Swahili proverb: Mtoto akinyamaa, mwiba humchoma

Swahili proverb encouraging speaking up about problems rather than suffering in silence.

Country:Tanzania; Kenya

Language:Swahili; English

Published:2025-10-04

Audience:Educators, parents, language learners

Swahili: "Mtoto akinyamaa, mwiba humchoma." English literal: "When a child stays silent, a thorn pricks them." Meaning: A child (or anyone) who keeps silent about a problem ends up suffering more from it. Used to encourage speaking up when something is wrong.

Keywords

Swahili proverb

speak up

silence

child

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.

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