Akan Teleteaching Course


Unit 4.9: Proverb

Abusþæé yñ dõám, na woá na baá neá woá nuaá

The family is an army, but it is your mother's child who is your (real) brother (or sister).

Explanation: Although the family is made up of a large number of people, the Akan regard the relationship between children who share the same mother's blood as closer; a person can depend more on his or her own mother's children than on the other member of the larger family. The proverb cautions against too much dependence on family members, and stresses the unity and strength of the relationship that comes through the mother's side.
(
Opoku, 1995: 29)

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