African Proverbs
African proverbs are thought of much more than artistic sayings. They symbolize real life situations in just a few words that consummate great meaning. In cultures without literature, proverbs provide an array of values and knowledge. Proverbs often, also provide entertainment because they may consist of rhyme or clever allusions. African leaders have turned to proverbs for their wisdom, and to acquire support and respect from their people. Proverbs are unforgettable not only because they abrupt, but because they take a complicated life situation and sum it up into a few comprehensive words. African proverbs convey an amorphous truth or experience, usually about frailty and the way that people intermingle with one another.
When you think of one woman trying to lift a car; that is just absurd, but when others pitch in and help then it works better. That is an example of an African Proverb. It symbolizes how one person can’t accomplish an abstruse task without the help of others: ”If one finger tries to pick up something from the ground, it cannot.”
In life we are faced with many disputes and sometimes may need help. As the proverb says you can’t pick something up without the help of others. This instills manners, togetherness, and the fact that you are willing to take or get help from others. For some people this is a big step. This distinction examines the impact of family. People tend to take others or things for granted. What are you to do if one day you get into an accident and you legs get amputated? Without the help the doctor, there is no medical way that you will make it through that obstacle in your life.
Finally, the day comes when you are about to graduate from high school, about to go into the working world and continue to further your education; you need not to forget where you come from. This is one example of a proverb that examines this:
“A river does not flow so far that it forgets its source?
When you go through that phase in your life where you are finally out on your own, people tend to forget all about their past and go on with the future.
The structure of the memoir immerses the reader in African culture by incorporating anecdotes, poems, proverbs, and songs. These elements combine to emphasize the importance of oral institutions and to convey the significance of understanding them, "One must learn proverbs a proverb is regarded as the horse' that carries words to a different level, investing them with meanings, enrobing the user with the garment of wisdom" (Falola 53). "As in this case and others that I witnessed, the leader must be gifted with language, making extensive use of proverbs, idioms, and cross-references" (Falola 133). While the verses add depth to the story, they often become cumbersome and superfluous. For example, when discussing the need to keep quiet in order to conceal the location of their musical group, the addition of the proverb, "You cannot light a fire when in hiding," is unnecessary seeing as the reader already has a clear understanding of the meaning of the text (Falola 243).
Many African cultures see life as a cycle we are born, we grow and mature, enter adulthood, and one day we will eventually die but the cycle continues long after death. In Africa art is used as a way to express many things in their society, in this paper I will focus on different ways traditional African art are used to describe the cycle of one’s life. Since Africa is such a large continent it is important to keep in mind that every country and tribe has different rituals and views when it comes to the cycle of life. It is estimated to be well over a thousand different ethnic groups and cultures in Africa today. Thousands of cultures in Africa see the stages of life bound together in a continuous cycle; a cycle of birth, growth, maturity,
*Have you ever known a family that valued interdependence over independence? Which parts of this chapter would not pertain to them? Which parts would?
...ghtful and inspirational to many. Realizing that each member of a family has his own issues that he is dealing with on top of keeping his family together can alter his reasoning and decision-making. Becoming less self-obsessed and demonstrating empathy for family members during difficult circumstances can be essential in keeping a family strong. Building and fortifying a foundation of family unity can be pivotal distinction between a family who stands together and one who crumbles apart.
In understanding others, one must first understand our own family background and how it affects our understanding of the world. Conversely, family systems draw on the view of the family as an emotional unit. Under system thinking, one evaluates the parts of the systems in relation to the whole meaning behavior becomes informed by and inseparable from the functioning of one’s family of origin. These ideas show that individuals have a hard time separating from the family and the network of relationships. With a deeper comprehension of the family of origin helps with the challenges and awareness of normalized human behaviors. When interviewing and analyzing the family of origin, allow one to look at their own family of origin
Garris (2006) states in the article regarding to the role family, which illustrates my family system. Family system has a significant impact on family members. I reviewed the members of my family. Each one had a particular role, one became very “helpful”, and the others became very “helpless”. For example, I have a brother who was a “silence helper” and was very industrious. Every time my mom or dad needed him for help, naturally they called him. They forgot that he was not there or not available in that moment. Even when he went to the church, or the school the teachers or the church members always asked him for help. In contrast, another brother loved to rely on my good helper brother even until now. According to the article it states, “There is usually a peacemaker, a clown, a rescuer...
In sub-Saharan Africa, thousands of languages, cultures, and geographical regions helped influence our African society. The ways in which we produce our artwork, spiritual ideals, and ritual performances are organic and raw. From the tropical regions of Congo and Ghana, to the arid regions of Mali; I pass through the global gateway into a domain where the Western world lost its roots and artistic imagination and grandeur. Africa appeals most to me for its ability to create a realm where the living, dead, and artistic ideals come into a single unit of tranquil philosophy.
People desire attention, support, and approval from others, and react to other’s expectations and stressors. Each family has its own degree of interdependence. If one member exhibits a change in functioning, another member will follow with reciprocal changes. A family’s interdependence evolves to promote cohesion to take care of, and protect family members. Tensions can affect this process leading to problems within the family. When one member is anxious, the anxiety may spread to others in the family and escalate, leaving the family members overwhelmed or isolative.
Throughout history we have seen that family values have been one of the most important aspects of societies around the world. Although these values may be different from one another, we can see that it is a ma...
All families have a certain way that they function with each other and have a set way of how they solve problems together. However, some families may find themselves unable to successfully overcome any problems that may occur as well as have difficulties in properly communicating with each other. This occurrence can cause dysfunction and unhappiness within the family unit. According to Hartline (2007), Satir found that each person can improve their lives and relationships with others by changing the way they see and express themselves. She believed that a family puts the blame on one family member for its pain and problems but blame can usually be put upon all members of the family (Hartline, 2007). According to Satir, families will come to see that change in how their household interacts can occur and with that change self-esteem will increase, all family members will become more responsible and all family members will be able to synchronize (Banmen, J. & Banmen K.M., n.d.). To help make this change happen, the family must be able to dwell in a loving atmosphere, they need to have a sense of trust with each other, they must believe that change can happen, and they must be able to meet each other halfway throughout the process of change (Hartline, 2007).
The Olson’s family experienced a shift in their life when John and Susan lost their jobs, and when their 3 year old daughter died in a car crash. According to Smith and Hamon (2012), a family is composed of many members who have their own roles and expectations, and when those roles or expectations are broken, families experience difficulties. (Smith, and Hamon 2012). Based on the Family Systems Theory, families need to be viewed as
... that if you make the right decision, God will help you, he will guide and save you. This maybe the details that are left out of Proverbs, there may not be a need for detail at all. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, don’t be lazy, the out come then will be the help of the Lord. This advice is God/dess’ guidance, it is then up to you which path you will take, what decisions will be made, and which life you choose to live. The Lord can only bring us this far; He/She is unable to help, if we are do not make the right decisions and live righteously.
(This is perhaps the greatest principle to learn in interpreting proverbs--what they are not. Most misinterpretations occur here.)
According to Simons et al. (2004), “the family is considered to be the most significant social system in which all individual function” (p. 96). The family consists of many synergistic and intricate parts creating a unified working system. Within the family system, each individual plays an important role in its healthy or unhealthy development, needs, desire, and specific family type, and overall success. “From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesian 4:16). The family system is influenced by all elements ranging from spiritual, culture, traditions and genetic
Everyone is born into some form of family, with the family taking the responsibility of nurturing, teaching the norms or accepted behaviors within the family structure and within society. There are many types of families, which can be described as a set of relationships including parents and children and can include anyone related by blood or adoption. Family is the most important, “for it is within the family that the child is first socialized to serve the needs of the society and not only its own needs” (Goode, 1982).