Thank you!!! It’s like “Asian/Pacific islander”-that is one half of the earth, with numerous cultures, languages and histories.

So in Africa do they just attribute random feel good quotes as “~European proverb”?

It’s a Luo proverb originally from the Kenya/Uganda/Tanzania area.

I want to marry this whole thread.

oh, for sure. I just think it’s interesting that “African” is now the most visible/common (or so it would seem!) exoticizer, but i would guess based on observation that “African” wouldn’t have sold near as well as one until relatively recently. At least in America, can’t speak for Europe.

like if you put “ancient…

Oriental sages say this is worthy work.

That probably also comes from a lot of racist stereotype characters of supposed Asian people in culture. Charlie Chan with his “Confucius say ...” schtick.

Yikes! I just realized as I am singing aloud all this time, doofus me thought it was “There’s nothing that a hundred men on mars could ever do” which of course is just nonsense. Thanks for a palm slap on the forehead.

I read that a great number of people have quoted this one “proverb”, which has no bearing on where it came from. I would have been interested to hear about proverbs from different parts of Africa.

People always talk of Africa as if it’s one country. I think they are VASTLY underestimating its size. Africa is larger than all of Europe, China, India, USA and Japan combined. When you say Africa, you might as well say “Earth”. “It’s an Earth proverb”

this is the dumbest type of criticism in the world. Go find your own place to write about legit things.

Hilarious.

the only words I can confidently attribute to Africa are “Kilimanjaro rises like an empress above the Serengeti” because I don’t know the rest of the lyrics

I don’t remember why we were learning about what different religions believed in health/gym class when I was in 7th grade but our teacher (who had her doctorate) gave us a handout that said “Hindus believe that the Earth rests on the trunk of an elephant standing on the back of a turtle”.

No, see these were all said by a person NAMED Africa. That's where the confusion comes in.

If the person who is comfortable saying “African proverb” with a straight face is actually African or intimately familiar with same and merely being inclusive of multiple cultures in which they are aware that the proverb or variations of it exist, then carry on. If they are a creator of inspirational memes, proceed…

I’ve made it my mission to be that annoying friend on FB who comments on these “African proverb” and “Native American saying” posts with, “Actually...”