Culture
Proverbs
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Yoruba proverb: Bí a bá ń lá ọmọ lóge, a kì í fi ọwọ́ ọ̀tún nà án

Yoruba proverb on balanced parenting — discipline must be tempered with love.

Country:Nigeria; Benin; Togo
Language:Yoruba; English
Published:2025-12-01
Audience:Language learners, cultural studies
Yoruba: "Bí a bá ń lá ọmọ lóge, a kì í fi ọwọ́ ọ̀tún nà án." English: "If we are shaping a child beautifully, we do not beat them with the right hand." Meaning: Discipline should be balanced with love and gentleness. Raising a child well requires care, not just punishment. The proverb is widely cited in Yoruba parenting and educational philosophy.

Keywords

Yoruba
proverb
parenting
discipline
education
West Africa

Source & licence

Source: Wikipedia
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
No Wikiquote page exists for Yoruba proverbs; proverb is oral tradition documented in academic literature on Yoruba. Wikipedia language article cited for general reference. Attribution required under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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