school Fon proverbs
Fon proverbs about children
Raising children (vǐ kplɔn) is a central theme of Fon wisdom. Here are 5 proverbs that have guided parents and educators for generations.
A child is a plant
Meaning: a child must be tended and watered like a plant. Without care, it does not grow well.
The whole village raises the child
Meaning: education is collective. Neighbors and distant relatives have the right (and the duty) to correct a child. A pillar of community culture.
Knowledge before wealth
Meaning: pass on education before material inheritance. Quoted to young people who are reluctant to study.
Correct early
Meaning: parental upbringing prevents bad outside influences. A warning to lax parents.
Love before strictness
Meaning: loving a child does not contradict raising them. Parents and educators balance firmness and tenderness.
Application
These proverbs are taught in Fon families from the age of 6-7. Children remember them quickly and then use them in their adult lives.
An ancestral way of teaching
Five proverbs, one vision: the child is the future, and their upbringing is a collective responsibility. Fon wisdom in five lasting sayings.
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