In the words of the author, 'African proverbs reflect both the past and the present, and are as relevant to contemporary society as they were to traditional society.' As with so much of African culture, proverbs have been passed on in the oral tradition so it's rare to find such a treasure trove as this; from across Africa, the author has compiled a fascination collection. The text is given in the language of origin, an English translation and an explanation to the meaning. The proverbs are divided into subject groups such as human nature, family life, good fortune, time, animals and nature.