Culture
Proverbs
CC BY-SA 4.0
Zulu proverb: Isikhuni sibuya nomkhwezeli
Zulu proverb: trouble-makers end up burned by the fire they stirred up.
Country:South Africa
Language:Zulu; English
Published:2025-11-12
Audience:Language learners, cultural studies
Zulu: "Isikhuni sibuya nomkhwezeli."
English literal: "The firebrand comes back to the one who poked the fire."
Meaning: A person who stirs up trouble usually ends up being burned by it themselves. Used to warn against malicious gossip and provocation.
Keywords
Zulu proverb
consequence
warning
Source & licence
Source: Wikipedia
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
No Wikiquote page exists for Zulu proverbs at this time; the proverb is widely documented in academic and folkloric literature on isiZulu. The Wikipedia article on the Zulu language is cited as the canonical source for the language itself under CC BY-SA 4.0; the proverb text itself is oral tradition.
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.