Proverbs use in the mass media

[Joseph]

I wish to give a suggestion on how to promote the usage of proverbs in this message board. This would be by highlighting how the media makes use of proverbs in commenting on various topical issues. For those of us in Africa (and I think it also happens in other parts of the world), mass media channels like newspapers, radio or television are one example of how proverbs are being used today to comment on social, economic and cultural issues. Here in East Africa (Kenya) hardly a day passes without hearing a proverb over the radio for example.
Last week Kenyan newspapers revisited the Kikuyu (Kenya) language proverb: If you rattle a snake, you should be prepared to be bitten by it, as it was used last year by the Kenyan security minister justifying a raid on the Kenya Television Network (KTN) and the Standard Newspapers last, ostensibly because the two media house had provoked the state security apparatus by allegedly intending to publish security sensitive information. The proverb is nowadays being used by human rights activists in enhancing the protection of the freedom of the expression and the principles of a free media in Kenya today. I am developing the proverb so as to appear as a proverb of the month in this website (www.afriprov.org) in the month May this year.

Joseph Kariuki,

[afriprov]

Your message is a great example of where to look for evidence of African Proverbs used in daily life. Your post has been added to that forum as well.

Thank you,
Moderator