By The African Digest
What an elderly person sees sitting down, a child cannot see even when he climbs the tallest tree.
The Mango Tree Wisdom Series from The African Digest, is a compilation of ancient Wise African Proverbs and Sayings from all the countries in Africa that will be released on our website and platforms on a daily basis.
And not only will we be giving you the Wise African proverbs and sayings, we will also be giving you their meanings and modern day-to-day applications to our daily lives.
Why The Mango Tree?
Yes, “under the mango tree” is deeply connected to the tradition of African forefathers and elders advising, teaching, and passing wisdom to their children and grandchildren. In many African communities, the mango tree serves as a central community hub—a natural, shaded gathering place used for mentorship, storytelling, and important discussions.
Here is how the “under the mango tree” tradition relates to the advice of our Elders and ancestors:
Mentorship and Life Lessons: Elders often used the shade of the mango tree to sit quietly and share wisdom with the younger generation. It is a place where family histories are passed down and lessons on life are given.
Symbol of Continuity and Memory: The tree was seen as a living memory—a place where love lives and where stories are shared. It represents the continuity of life, linking the past (ancestors) to the present (children).
Community Decision-Making: Beyond familial advice, the most important village meetings, discussions, and traditional ceremonies (such as marriage and naming) are held under this tree.
A “Teacher” Tree: The tree itself is often viewed as a teacher, providing shade, food, and stability to everyone.
In essence, gathering under the mango tree is a foundational part of African oral tradition, serving as a peaceful setting for passing down values, history, and life advice.
What is a proverb?
A proverb is a brief, simple, traditional saying that gives advice based on practical experience, often in the form of a metaphor or allegory Proverbs are popular in spoken language, and form part of the folklore of a culture, passing down the generations. Many African proverbs reference nature – the earth and animals – giving pearls of wisdom through the metaphors of everyday activities and objects.
Today’s Proverb is from the West African Country of Nigeria, specifically the ‘Yoruba’ tribe.
What an elderly person sees sitting down, a child cannot see even when he climbs the tallest tree.
It practical means, ‘Experience is valuable’. And Elders often have wisdom and foresight that younger people lack, regardless of the young person’s intelligence.
Life happened and I went from tiring of the proverb to slow comprehension of it. I lived through moments that made me able to get the bigger picture of what the proverb meant. Over the years, I’ve watched people younger than myself put up the same act I did when I was their age and the first thing I think to say to them is the very same thing I was told when I was that age. They would or would not turn out making the same decision I did when faced with the choice of doing things differently than they understand because somehow, what they, what we always see is what we are looking at, through the lens we are viewing it from and never something outside of the limiting frames of our mind.
With this lens, we live and take decisions every day, some of which we might regret at a later time and try to make sure our children and loved ones who are yet young and haven’t had to take such decisions don’t take them. We might at that time see them towing our steps and we think ‘Been there, done that. You will fall, get off that tree’. We will probably be right. Then again they probably will not listen to us, on and on the cycle continues and we might even think our family got some bad jinx on it.
Stay tuned for more African Wise Sayings from The Mango Tree Wisdom Series here on our website.
Additional Source: Nzubechukwu
