SOME NZEMA PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS AS PORTRAYED IN THEIR PROVERBS

Abstract

This paper looks into some philosophical issues portrayed in Nzema proverbs. The paper discusses the Nzema conceptualisation of divinity, death, the afterlife, human relations, cause and effect, and hard work. The paper argues that proverbs are crucial as they are an embodiment of Nzema traditional beliefs and preservers of desirable human conduct in Nzema society. These philosophies serve as the basis of the Nzema belief system on which many of their socio-cultural norms are grounded. Twenty-one proverbs were purposively collected from both primary and secondary sources. While primary data was taken from natural conversations on given topics and during arbitration, secondary data on the other hand was sourced from literature on Nzema proverbs. The paper first considers the existence of God and other spirits from the perspective of the Nzema as reflected in their proverbs and their bearing on Nzema religious beliefs. It is shown that the Nzema had grounded beliefs about a Supreme Being ‘God’ long before the arrival of Christian missionaries. The paper also highlights some important virtues that need to be pursued in order to be accepted in the Nzema society. These virtues, when followed, yield beneficial results to the individual.