Rwandan Proverbs
Rwanda
Capital: Kigali
Official Languages: Kinyarwanda, French,
English
Ethnic Groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa
Population: Over 12 million
Area: ~10,000 square miles (slightly larger
than Vermont)
Colonized by: Germany, Belgium
Independence: July 1st, 1962
Proverb
Proverb-A simple, well known saying that
expresses a truth based on common sense or
human experience.
American examples?
American Proverbs
“The best things in life are free.”
“Do as I say, not as I do.”
“If you can’t beat them, join them.”
“Old habits die hard.”
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
Task
~10 minutes
Go to your assigned proverb
With your group, try to read proverb in Kinyarwanda, then
read it in English
Discuss the meaning of the proverb together
You will share all of this with the entire class
Gray
“Mweshobora urenga aho kwirukanu mwe,
ariko ntabwo aho kwirukanu mu matimu
wawe.”
“You can outdistance that which is running after
you, but not what is running inside you.”
Dark blue
“Ryari mweukwata inzika, anyu umwana
gukwata inzika kandi.”
“When you bear a grudge, your child will also
bear a grudge.”
Yellow
“Ingunga y’urulimi inesha injunga
z’igitero.”
“The sharpness of the tongue defeats
the sharpness of the warriors.”
Green
“Amaziro n’amaciro birangana.”
“Ends and beginnings are
identical.”
Salmon
“Akarênze impinga karushya
ihámagara.”
“When what is said reaches the top of
the hill, it cannot be called (taken)
back.”
Light Blue
“Umusonga w'ûndí ntûkubúza gusinzìra.”
“Someone else’s stomachache doesn’t prevent you
from sleeping.”
Brown/Tan
“Ifumbire y'úbucuti ni âmagambo.”
“The fertilizer of friendship is made of
words.”