African Wisdom - Ifeanyi Uhuegbu - Bog

Living effectively in a traditional African society requires a mastery of the nuances of communication. This is an article of existence made imperative by the time settled character of the African society.

Tradition has always been the soul of the African society and rich idioms more than any other dimensions of expression constitute both the very fountain from which cultural values are reinforced and replenished. It is also the channel through which the essence of the African cultural heritage is handed down from generation to generation.

African Wisdom captures as much as is possible within the boundaries of one volume the eclectic stretch of African parables, that essential vehicle that transmits African wisdom, tradition and values.

Meaningful living in a typical traditional African society is not expected to be disorderly but but choreographed outing. There is a purpose to every life. It is believed that life is designed to give ample expression to the deep bond between the past and the present, the ancestors and their living progenitors, the gods and the mortal beings on the earthly plane. This emphasis on the importance of structuring a life of meaning is best captured in the African saying that " a good death is better than wasted ( efulefu) or meaningless life".
African Wisdom offers an impressive articulation of the multi-dimensional, issue-specific African sayings that are either prescriptive of the higher goals and wholsesome values to which every conduct in every society is expected to conform to, or descriptive of conduct not expected of a correct head on a good neck.
Wisdom is of course, not confined to any one continent. The language and idioms in which words is couched is however culture-defined and enriched. African Wisdom presents a great insight into the profound, peculiar thrust of parables and aphorisms that reflect the values and characters of traditional African societies.

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