... il y a quelques années, Alpha Condé, chef de l’Etat à  l’époque et président du RPG disait que le PDG est mort dès le décès de Sékou Touré en 1984. Le PUP aussi  est mort dès le décès du Général Lansana Conté en 2008. Comme pour dire que le RPG reste et demeurera sur ses pieds en tout en et en tout lieu.

L’histoire est têtue et la parole aussi rattrape, selon un proverbe africain.

Avec tout ce qui se passe à  l’instant T, peut-on dire que  le RPG, parti  au pouvoir de 2010 au 4 septembre dernier va « mourir »   au vivant d’Alpha Condé?

Quand il s’agit de politique éducative, on pense spontanément à l’éducation nationale, à son ministère cyclopéen et aux grandes réformes qui ruissellent ensuite dans les écoles. Détrompez-vous, “pour faire grandir un enfant, il faut [aussi] toute une ville”. Ce slogan, directement emprunté aux supports de communication de la Ville de Montreuil, m’a grandement interpellée. Lui-même s’inspire d’un proverbe africain (remplacez “ville” par “village”) et laisse entendre que la famille seule ne peut pourvoir aux besoins éducatifs d’un enfant. À y regarder de plus près, il est vrai que les collectivités jouent un rôle central dans l’éducation des jeunes générations. Ces politiques des territoires méritent la lumière car elles participent assurément au plein épanouissement de nos enfants. *Par Amélia Matar, fondatrice et dirigeante de COLORI.

Sagesse africaine et parole de Dieu 

Le continent africain est bien connu pour sa sagesse proverbiale. Cette sagesse exprime bien souvent des pensées pleines de sens qui peuvent aider les chrétiens à entrer dans une intelligence plus grande de leur foi. Chaque mois, La Croix Africa reprend le proverbe proposé dans le missel Prions en Église Afrique. L’application chrétienne de la sagesse de ce mois nous est proposée par le Père Jean-Paul Sagadou.

Application chrétienne

Ce proverbe enseigne qu’il faut savoir se passer des intermédiaires et aller à l’essentiel quand il le faut. A Noël, Dieu en son Fils Jésus, est désormais lui-même présent. Il s’est fait chair et il est venu habité chez nous. Ce faisant, nous n’avons plus besoin de passer par des esprits pour avoir accès à Lui et à son salut. En Jésus, Dieu est là, présent dans nos vies et dans le monde.

Père Jean-Paul Sagadou, Assomptionniste
Rédacteur en chef/ Prions en Église Afrique

In our neighbourhoods, we live in fences so a child can no longer play with the kid next door. The best they can do is cut a hole in the fence, that is if the dogs permit it. Even when we live in apartments, we are cloistered, leaving at dawn to beat the traffic, and returning late, weary and angry, having again endured hell in traffic and at the office.

And when Covid came, well, we were at home, but behind masks and staying away from neighbours, sometimes even people in the same household, like they were the plague itself.

To compound matters, in Africa generally, we are not good at recognising people who are struggling with mental illness, and in precarious situations or danger. “Every market place has its own mad man”, goes a popular African proverb. These “mad” people are crying for help, but they are seen as a normal fixture. It is a commonly used proverb, and you are considered learned and aware of the culture when you throw it out there. The mad man, or woman, is a regular figure in comedy and theatre, and an object of mirth.

Additionally, as has been widely chronicled, we now have social media; with scantily dressed women showing booty and (false) breasts you don’t have in photoshopped photographs; men flashing false abs, or doing mind-boggling routines in the gymnasium when you can barely get off the couch. And then they are out there, holidaying at some fancy place, and posing against a stranger’s Ferrari. Sometimes, people feel worthless because no one is retweeting their tweets, or liking their Instagram photographs. They think God and life have dealt an extremely dirty hand, and it’s time to check out.

Kwanzaa is an amazing opportunity for the community at-large to come together for a joyous event. Each day we will celebrate virtually on the committee’s Facebook page. Please visit and join in the celebration. We have many challenges ahead and I will discuss those more in future columns. At this time, I want to focus on hope and cooperation. There’s an old African proverb: “If you want to run fast, run alone. If you want to run far, run together.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified the adverse effects of the world's digital divide," says Ms.Tay. "There are still millions of children who are unable to access the internet in the United States and West Africa. The saying-"Each one, teach one"-" is an African proverb that originated in America during slavery when Africans were denied education. If someone learned how to read or write, it became their responsibility to teach someone else. We are extremely proud to partner with United Airlines this holiday season to continue this tradition through our building and digital literacy efforts in the United States and abroad. When Mileage Plus members donate, we are able to bring more volunteers from abroad to West Africa. We work side-by-side with community leaders to support digital modernization and cultural exchange programs that will help keep our communities connected during these uncertain times and beyond."

The annual Kwanzaa traditions that Dele Lowman celebrated with her mom, brothers and surrounding community in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, were the highlight of her childhood. “One of the things my family would do is write out African Proverbs in calligraphy on nice paper, that my mom would have me decorate them,” she says. “We would roll them up like scrolls and tie them with ribbon and everybody would pick one.”

For two consecutive years, Dele randomly picked the proverb that says “He who knows he has enough is rich,” a truth she says her mother gleefully reminded her throughout the years.

Observed annually between December 26 and January 1, Kwanzaa is a Pan-African cultural celebration and holiday designed to support the social, cultural and economic fabric of the African American community in the U.S. by strengthening its connection to African culture. Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowman, retired professor of Psychology at Florida A&M University, says that Kwanzaa “emphasizes our connection to our African history, and not just our experiences in this country.” In addition to implementing Kwanzaa’s principles in her courses, she also instilled them into her daughter, Dele.

Can we be like the Irish or Greeks, write about Central Kenya using its traditions and proverbs? With some research, we found one proverb from the mountain that can explain its current political and economic reality.

“Îgîtunywo mwana nî îikagîrio mûngû,” loosely translated, if a monkey takes a human baby, it is given “mûngû” and easily returns the baby. Mûngû is a green gourd before ripening.

It hardens readily to be converted into calabashes. It is not clear why monkeys love mûngû.

Could it be just a myth?

Karuga Wandai, a Thika-based lawyer says he witnessed such a baby theft in the 1950s but sweet bananas did the trick.

I have tried unsuccessfully to seek anyone who has used mûngû to get back a baby from a monkey.

This proverb is more apt now when leading political contenders are flocking to Central Kenya (the mountain). The region has held power (the baby) for 34 years since independence.

The power wielders of Central Kenya must be given a mûngû to let power go. What’s that mûngû?

Listening to speeches from presidential contenders flocking to Central Kenya, mûngû includes economic goodies - from better roads to better farm prices, more business opportunities, and peace with other communities.

There is a difference between both statements, and you may prefer the second proposition as being slightly better if you think hard enough about it.

The Yoruba proverb (Nigeria) provides a more picturesque version of this rule — one going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.

The golden rule is a powerful tool for ethical decision-making.

For good measure, we may wish to articulate our potential decisions through all four tests when faced with an ethical decision-making dilemma of significant proportion.

“While the ZIFA Board is totally convinced that its appeal did suspend the SRC decision, it cannot however be involved in physical confrontation with the regulator (SRC). As such, the ZIFA Board advises the nation that, in order to avoid unnecessary drama, it shall for now take a back seat until guidance from FIFA has been received, full prosecution of the Admin Court appeal or as and when the SRC decides to obey the laws of the land, whichever will come first.”

The Africa  proverb which says the grass suffers the most when two elephants fight, can be applied in this instance- the Warriors will be greatly affected by this ZIFA-SRC saga.

As it stands, the team is not even guaranteed of going to AFCON.

When the ZIFA board ‘resumed duties’ last week, it revealed plans to start preparing for AFCON, particularly the recruitment of a coach, a position which is now vacant following the expiration of  Norman Mapeza’s 3-month contract.

THE furore in the National Assembly over the recent amendment of the Electoral Act has not escaped the attention of millions of Nigerians who have been following the said exercise with religious interest.  The process of recruitment of leadership in Nigeria has been a big problem, with the country having a fair share of mis-governance as unintended consequence flowing from unfair electoral process over the years. You cannot plant maize and reap mango says an African proverb. The affliction of bad leadership stems from defective electoral process that is devoid of any iota of fairness. We are beset with electoral manipulations, ballot snatching, result-falsification and all manner of electoral frauds by desperate politicians and their thugs  who pervert the process to ascend to power. The consequence is that those who emerge and occupy political positions in Nigeria  do so fraudulently without any mandate fairly donated by the people, thereby breaching the fundamental term of the famed social contract theory propounded by early philosophers that led to formation of modern society.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/legislative-rascality-by-nass-members-2/

There is a Yoruba adage that says, when you live long enough, you will see a hunch-backed rodent because there is no other way to describe the story of Tabitha, who is in love with her swimming pool. To take things a step further, she has got all the needed paper works to achieve her dreams of forever bliss.

The governor’s peace initiative has been rejected by few dissenting residents masquerading as trustees of the people’s liberty. They have objected to his call to walk for peace. To them, it will be inconsistent with their previous walk, which ended in violence across the state.

The lesson of the protest that culminated in mayhem is lost on them. The protest was not unwarranted, but its “elongation” heralded doom. A Yoruba adage says: You fight strategically and leave the battle front only to return later: he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

The critics of the government have rejected the White Paper on the controversial report of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry the state set up to investigate the destruction and killings that trailed the October 20, 2020 #EndSARS protest.

Hay un proverbio africano que dice: "Se necesita una aldea para criar a un niño". También se necesita toda una tribu para apoyar a una madre. La crianza puede ser un verdadero reto, por lo que toda madre necesita todo el apoyo necesario por parte de las personas cercanas. Sobre todo, cuando se trata de una madre de un niño con necesidades especiales.

Dice un proverbio africano que el conocimiento es “como un baobab, los brazos de un solo hombre no bastan para abarcarlo” (L. H. Machado), por lo que la única sugerencia a corto y largo plazo es conocer por un lado la definición del covid 19, sus implicaciones sociales y económicas y demás consecuencias, para comprender que para atacar al virus se hizo necesario el concurso  de un grupo de investigadores, médicos, psicólogos, farmacéuticos, jardineros, asistentes sociales quienes lidiando aquí y allá, sin los cuales no se hubiera podido detener su avance.

In 1996, a politician wrote a book titled It Takes a Village. The title was taken from an African proverb with the premise that a village, town or city is responsible for raising productive citizens. I was raised in Columbus in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. During that time my village taught me to hate The Team Up North.

Al pueblo sólo le importa su «inmunidad de rebaño», con un redoble de vacunas que es el redoble de tambor para ahogar la voz del Capeto en la guillotina...

Los hombres se parecen más a su tiempo que a sus padres (proverbio africano), y del adulado pueblo español de este tiempo se puede decir lo mismo ...

El mejor modo de honrar a los muertos es cultivar sus campos". Este proverbio africano me vino inmediatamente a la cabeza cuando me enteré del fallecimiento de Gabriel Delgado, director del Secretariado Diocesano de Migraciones. Me dicen que algunas personas han descubierto a Gabriel a raíz de su fallecimiento y tras escuchar y leer todo lo que se ha dicho de él. Yo, gracias a Dios, tuve la gracia de conocerle hace más de cuarenta años y, desde entonces, no he dejado de admirarlo y de inspirarme en su vida.

Dicen que a lo largo de los años tenemos que ir cambiando porque la vida y sus circunstancias cambian. Eso es cierto para algunas cosas pero creo que hay otras realidades que no solo no hay que cambiar sino que hay que ir profundizando en ellas. Me refiero al ámbito de los principios y de las convicciones profundas.

The African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" seems to be even more relevant in this time of the pandemic.

Parental engagement in school has become more vital for learners, especially with the shift in the educational landscape brought about by the global health crisis.

The topic was discussed in detail during the first session of the 4th Professional Development Series for Teachers on Parental Engagement presented by the Department of Education (DepEd) National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) in collaboration with Globe's Global Filipino Teachers.

The series seeks to define and differentiate parental involvement and engagement, share the benefits of engaging parents in their children's learning, and identify the challenges that they face.

During the first session, it was suggested that when the school cultivates parental engagement, the students stand to benefit a great deal – leading to results such as increased academic achievement, better behavior in the classroom and positive change in the child's personality.

This issue is of different categorie1 AJUNMOBI O KAN TAANU.. It's a Yoruba proverb , for someone to be your close relative doesn't guarantee that he or she will help you, some prefer to face their immediate family I mean kids and wife only.2 PAST FAMILY HISTORY.. many rich family member didn't get help too…

At a time when many in the public are demanding police reforms in the wake of racial justice protests, she says she’ll work to rebuild trust by keeping her word “impeccably” and by being “equitable in the treatment of all people.”

"We have a chance to rethink and reimagine public safety in King County."

Adding that an emphasis on communication and collaboration amongst all staff will be key.

"There's an African proverb that says. 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,' ” she said.

Cole-Tindall says she will not be applying for the permanent position. Instead she plans to spend the next six months stabilizing the workforce. She says staff are facing lots of morale issues — with a labor shortage, continuing uncertainty because of COVID and the change from working for an elected sheriff to an appointed one.

He had for decades watched from the terraces, like a disinterested spectator, Lesotho's politicians“dance” in the ring. The clumsy“dance” moves of most politicians had left him unimpressed.
Rapapa thought he could do better. He wanted a piece of the action and decided to jump into the ring.

If the rhythm of the drum beat changes, so does the dance, says an African proverb.
And in line with that ancient piece of wisdom Rapapa entered the dance floor with one intention – to change the tempo and style of the“dance” for the better.
His politics would be politics of substance, away from the vacuous politics of the gutter that had been a hallmark of Lesotho's politics over the decades.
For Rapapa, it was almost unforgivable that Lesotho's academics had continued to shy away from national politics.

“Revered by Arab traders and reviled by Portuguese sailors, Kunjali was a swashbuckling sailor and warrior who lived and died for his land. I came across an African proverb that says ‘Until the Lion learns to write, the story would always favour the hunter’. That explains why the Arabs put him on a pedestal while the Portuguese branded him a pirate.”

Certains estiment que le journaliste a fait une mauvaise sortie. « Un proverbe africain et Beti dit que le goûter de l’enfant a toujours la saleté… Obama est encore jeune et manque de retenue sur certains sujets car même s’il a eu quelques soucis avec son deuxième nom de Nana, il a raté une occasion de se taire à ce sujet. Ça veut tout simplement dire que dans certains concours les bamiléké ne sont pas les bienvenus… même si l’effet contraire se passe souvent également. Chez les autres. Et c’est dommage et regrettable pour notre vivre ensemble », note Claude Ndongo.