Who Jamaicans commonly know as Ashanti, belong to the Akan tribe and these are the proverbs we inherited from our warrior ancestors, the Ashanti and their Akan counterparts. Along with a vast array of proverbs came Ananse stories.
A list of Jamaican Proverbs of Akan origins
Akan: “Fowls will not spare a cockroach that falls in their midst.”(
Source)
Jamaican: “No matter how drunk the cockroach becomes, he never makes the mistake of walking past the yard of the fowl.(
Source)
common meaning: Self preservation is key to human survival
Akan: “Nsatea baako nkura adesoa.” (One finger cannot pick up a heavy load)(
Source)
Jamaican: “Wan finga cya kill louse.” (
Source)
common meaning: Strength in unity
Akan: “Nsako na nsa aba.” (Hand go, Hand comes)(
Source)
Jamaican: “Han’ guh, paki(or hand) come.” (Hand go, calabash comes)
common meaning: Help your neighbour and they will help you in return
Akan: “Kerema ne esee ko” (Tongue and teeth fight)
Jamaican: “Tung an teet meet”
common meaning: a saying when family, friends or loved ones are in a quarrel
Akan: Woto wo bo ase gua (dwa) ntetea a, wohu ne nsono. (If you crush an ant, you will see it’s guts)
Jamaican: If yu nuh mash ants, yuh nah guh si ‘im guts (If you don’t mash an ant, you won’t see his guts) (
Source)
common meaning: Patience is key
Picture of the Jamaican flag (known in Ghana as the Adinkra, Mframadan) and the Asante national flag.
Akan: “Enne ye medea okyina nso ye wo dee.”(Today is mine, tomorrow is yours)(Source)
Jamaican: “Tiddeh fi mi tomorra fi yuh.(
Source)
common meaning: One day you have a victory and the next day someone else will
Jamaican proverb: No matter how much a cockroach gets drunk, he’ll never go to the fowl’s yard. (Jamaican sayings: with notes on folklore, aesthetics, and social control: By G. Llewellyn Watson)*
common meaning: Know your place in life. You fit in where you get it in.
Jamaican proverb: As boastful as a cock-chicken*
Akan proverb: Oh cock, leave off being puffed with pride; after all, your mother was an only shell.*
Jamaican proverb: When the cow’s tail has be cut off, God brushes away the flies.
Akan Proverb: For the animal who does not have a tail, it is God who sweeps his body. (Source)
Jamaican proverb: “Don’t wash the child’s stomach, but wash his back” (Source)
Akan proverb: “when a child is asked to bath, he baths only his stomach”**
common meaning: Give to the parents instead of to the child.
