbs, Yorùbá Òwe serves as a sound system, drawing from centuries of observing human behavior, social interactions, and the environment. The Yorùbá, who developed their culture without the aid of Western writing, use proverbs for virtually every situation. They offer verbal guidance on moral conduct, explain social behaviors, and provide advice for navigating the complexities of everyday life. This practical aspect makes Yorùbá proverbs particularly engaging and insightful. Ọjọmọ's blog series aims to celebrate the enduring concepts expressed in the verbal artistry of Yorùbá culture. In this series, he will explore how he translates Yorùbá proverbs into visual art on canvas, aiming to uncover, clarify, and reveal the deeper meanings of the stories behind his paintings. Through these visual representations, the artwork will encourage critical thinking and enhance the understanding of the societal values embedded in Yorùbá proverbs. For anyone to contribute positively to society, they must embody the qualities of ìwa, which refers to character. This character is essential for good citizenship, as emphasized in the Yorùbá culture. The focus on character development through proverbs is both motivating and reflective. Elders in the community bear the responsibility of guiding children during their formative years, using proverbs to instill discipline and morality. The saying "It takes a whole village to raise a child" highlights this shared responsibility. One important quality for those born of Olu-iwa is respect for differing opinions. A child born of the source of wisdom only needs a fragment of a sentence to grasp the whole meaning, thanks to their inherent understanding of good character. But what does good character mean? The Yorùbá compare good and harmful character traits to smoke, captured in the following proverb: characteristics of smoke in this proverb.
Ẽfí nì iwà
Kò sí bí a tilè bò ó mólẹ tó
Yìó rú síta.
Character is smoke
No matter how hard one tries to suppress it
It isn't easy to contain.