#Jamaican proverb

[preethecaribbean]

Thanks for the book recommendation!

“Kay koule twompe soley soley men li pa twompe lapli.”

— Haitian Saying - “A leaky house can fool the sun, but it can’t fool the rain.” You can only get away with something for so long, before it catches up with you. Black Proverbs:Diaspora Edition (via blackproverbs)

[jamelalatise]

Save money, and money will save you — Jamaican proverb.

[hypmic-translation]

White and Black

JYUTO A loud and flourishing fanfare Blinding red lights and sirens Caskets dressed up in black and white My honeyed words are my emblem

REI Acting freely with full confidence I’ll never let myself be caught in chains I’ll keep on turning white into black With my deceit and this microphone

BOTH Rudie— Using dexterity and wiles (1) Rudie— Everything that I want is mine

JYUTO Going down the list of suspects Their punishment is all up to me Just like the fable they’re all tortoises And hot on their trail is me, the hare

REI I’ll bewitch them like a tanuki Everyone will be fooled by me A conman with all the skills of a hawk My talons hidden by the mask I wear (2)

BOTH Rudie— You’ll end up swindled and deceived Rudie— I’ll be the one who rules it all

CHORUS Breaking the law is just what I do No handcuffs will fit 'round these wrists, it’s true What can you catch me with, then? I wonder if you’ll try?

Keeping you shrouded in blinding white smoke Spewing up all sorts of tempting black lies What matters is what I do Don’t complain about how I get it done [Interlude] I’ll keep your mouth shut by using my own Preaching to gods sitting upon their thrones Say what you like, it can’t hurt If you even can

White and black always exist side by side Dancing atop the palm of my hand Keep watching me closely now I’ll show you what justice really looks like

NOTES:

The word “rudie” (or rudy) is a shortened version of the term “rude boy”, which originated from 1960s Jamaican street culture, as a way to refer to delinquent teens who were fans of the ska genre of music. It was later popularised in England in the 1970s, although by that time the term in Jamaica had moved on to being associated with reggae.

Rei’s two lines here refer to the proverb “能ある鷹は爪を���す”, or “The wise hawk hides its talons”. What it means is that those who are truly great are humble about their achievements and don’t brag about how successful and powerful they’ve become through their own merits, however Rei here twists it to say that he hides his true abilities behind deception.

[jamaicansdotcom]

10 Jamaican Proverbs Miss Lou Used That You Need in Your Life http://dlvr.it/SvFWlH

[jamaicahomescom]

Every Mickle Mek A Muckle: Embracing Every Corner of Jamaican Living

At Jamaica Homes, we believe in the power of every small effort to make a significant impact. “Every Mickle Mek A Muckle,” a Jamaican proverb, which translates to “every little bit adds up.” Beyond showcasing grand estates and luxury properties, our focus is on highlighting the diverse range of homes that contribute to the rich tapestry of Jamaica. Join us as we explore how each unique property,…

[letsdeconstructtogether]

Pour Into Yourself

Every mickle makes a muckle, a Jamaican proverb my father taught me.

It means every little contribution adds towards a greater effort.

Save $20 here and there, you'll eventually save $1000. Make a poem every other day, soon you'll have many to choose from when the day comes.

Show up for yourself! Key, yourself. You've done enough for others, they're fine, you're on fire.

Out the fire in your life.

[isabellatomasblog]

Greedy Choke Puppy: Nalo Hopkins on Humanity and Greed 

Greedy Choke Puppy is a short story by Nalo Hopkins about a mythological creature called a Soucouyant who steals the life spirit from babies. The story centers around Jacky and her Grandma and starts with Grandma discussing myths while braiding Jacky’s hair. Nalo Hopkins tends to write most of her stories on mythology and folklore but this Greedy Choke Puppy is different. It has such a twist ending that had my jaw on the floor when I finally finished it. One way Nalo does this is by having misdirection from unreliable narrator, Jacky. The story is told in an almost clinical academic way with much emphasis on Jacky being a graduate student. The way Nalo introduces the Soucouyant’s official meaning is through a dictionary definition. A soucouyant is described to be “an old, evil-tempered woman who removes her skin at night, hides it, and then changes into a ball of fire (106).” While this definition Nalo appears to be hinting towards the Grandma being the soucouyant since the Grandma is an elder lady and Jacky is a young woman. At the end it’s revealed that it is Jacky who is the soucouyant. Grandma has to kill both Jacky and her daughter to ensure that this creature doesn’t cause anymore disruption.

I think this twist ending came as such a surprise to me for a number of reasons. One being that I expected the book to be more predictable since it was already introducing a new creature rooted in Caribbean Myth, I did not think it was also going to pull the wool over my eyes. Another reason is because Jacky never alluded to being “evil” like the definition of a soucouyant. So there was also misdirection with the way a soucouyant was described. A lot of Jacky’s description mentions how she’s a single graduate student, and while focused on her studies, she is also interested in finding a partner. This hopeless love aspect to her makes it seem unlikely that she would be secretly draining the life force from babies at night. I also didn’t expect Granda to kill her so suddenly. Nalo Hopkins actually mentioned that she had toyed with the idea of Grandma and Jacky talking it out but that seemed to lack emphasis. Without the conflict, there is no real story. 

Nalo Hopkins has explained her thoughts on conflict and human nature and how she deals with that in her stories. She believes that fiction is all about problems and overcoming them. A Utopia takes away from this drive and plot. This is why Nalo does not typically write Utopia’s. Listening to her speak about this made me realize she's correct, without conflict and disagreement there is nothing to tell. She argues that human beings will always disagree with and have issues to resolve and if that cannot be part of a Utopian story, writers should come up with another story. The problem with Uptopia’s is they need to be dynamic, something that is constantly in the creation of itself. Nalo sees them as not toothy enough. This is true because human nature is conflict, we can create societies that are better but this doesn’t eliminate problems. Humans are not nice to each other and Upotia’s are very seemingly like a mask hiding away all the darkest parts of humankind. This ideology is reflected in Nalo’s Greedy Puppy which used magical realism. Everything but the addition of the soucouyant points to evidence that this story is mostly our world. The two main characters live in a modern world except for this mythology creature. 

Greedy Choke Puppy is an old saying that means if you eat too fast you will choke. It’s a Jamaican proverb that refers to a dog choking due to greed. This fits very well with the unfolding of Jacky’s character. Greed can happen to anyone, it’s a curse. A curse that is shown in the Soucouyant, who must hunt and hurt younger prey to feel satisfaction. It’s interesting because while it’s never alluded that Jacky is evil, her grandma does scold her for being greedy like her mother. This is Jacky’s downfall and her ultimate undoing. She succumbs to greed which gets her killed. This killing is not unjustified, readers are still able to sympathize with both Jacky and her Grandma. The Grandma because she had to kill both her own daughter and now her granddaughter. Jacky because it entirely wasn’t her fault, this was a generation curse passed down to her unwillingly. It mirrors how generation trauma can ruin both a singular member’s own identity and an entire family’s makeup.

[jovialrebelperson]

Ebry dyay debble help teef; wan dyah Gad wi help watchman.

Translation: Every day the devil helps the theif; one day God will help the watchman.

Explanation: We should not despair when it appears to us that unscrupulous persons continue to take advantage of us with no apparent deterrent. God never sleeps, and is fully aware of everything that occurs.  He will one day reward the efforts of the faithful.

# Jamaican proverb#

[deepartnature]

Bob Marley And The Wailers - "Rat Race"

"'Rat Race' appeared on the Rastaman Vibration album, which was released in May 1976 on the Island label. The song was instantly popular and remained in the Wailers' repertoire for many years. Its popularity with Jamaican and non-Jamaican audiences all over the world is no doubt due to its reference to both a specifically Jamaican situation and a more universal context of suffering and oppression. In other words, the song's message was sufficiently clear for every Jamaican to pick up all the references in 1976 and vague enough for every listener to interpret it according to the situation he or she was in at the time (Marley's use of proverbs or proverb-like statements like 'When the cat's away, the mice will play' and 'In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty' ensured that). When 'Rat Race' was first released in May 1976, the People's National Party was in office with Michael Manley as Prime Minister. ... Once in office, Manley's government launched a raft of measures like free education and a land reform, but these measures cost money and the 1973 oil crisis dealt a serious blow to the Jamaican economy. ..."

[rosh-png]

Ethos A plaque with “House Rules” printed in embellished font and lines depicting instructions of privacy to guests followed us from the home I grew up to where I reside now. Even today, I find my eyes passing over those proverbs from it place in the hallway, a relic of politeness and pose echoed across the globe in the home of every Jamaican I knew. And at the source, intertwined within the lifestyle of the motherland and her people, these commandments of conduct for yourself and your fellow man reside comfortably at the forefront of education everywhere there was society; as decorative paraphernalia for the home, hung on school signs, pasted on shop doors, and painted on club walls. When I was too young to understand borders, that epigram hung on the wall with its fluttering gold cross faded into its background was how I identified my culture long before I knew my heritage.

[toni-onone]

Mi bredren and sistren, bless up! Today, mi waan share wid yuh some powerful Jamaican proverbs fi inspire yuh journey an' uplift yuh spirits. Lissen up:

1. "Wah nuh dead nuh call it duppy." Translation: Don't declare something as finished or failed until it truly is. Keep pushing until you achieve success.

2. "One hand cyaa clap." Translation: Unity is essential for progress. Teamwork and collaboration lead to great achievements.

3. "One, one cocoa full basket." Translation: Success doesn't come all at once; it's a result of steady progress. Every small accomplishment brings you closer to your goals.

4. "When di rain a fall, duck back." Translation: Sometimes, you must retreat or adjust your plans when faced with obstacles. Adaptability is key to overcoming challenges.

5. "No mango can ripe 'pon one branch." Translation: Diversity is necessary to thrive. Embrace different opportunities and perspectives for personal growth.

6. "Noh tek life mek joke." Translation: Life is precious, and we should never take it for granted. Treasure each moment and live with purpose and gratitude.

7. "Every mickle mek a muckle." Translation: Every little bit adds up. Small efforts can lead to significant outcomes, so never underestimate the power of consistent dedication.

Mi wish fi yuh prosperity, joy, an' wisdom as yuh walk yuh path. Rememba, di journey important as di destination. One love, mi people! 🙏🏽✨🇯🇲

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[jamaicansdotcom]

WATCH: Explore Popular Jamaican Proverbs with Dorraine Reid

http://dlvr.it/T6KysL

[romonwrites]

Jamaican Proverbs and Sayings

[the-sweet-life-ja]

[cmbookendquotes]

A Jamaican proverb tells us, "Eat with the Devil, but give him a long spoon.

Mae Jarvis - 2x11 “Obey”