The Usage of Egandó “Preverb” in Eganmaganzhi (Nupe Proverbs) by Nupe People of North-Central Nigeria

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.

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