By Damilola Adeyera
Yoruba Language: Ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọ̀nà ni ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ẹsẹ̀ ń lọ.
Meaning:
There are many roads through which many feet may travel.
What’s the knowledge?
This proverb teaches the wisdom of recognising that there is rarely only one path to a desired destination. When a particular approach repeatedly fails, insisting on the same route may only waste time and resources. Sometimes, the answer is not to abandon the destination but to change the road leading to it.
Life presents people with different circumstances, opportunities, limitations, and possibilities. What works in one situation may not work in another. Wisdom therefore requires flexibility: the ability to reassess a situation, consider alternatives, and choose a different path when the present one no longer serves its purpose.
Changing direction does not always mean giving up. Sometimes, it means understanding the destination well enough to know that the road can change.
Persistence keeps us moving, but discernment tells us where to move next. When one door remains closed, another path may already be waiting.
The lesson is simple: Do not become so attached to one route that you forget the destination.
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Ojumo Ire is a daily African devotional concept rooted in the rich heritage of African proverbs, folklore, wisdom, and timeless traditions.
Every morning, Atunda TV will awaken its readers to inspiring African proverbs, both old and emerging, offering reflections and practical wisdom that can serve as guides for daily living.
Through Ojumo Ire, ancient wisdom meets contemporary life, reminding us that the lessons of our ancestors remain relevant in navigating the realities of today.
It is a daily invitation to pause, reflect, and begin each morning with a piece of African wisdom.