"Until the lion learns to write, the stor..." - Nigerian Proverb

“Until the lion learns to write, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”

- Nigerianwisdom

Meaning

History is written by the powerful; the perspectives of the oppressed are erased without their own storytelling.

Cultural Context

This famous proverb, popularized by Chinua Achebe, speaks to the importance of African peoples telling their own stories rather than being defined by outsiders.

Origin

Nigerian

Language

Igbo

Related Proverbs

“A griot who forgets his story loses his people.”

Senegalese

“A river that forgets its source will dry up.”

Yoruba

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