Culture
Proverbs
CC BY-SA 3.0
Igbo proverb: Mmadu bu chi ibe ya
Igbo proverb: a person is the personal god of his fellow - we shape one anothers fortunes.
Country:Nigeria
Language:Igbo; English
Published:2025-09-21
Audience:Language learners, cultural studies
Igbo: "Mmadu bu chi ibe ya."
English literal: "A person is the personal god of their fellow."
Meaning: People are largely the source of one anothers fortune or misfortune. Encourages care in how one treats neighbours and colleagues, since they shape each others lives.
Keywords
Igbo proverb
community
responsibility
Source & licence
Source: Wikiquote
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Proverb is part of oral tradition documented in Wikiquote and in academic literature on Igbo. Wikiquote attribution required under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for general information. Health, legal, financial and government-service items should be verified with a qualified professional or the official authority before action. AfricanGPT does not represent itself as a substitute for licensed advice.
More in Culture
Naɣ'so ŋun ka zuli (Dagbani Proverb)
This Dagbani proverb teaches that even when you feel hopeless, faith in God will help you overcome problems. It encourages perseverance and trust.
Dabiɛm kani kabo n zibiyuŋ (Dagbani Proverb)
A Dagbani proverb implying that fear often arises from ignorance rather than real danger.
Those who are absent are always wrong (Ghanaian Proverb)
This proverb suggests that absent people can’t defend themselves and are easily blamed.