Rethinking Proverbs as Problem-solving Tools in the 21st Century: The Example of Ogu in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Proverbs are short witty sayings which do not only contain a lot of wisdom, morals, truth as well as 
metaphors, but also constitute part of the linguistic and cultural repertoire of many African languages. 
This study examined proverbs in Ogu, a minority language spoken in Southwestern Nigeria, with the aim 
of ascertaining their extent of entrenching and preserving the core values of the Ogu people, including 
their ethno-linguistic heritage. Data were gathered using the research instruments of key informant 
interviews and focus group discussions to establish the role and effects of proverbs as linguistic forms 
among the people. The study adopted the framework of metaphoric analysis in analysing the conceptual 
metaphors that are embedded in the proverbs while data were subjected to descriptive and content 
analyses. Findings show that proverbs are regarded as a very intricate part of the linguistic repertoire of 
the Ogu people and are highly valued. They represent their core values and act as checks and balances in 
maintaining decorum, both in the family and in the wider community. Data from interview sessions, 
however, reveal that Ogu proverbs are disappearing as only the elderly ones now use them. Findings 
from focus group discussions also reveal that parents hardly transfer proverbs to their children while the 
younger speakers neither understand proverbs nor use them. The study submits that Ogu people need to 
revisit the use of proverbs as a problem-solving tool in the 21st Century.