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Character<br />
33. Baax ak bon, loo ca man a nëbb dafa wóorul. (1,6,15)<br />
If you can hide your goodness or your meanness, the reality is that the goodness<br />
or meanness is not real.<br />
It is impossible to hide true goodness or meanness that is natural to a person. It will always<br />
eventually reveal itself.<br />
“The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of<br />
them; the sins of others trail behind them.” (1 Timothy 5:24 NIV)<br />
34. Lu la réer ci juddu feeñ ci jikko. (2,6,15)<br />
Lu réer cib juddu, feeñ ci jikko. (7,19)<br />
Lu nëbb ci juddu, feeñ ci jikko. (8)<br />
What is unknown to you about a person's origins will be revealed in his character.<br />
One's habitual behaviour reveals one's hidden origins. The Wolof have a strong belief that<br />
one’s character is determined by one’s ancestry. A nobleman will always act nobly. If they<br />
find an exception then they will trace his ancestry expecting to find some contamination<br />
somewhere in his family line - a descendant who married below his status such as a slave<br />
or member of a caste. For any individual about whose origins one knows nothing, it is<br />
sufficient to observe his character for a time to know his origins.<br />
35. Mbër mu nëbbu bu yàggee feeñ. (20)<br />
A wrestler who hides his skills will eventually be discovered.<br />
One's character always reveals itself in the end.<br />
“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be<br />
found out.” (Proverbs 10:9 NIV)<br />
36. Toxal dëkk a gën a yomb toxal jikko. (9)<br />
It is easier to move a village than change a character.<br />
“A leopard cannot change his spots.”<br />
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots Neither can you do<br />
good who are accustomed to doing evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23 NIV)<br />
37. Ñaaw jikko, rafet jikkoo ko gën. (13)<br />
Rafet jikko moo gën jikko ju bon. (4)<br />
A good character is better than a bad one.<br />
38. Sori Sañaxóor taxul ron doon ngeer. (3)<br />
Sori Sañaxóor taxul ron a doon geer. (2)<br />
Ron, sori sañaxóor du ko tax a yem ak geer. (19)<br />
Ron, sori sañaxóor du ko tee di ron. (12)<br />
Even far from Sagnakhor, a ron palm does not become a “ngeer” (Guiera<br />
senegalensis)<br />
An elderly woman is filled with worry concerning her son who has left to look for work in<br />
the city. She is afraid he will fall in with the wrong crowd and leave the straight path. A<br />
neighbour who has just returned from visiting him in the city reassures her. Her son has<br />
found an honest job and still has good manners. In order to calm her he quotes this<br />
proverb.<br />
[Sagnakkor is the name of the great plain of Cayor, famous for its ron palms. The Guiera<br />
senegalensis is a bushy shrub which reaches a height of one to three metres.]<br />
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