By
Isyaku Bala
Ibrahim
Introduction
Nupe language
has strong grammatical structures, tropes, and figures of speech. One unique
among these figures is eganmagan (proverb). Eganmagan (Proverb) plays
significant roles in communities most especially among Nupe language speakers.
These roles are easy communication, mediation, legal, and above all enriching
the language. However, these important roles could be the reason why classical
introductions are often required for some of the proverbs before they are
chanted to the targeted audience. And, there is a high presumption that in the
past no proverb was used without egandó in Nupe communities because they served
as the sacred and unwritten laws or creeds of the people. Non usage of this
important part of proverb over time has gradually eroded a unique tradition as
most proverbs chanted today are without their intros. So, they are fast dying.
A few could only be heard or chanted most often by diviners or sorcerers, and
in rear occasion by musicians and elders of the communities. It is a build-up
praise that gives this trope a distinction among others in Nupe language.
The Meaning of Egandó
Egandó is a
word which literally means to praise a statement or comment. “Preverb” or
“Introverb” is a word coined to describe egandó. It is a word or a group of words
that introduces a Nupe proverb in an interesting manner. It is often made to
praise/eulogize a wise statement or saying which followed it. But technically,
it is any word, phrase or clause that comes before a proverb which makes the
proverb more appealing to the speakers and the listeners. It serves as a
trigger to the speaker about to chant a proverb. It often praises the proverb
that follows it. It may not have any fundamental meaning itself but introduces
the proverb in an exclamatory manner. It serves as a spice to the proverb,
without it, it does not change the meaning of the proverb; but it is most
importantly act like an affix of the mother proverb. It acts like a jacket to
the wise saying like shield.
Characteristics / features of a Egandó “(Preverb)”
i)
An intro
It introductory
word, phrase, clause or sentence. It is an overture to a proverb.
ii)
Exclamatory
It is a word or
phrase that expresses astonishment on the linked proverb, and most often ends
with an exclamation mark.
iii)
Often meaningless
Most egandózhi
do not have definite meanings. They do not convey anything, change or affect
the proverb or its message.
Importance of using Egandó (preverbs) in Nupe Language
1. Distinction
These
introductory phrases are only found in Nupe proverbs. I have been monitoring
proverbs in different languages but I have not come across a language that has
this kind of intro as found in Nupe language and some of its proverbs.
2. Proverb
Originality
The fact that
few proverbs have these intros, they serve as a measure for confirming their
genuineness and, thus protect them from losing their essential part.
The Application of Egandó (preverb)
No one can
tentatively mention when Nupe people started using this part of proverb in
communicating among themselves but one could possibly said since the growth of
the grammatical device at certain period, its full relevance and power were
more accepted by the communities.
1. Banfield’s Gàmagà Nyá Nupe
The first
written works that shows the use of egandózhi (introverbs) could be traced to
the Alexander Wood Banfield’s proverb book titled, “Gàmagà Nyá Nupe” published
in 1916. The book compiled 623 proverbs out of which 16 had “preverbs”. Below
are some of them in his compiled proverbs for further clarification and
confirmation:
i.
Báká-báká lukù-lukù! - which is writen with its mother proverb
as
Báká-báká
lukù-lukù! Eje à ba, eni à lu:
The porridge is
sour and the sauce bitter. (i.e., there is nothing good).
ii.
Balèlè dulèlè! cigban à lè ta fiti ò kantso è sundan u:
The branch that
is broken and hanging is feared by the fanner (i.e., one fears danger when it
is seen).
iii.
Banámba! Guzhagi ba kpara a:
The kernel of
the ground-nut is not fastened to the shell.
2. Ibrahim’s Eganmaganzhi Nupe (Volume I)
This writer has
large compilation of Nupe proverbs in the first volume published in 2009. It
has in total one thousand, one hundred and fifteen (1,115) proverbs out of
which only 6 proverbs had egandózhi (introverbs). The reason for the small
number in the compilation was attributed to earlier presumption that they were
meaningless, the writer regrettably excluded most of them in that edition. But
now, its import has been realized. Therefore, below are some examples of such
preverbs. They are as follows:
Chapter 3
Gbo gun gborwarwa!
Egun à gbo zanka ye ye.
If the evil is
very great, its consultation fee will be highly acceptable.
If you have a
serious problem, you will not mind what its solution will cost you.
Chapter 6
Agbyadya
sonú-sonù! Yaba dè ekan à, yaba ma ye gún à.
A banana tree
has no thorns and cannot be climbed.
Some things
people do easily, others might find it tough to do.
Chapter 11
Wali-wali wasanga!
Èbí na nú na zo egwa sun.
A sharp knife
will be difficult to handle.
You cannot play
with what will harm you.
3. Eganmaganzhi Nupe (Nupe Proverbs): volume II &
III (another compilation of 2000 proverbs - Unpublished)
In these
volumes, a total of twenty ‘preverbs’ have been compiled to further demonstrate
its usage. below are some of them:
i.
Búnbúná -búnbùnà! E pa eti, gboko ma è lò.
While tightening
the head, the stems loosen.
This is to
waste ones energy over a fruitless endeavour.
ii.
Banbace-banbace! Nampa gan wun à fa à, egi-ndace ma gan wun à tò
ù gwa.
A leopard says
it will not rest, while, a young-hunter says he will not softened things too.
iii.
A gbogidi-gbomun! Sòkó tá yizhe be edzo nyi à; eza na à lè yizhe
na ù gá dzodzo ma.
God did not
spread the world with ease; whoever that will stay therein should not play.
Conclusion
This kind of speech is rare, and possibly unique to African languages like Nupe. Therefore, bringing it to the limelight and discussing its relevance to the parent proverbs as done in this article gives way for further deliberations on Nupe proverbs and its accompanying spices that make them exceptionally valuable and extra-ordinary.
This kind of speech is rare, and possibly unique to African languages like Nupe. Therefore, bringing it to the limelight and discussing its relevance to the parent proverbs as done in this article gives way for further deliberations on Nupe proverbs and its accompanying spices that make them exceptionally valuable and extra-ordinary.
