Swahili proverb: Haraka haraka haina baraka

Most-cited Swahili proverb warning that haste rarely yields good outcomes.

Country:Tanzania; Kenya

Language:Swahili; English

Published:2025-10-04

Audience:Language learners, cultural studies

Swahili: "Haraka haraka haina baraka." English literal: "Hurry hurry has no blessing." Meaning: Work done in too much haste tends to be poor in quality or unlucky. The proverb advises taking care over important tasks rather than rushing them. It is one of the most widely cited Swahili sayings across East Africa.

Keywords

Swahili proverb

haraka

baraka

patience

East Africa

Source & licence

Source: Wikiquote

URL: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Swahili_proverbs

Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

Proverb is part of oral tradition documented in Wikiquote and in academic literature on Swahili. 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.