Sayings of Malian origin
Malian proverbs
Slowly but surely the excrement of foreign poets will come to your village.
When mosquitoes work, they bite and then they sing.
One finger can’t pick up anything.
A woman who offers sex to everyone will get kicked by everyone.
A man is what he thinks.
A rooster is not expected to crow for the whole world.
Do not try to cook the goat’s young in the goat’s milk.
A village without a leader is destroyed by a single enemy.
You cannot wage war without the sound of gunpowder.
May Allah cool his resting place.
If you’ve nothing to do, dig a spinster’s grave.
One does not give without a motive.
If you travel with donkeys for many years, you won’t be able to speak like a donkey, but you will know all their paths.
When the donkey dies, the farting will stop.
It is from a tiny seed that the biggest tree was born.
The humble pay for the mistakes of their betters.
A turtle is not proud of his long neck.
You are beautiful because of your possessions.
If God gave the swallow nothing else, he gave him swiftness in turning.
A leader is a donkey for others to ride.
A deaf man may not have heard the thunder but he surely will see the rain.
Life is like a ballet performance — danced only once.
You will never drown where you always take a bath.
A piece of wood can sit in the water many years, but it won’t become a crocodile.
A man with too much ambition cannot sleep in peace.
When the slave-trader preaches the Koran, it is time to watch over one’s daughters.
The hyena chasing two antelopes at the same time will go to bed hungry.
The bee forced into a beehive will not make any honey.
A canoe does not know who the leader is; when it turns over, everyone gets wet.
You must decide where you are going in the evening, if you intend to leave early in the morning.
A strong man’s head is full of scars.
The Republic of Mali
Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa and the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi). The population of Mali is 14.5 million. Mali consists of eight regions and its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara Desert, while the country’s southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Senegal rivers. The country’s economy centers on agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali’s prominent natural resources include gold, being the third largest producer of gold in the African continent, and salt. About half the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 (U.S.) a day. A majority of the population (90%) are Muslims. ~ An Excerpt from Wikipedia page on Mali
Bamako is the capital and largest city of Mali, with a population of 1.8 million.
Mali’s official language is French and over 40 African languages also are spoken by the various ethnic groups. About 80 percent of Mali’s population can communicate in Bambara, which serves as an important lingua franca.
The National Anthem of Mali (Malian Anthem)
Le Mali “Pour Afrique et pour toi, Mali” “For Africa and for you, Mali “is the national anthem of mali
Lyrics (English)
At your call, Mali
For your prosperity
Loyal towards your destiny
We will be all united,
One people, one goal, one faith,
For a united Africa
If the enemy should show himself
Inside or outside,
Standing on the ramparts,
We are ready to die.
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our banner shall be liberty.
For Africa and for you, Mali,
Our fight shall be for unity.
Oh, Mali of today,
Oh, Mali of tomorrow,
The fields are flowering with hope
Hearts are thrilling with confidence.
Standing town and country
Standing women, young and old
For the country moving
Towards a bright future
For our dignity
Let us strengthen our ranks well
For the public salvation
Let us forge the common good
Together shoulder to shoulder
Let us make the path of happiness.
The path is hard very hard
Which leads to common happiness
Courage and dedication
Vigilance at all times
Truth of ancient times
Truth everyday
Happiness through labour
Will make the Mali of tomorrow.
Africa finally rises
Let us welcome this new day
Let us welcome liberty
Let us march towards unity
New found dignity
Support our fight
True to our oath
Of making Africa united
My brothers standing together
All at the appointment of honour.