“Ashanti Proverbs”
Disgrace
“To be dead is better than to be alive and not respected.”
Adultery
“The name of him who seduces a woman in the bush remains forever in the bush.
God
“God is dependable, a friend, the benevolent God whose first nature is virtue.”
“God who appears on each virtuous road, The praiseworthy God, Who created all the good things of the world.”
Virtue/Goodness in Man
“Virtue is a rare property.”
“A true friend is hard to come by.”
“Virtue or goodness is better than gold.”
Evil or Wrong Acts
“God dislikes evil.”
“Vice sours conscience.”
“Evil does not hide.”
“The reign of vice does not last.”
Crime/Criminals
“The consequences of crime is the individual’s disgrace; but the disgrace of the individual contaminates his clan and reflects on his nation.”
“The criminal will ultimately be discovered, and his offspring will taste of the bitterness of his evil actions.”
“Sweetness is not permanent, It does not remain in any mouth forever.”
Names/Reputation
“Man came to seek a name and nothing more.”
“A great name is the title only of men of great deeds.”
“One does not name his child after someone who hates him.”
Hospitality
“The stranger does not sleep in the street.”
“One need not beg to eat.”
Motherliness
“A woman is a mighty tree with big branches laden with fruits; When children come to you, they find something to eat.”
Marriage
“Man and woman, the journey of marriage is long.”
“Marriage prospers only in the farm of patience.”
“At best, marriage springs out of love.”
“Marriage only succeeds when the husband makes it so.” (Advice given to a bridegroom.)
“Marriage prospers only upon the hard labor of the wife.” (Advice given to a bride.)
“The contract of marriage is a contract of friendship it is not a bond of blood kinsmen of a clan.”
Source:
Ghana’s Heritage of Culture,
pp. 49, 50, 53, 57, 66, 69)