TwiSwahili or KiswaTwili: A Study of Parallel Proverbs in Akan (Twi) and Kiswahili

A Study of Parallel Proverbs in Akan (Twi) and KiswahiliDr. Ọbádélé Kambon and Dr. Josephine Dzahene-QuarshieLAG 2015 ||| TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 ||| 8:30AMKNUST ||| COLLEGE OF SCIENCETwiSwahili or KiswaTwili: A Study of Parallel Proverbs in Akan (Twi) and KiswahiliAbstractIn Akan and Kiswahili, there are several proverbs that express the same underlying idea, oftentimes in the exact same or similar ways. Examples of these include:1. a. Kikulacho kinguoni mwakoThat which eats you (up) is in your clothingb. Aboa bi bɛkawo a, naɛfiri wo ntoma mu If a bug will bite you, it’s from in your cloth2. a. Chakula chema hakihitaji kawaGood food needs no coverlet against the flies. b. Adepa tɔn ne ho A good thing sells itself. c. Nkyene nkamfo ne ho. Salt does not praise itself.There are several possible reasons why these parallel proverbs exist. In one line of thinking, the similarities may be due to contact phenomena such as shared cultural and/or historical experiences. Another perspective may be due to the demonstrably genetic relationship between Akan and Kiswahili languages. In this study, however, we will examine these proverbs in parallel or near-parallel and demonstrate that regardless of the facts of the two aforementioned lines of inquiry, these proverbs attest to a shared African worldview.