5 Nigerian proverbs that may actually be bad advice

In the hands of an elder, a well-placed proverb could end an argument, stop a wedding, or silence a stubborn child.  “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten,” Chinua Achebe famously wrote. But what happens when some of that “palm oil” is expired? The truth is, not all Nigerian proverbs age well. Some were shaped by older generations navigating a world that no longer exists. Others, while sounding wise, carry outdated values, problematic views, or downri