proverbs

90. Luy daw am na fu mu jëm. (10)
Whatever runs is going somewhere.
Everything in motion is heading somewhere. This could be a literal object or figuratively a
given action which will have a consequence.
91. Ku jaaxaan di saw, balaa kenn a tooy nga lóor. (2,3,5,6)
92. Ku jaaxaan di colal, ci sa kaw lay dellusi. (2)
Kuy jaaxaan di saw, ci sa kaw lay dellusi. (9)
91. Anyone who urinates while lying on his back will get wet before anyone else.
92. Anyone who urinates while lying on his back will find it falls back on himself.
Someone who does not listen to advice or an interdiction will be the first to suffer the
consequences.
Contribution
93. Ñaq du feeñ cib taw. (2,3,5,20)
Sweat is not visible in the rain.
A village organises a collection for the restoration of the local mosque. One of the leading
citizens offers 5 tons of cement and 50,000 cfa cash. Another person brings his modest
contribution and quotes this proverb.
Control
94. Ku la abal i tànk, nga dem fa ko neex. (2,3,6)
95. a. Ku la abal i gët, nga xool fa ko neex. (12,19)
b. Ku la abal i gët fa ko neex ngay xool mbaa mu nangu ko. (2)
c. Ku la may bët, nga xool fu ko neex. (7)
96. Kuy ñuy diri, doo taamu fu ñu lay jaarale. (2,3,6)
94. If someone loans you feet, you will go wherever he wishes.
95. a. If someone lends you eyes, you will look wherever he wishes.
b. If someone loans you eyes, you will look at wherever he wishes, or else he will
take them back.
96. The person who is being dragged does not choose where he is made to go.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
The person who pays for something should control how it is spent or used.
Abdul Azis and Alassane are reading, commenting on an article in the local paper. The
Dakar subsidiary of a large multinational company had laid off one third of its personnel.
Abdul Azi asks himself whether this could have been prevented, and Alassane quotes the
proverb.
Conversation
97. Lu cin xat xat, xorom ba xaj ca. (2,3,5,6)
98. Waxtaan, ñam la, ku ko teewe ca nga. (2,3,6)
97. No matter how confined a cooking pot is, there is always room for salt.
98. Conversation is like a meal; anyone present participates.
Anyone present during a conversation has a right to participate in that conversation.
Omar is visiting his friend Sakhir. The family of Sakhir are discussing a matter concerning
someone, and they ask Omar for his opinion. Omar politely responds that he is not part of
the family and therefore does not want to get involved. They then quote this proverb to
him.
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