Proverb 58


Excerpt from "A Discussion of 250 Deep Yoruba (African) Proverbs"
By Alaba J. Babalọla

Available for Sale at: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/9785946703

https://www.jumia.com.ng/generic-a-discussion-of-250-deep-yoruba-african-proverbs-208617773.html

https://selar.co/vuxu

PROVERB 58
One never hears a bad omen from the mouth of the priest who offers sacrifices to the gods.

TEASER THOUGHTS
One place where there is always hope for a good omen, whether or not it materializes.

YORUBA ROOTS
A kii gbọ aburu l'ẹnu abọrẹ.

EXPLANATION / MEANING
This is true. You will seldom hear a priest tell you that there is no solution to your problem. There is always a way out for the gods! It could cost you a little or a lot in terms of sacrifice. In that tradition, for the peace and tranquility of a troubled community for example, it may be the custom to inquire from the gods about what to do in order to achieve peace and happiness for its inhabitants. The solution is usually in the form of one sacrifice or another to make things work as they should. The point made in the proverb is that it is almost certain - from experience - that the priests will say that there is a solution to the problem (of lack of peace and tranquility), and that what it will take is some sacrifice to the gods.
It is not unlikely that the priests would conduct their business in this manner. The first reason is that in his belief, the Supreme God - Olodumare can do all things through the deities (gods) to whom the custody of this world has been given. The second reason derives from the first - that people need hope as they wait for their sacrifices to take effect. The third reason is that the entire existence, livelihood and preoccupation of the priest is sustained by the religious beliefs of the people, an integral part of which the offering of sacrifice is a very big part. Keeping the system intact in that way is a very important matter. This is in fact a common feature of many of the world's religion, even today.

MORE
Lawyers who practice in litigation are like priests who always "have a solution" to your problems. With them too you have to offer sacrifice - you have to pay charges or fees. A lawyer never says you will lose a case in court even if he thinks so. What is certain is that you will pay the charges whether you win the case or you lose it. His livelihood depends on it. So, if you take a bad case to a lawyer, you may know you are not likely to win it, but your lawyer may decide to push it anyway. He may or may not appear to have an obvious strategy. If you decide to question him on it and he insists that going to court can surely lead to your victory, you can playfully say "a kii gbọ aburu l'ẹnu abọrẹ!". If he understands the proverb, he will know that you know he's probably in the game at least for the fees.

DEFINITIONS
A - We (PR) - A contraction of Awa (We / Us), or one person representing everyone        else - as normally translated   
Kii- Does not / Do not (V)
Gbọ - To hear (V)
Aburu -Bad omen (N) Bad news, or hopeless prediction or trajectory
Ẹnu - The mouth (N)
Abọrẹ - The priest who offers sacrifices to the gods

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