In Igbo (an ethnic group in Nigeria) language, it is said that: ilu bu mmanu eji eri okwu (proverb is the palm oil with which words are eaten). One can literarily understand this to mean that African proverbs are what makes words palatable. But it has a deeper meaning.
African Proverbs are not merely what make words palatable in the sense that they make the words sound acceptable and more understood. They, actually, carry in-depth teachings. When you use African proverbs in language, you are opening the eyes of the listener(s) to the fundamental philosophy of the issue(s). For instance, a man was telling his poor nephew who was busy making babies without considering how to take care of them. He said so many things to him with just a proverb that says : The lizard uses courage to hunt flies from the body of a lion, but also uses wisdom to know when to run away (refer to The Seven Strokes of the gods).
In this story, an old man was advising his nephew that he must be wise in the affairs of life. When it comes to making a family, one must consider a lot of things. Marriage is not only about making babies, it is more about responsibility. And when responsibilities come into the equation, caution and circumspection must be observed. In this simple proverb, the old man enunciated to the young man that certain thing that may seem sweet may also cause harm in the future. This proverb is also spoken another way when the igbo would say that ihe n’ato uto na egbukwa egbu‘ (That which you consider sweet has also in itself a seed of death). By this, one is simply advocating moderation. The English people would say that ‘Virtue stands in the middle’ – moderation is the best option.
In another proverbs in the same fictional story, one can see where the author used the proverb: the lizards says that he can identify the footsteps of the one who intends to stone him. This proverbs means volume. There are several footsteps, but there is the footstep of one who bears you ill will. This does not literarily mean only the footsteps. It means that the enemies general language will always betray him. And who will identify this betrayal? It is only the witty. The proverb, then, is principally advising one to be witty like the fox to identify traps and to know when one is in danger. It may be seen through verbal language, gestures, attitudes, deeds or omission of persons, close or remote to you. In general, the adage advocates wittiness in the affairs of life.
Again in another place in the story, it says: as the old lady considers how she will eat the unine fruit (local banana.ie. musa cavendishi), the unine fruit equally considers how it will purge the old lady (igbo language: agadi nwayi n’eche otu oji eri unine, unine n’eche otu oji agba ya afo). This is telling us something deeper. It means that everyone is capable of constituting a danger to the other. In that case, strategy must be a veritable weapon for safety in life. There are so many proverbs used by the African, the meanings of which may not always be literal – the meanings are deeper than the words. They are practical African philosophy.
The seven strokes of the gods by Lancelot Ukaigwe was written the African way – with deep information given in proverbs through the mouth of the elderly characters.