Traditional Hausa Wisdom of Niger

Dan'uwa rabin jiki.

“A sibling is half of one's own body.”

Blood is thicker than water; family bonds run deeper than any other tie.

Mugu ya san makwantar mugu.

“Set a thief to catch a thief.”

Someone familiar with wrongdoing is best placed to catch another wrongdoer.

Ba a hada gudu da ƙarfin da ba ka da shi.

“One cannot run faster than one's own strength allows.”

Do not attempt tasks beyond your true capacity.

Komai nisan jifa, ƙasa zai fado.

“However far a thing is thrown, it will fall back to earth.”

Every action eventually returns to its source; consequences are inevitable.

Sai an kula, kashi yake doyi.

“Restraint is often the wisest reply to foolishness.”

Holding back your reaction is often the wisest response to a fool's provocation.

Rai dangin goro, hutu yake so.

“The soul, kin to the kola nut, longs for rest.”

Even hard workers need proper rest; overwork dulls the mind and spirit.

Gida biyu maganin gobara.

“Having two homes is insurance against fire.”

Do not depend on a single resource; keep a backup for hard times.

Hana wani, hana kai.

“To refuse another is to refuse yourself.”

Generosity given returns to you; withholding help from others harms you too.

A bar kaza cikin gashinta.

“Leave the chicken in its own feathers.”

Do not interfere in matters that are not your concern.

Babu laifi, babu tunani.

“No wrongdoing, no worry.”

A clear conscience brings peace of mind.

Da mugunyar rawa, gwamma kin tashi.

“Better not to rise at all than to dance badly.”

If you cannot do a thing well, it is better not to attempt it at all.

Da na sani, kaico ne.

“"If only I had known" is regret walking behind you.”

Foresight is worth far more than hindsight; act wisely before it is too late.

Kayan sammako, da maraice ake daure shi.

“The load for the early journey is tied up the evening before.”

Prepare in advance for what tomorrow demands.

Komai ka yi, ka nemi abin kanka.

“Whatever you do, look first to your own needs.”

Tend to your own responsibilities before taking on others' burdens.

Kwadayi mabudin wahala.

“Greed is the key that unlocks suffering.”

Excessive desire for more leads a person into hardship.

Tusa ba ta hura wuta.

“Chaff does not fan a fire.”

Do not rely on something too weak or worthless to accomplish a serious task.

Allah ya ce: tashi, in taimake ka.

“God says: rise up, and then I will help you.”

Divine or good fortune favors those who first make their own effort.

Rigakafi ya fi magani.

“Prevention is better than cure.”

It is wiser to avoid trouble beforehand than to fix it afterward.

Hakuri maganin duniya.

“Patience is the medicine of the world.”

Patience heals and resolves nearly every hardship life presents.

Mai hakuri mawadaci.

“The patient person is a wealthy person.”

Patience itself is a form of riches, however little one owns.

Mai hakuri ya kan dafa dutse, ya sha romonsa.

“The patient one can even cook a stone and drink its broth.”

Enough patience can accomplish what seems entirely impossible.

Sannu ba ta hana zuwa, in ji kunkuru.

“"Slowly does not prevent arriving," said the tortoise.”

A steady, unhurried pace still reaches its destination.

Yau da gobe ka iya.

“Today and tomorrow, little by little, you become able.”

Skill and capability build gradually through daily effort.

Ido ba ya mutuwa, tozali ya tashe shi.

“The eye does not die; a touch of kohl revives it.”

What looks lost or faded can often be restored with the right care.

Da ruwan ciki kan ja na rijiya.

“With the water already inside you, you can draw the water of the well.”

Inner effort and resourcefulness bring in even greater reward.

Giwa ba ta da cizo, hannun nan a ke tsoro.

“The elephant does not bite; it is its trunk that people fear.”

Reputation and the appearance of power often frighten more than the actual danger.

Ana ga doki, kana ga ƙura.

“One sees the horse, yet you see only the dust.”

Do not fix your attention on a minor distraction while missing the real matter.

Komai nisan dare, gari ya waye.

“However long the night, morning will come.”

No hardship lasts forever; difficult times eventually pass.

Gara roƙo da sata.

“Better to beg than to steal.”

Honest hardship is preferable to dishonest gain.

Gaskiya haske ce, ƙarya walakanci ce.

“Truth is light; a lie is disgrace.”

Honesty brings clarity and respect, while deceit brings shame.

Horo ba kisa ba ne, gyaran hali ne.

“Discipline is not killing; it is the mending of character.”

Correction given in love builds a person rather than destroying them.

Rayayyen kare ya fi mataccen zaki.

“A living dog is better than a dead lion.”

A humble but living opportunity outweighs a grand but lost one.

Zuciya ta fi dukiya.

“A sound heart is worth more than riches.”

Good health and a clear conscience outvalue material wealth.

Mutunci ya fi dukiya.

“Dignity is worth more than riches.”

A person's honor and integrity matter more than any fortune.

Kowa ya ƙona rumbun wani, ya san inda toka ke kuɗi.

“Whoever burns another's granary knows exactly where the ash is worth money.”

Whoever causes the damage understands best the true cost of what was lost.

Kowa ya yi hakuri, zai sami riba.

“Whoever practices patience will gain profit.”

Patience is rewarded, sooner or later, with real benefit.

Tsare gaskiya, ko da wuta aka saka ka.

“Hold fast to the truth, even if you are cast into the fire for it.”

Truth is worth defending no matter the personal cost.

In za ka gina ramin mugunta, gina shi gajere.

“If you must dig a pit of wickedness, dig it shallow.”

Whoever schemes against others should expect it to return to them quickly, so it is best not to dig deep.

So daya, gujiyar makaho ta ƙone; ta biyu sai ya ci danye.

“Once the blind man's groundnut is burnt, the next time he eats it raw.”

A painful experience teaches a lasting, practical lesson.

Hannu daya ba ya ɗaukan rufin gida.

“One hand alone cannot lift the roof of a house.”

Some tasks can only be accomplished through teamwork.

Ko ba a gwada ba, gatari ya san dutse.

“Even without a trial, the axe already knows the stone.”

Experience, once gained, is never truly forgotten.

Ƙwarya ta bi ƙwarya, in ta bi akushi sai ta mutu.

“The calabash follows the calabash; if it follows the wooden bowl, it breaks.”

Stay within your own station in life; overreaching invites ruin.

Komai ya yi farko, zai yi ƙarshe.

“Whatever has a beginning will also have an end.”

No condition, good or bad, lasts forever.

Duƙa wa ɗan wada ba shi hana ka tashi da tsawonka.

“Bowing to a short man will not stop you from standing at your full height again.”

A moment of humility does not diminish your true stature.

Mai tambaya ba shi ɓata, sai dai asirinsa ke tonuwa.

“He who asks does not go astray, but his private matters get uncovered.”

Seeking help is wise, though it may expose what you would rather keep private.

Madaki shi ya san inda ruwa ke zuba masa.

“Only the owner of the house knows exactly where the roof leaks on him.”

No one understands your struggles as intimately as you do yourself.

Gishiri na yi wa man kaɗe dariyar rana; da ruwa ya zo, gishiri ya ji kunya.

“Salt laughs at butter under the sun, but when the rain comes, salt is the one that hides.”

Everyone faces a trial that will eventually test their own weakness.

Wani tsuntsu yakan guje wa ruwa, agwagwa kuwa ruwa take nema.

“Some birds flee from water, yet the duck seeks it out.”

Different people are suited to different paths; one size does not fit all.

Mutum ba ya soka wa kansa wuƙa, ya kuma yi kirari da shi.

“A man does not stab himself with a knife and then boast about it.”

Do not take pride in wounds you brought upon yourself.

Zumunta a ƙafa take.

“Kinship is kept alive on foot.”

Family and friendship endure only through the effort of visiting and staying in touch.