proverbs

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