Here is a selection of proverbs from Sierra Leone, they were compiled from a list that was circulating around Freetown a few years ago.
A GEHT BOHKU SINGG FOH PIKIN, BOHT A NOH GEHT PIKIN.
I have a lot of songs for children, but I have no child.
ARATA NA BIG MOHRE-MAN, BOHT I NOH GO PRE PAN PUS KANDA.
The rat is a big shaman, but he's not going to pray on cat skin.
BAD MAN BEHTEH PAS EMHTI BED.
A bad husband is better than an empty bed.
BEGA-BEGA NOH DE PIK EHN CHUZ.
A beggar can't pick and choose.
BIG MOHT NOH NO IN MASTA IN POH WAN.
A big mouth doesn't know that its master is poor.
EHMTI BAG NO DE TINAP.
An empty bag cannot stand.
IF YU WANT OHL, YU DE LOHS OHL.
If you want everything, you will lose everything.
KAKROCH NOH GEHT POWA NA FOHL KOHNTRI.
The cockroach has no power in chicken country.
LEHPEHT NOH GEHT SHAP TIT, BOHT NA-IN JABON TROHNG.
The leopard doesn't have sharp teeth, but its jaw is strong.
MEHN DOHG FOH GOHVMEHNT.
Raise a dog for the government.
NA PLE-PLE KIL BOHD.
It's playing around that kills the bird.
NOHTO EHVRI DE NA KRISMES.
Every day is not Christmas.
POH MAN [HEHNGGMAN] NOH GEHT SAIS.
A poor man has no size.
SABI NOH GEHT WOHRI.
Knowledge has no worry.
SIRA-MAN DOHN FOHDOHN WIT IN MOTOKA.
The Lebanese has had a car accident.
TRENJA NOH SABI BAD ROD.
A stranger doesn't know a bad road.
TU TROHBUL, WAN GOHD.
Two troubles, one God.
WOHD NOH GEHT YES, BOHT I DE YEHRI FA.
A word has no ears, but it hears far.
YU FOHDOHN FOH MI, A FOHDOHN FOH YU.
You fall for me, I fall for you.
(Extracted from: http://www.notz.com/african_language.htm)
