Proverbs are found in all languages. They act as colourful lessons, offering advice that’s passed down from generation to generation in the guise of a clever sentence or two. In English there is a well-known saying, ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’, implying that some things are better done alone. The Zulu equivalent, as explained by Jerry this month, is ‘Iningi liyabona ububende‘. It’s a proverb that also talks about too many hands, but is more targeted than its English equivalent – it’s normally used to advise someone who’s facing some difficulty or other to deal with their problem alone, and not to drag other people into their problem. It can also be used to suggest that if other people become involved things will become even more complicated. Click on the link below to read more about this Zulu proverb, as well as other stories that Jerry wrote about during the month of June:
- Izaga: Iningi Liyabona Ububende (isiZulu Proverb: The majority are not always right)
- Izithakazelo Nomlando zakwa: Kunene (Clan Praises and history of Kunene)
- Izithakazelo Nomlando zakwa: Khwela (Clan Praises and history of Khwele)