The Shangaan people have a rich metaphoric language and proverbs are central to their communication system.

The following proverbs are a limited selection, which corresponds to the recurring images used by Kaross™. Addressing the greatness of the elephant: the strength of the crocodile, the zebra and her stripes, the hare’s hand full of jokes, the lines taken by the fish, the flight of the bird, LOVE, MARRIAGE, LOBOLA, COURTING, MARRIED LIFE, death, daily work…


AN ELEPHANT IS NOT BORNE DOWN BY THE WEIGHT OF ITS TUSKS (OR ITS BELLY)
The man is not borne down by his responsibility towards his family, money or troubles


YOU ARE BLOWING INTO THE ELEPHANT’S EYE
This Ronga proverb indicts interfering in matters concerning other people if they do not ask for it; however, you may advise even an elderly person


THE ELEPHANT GREW ITS TUSKS INSIDE ITS MOUTH
A proud man is like the elephant of the tale, refusing to listen to advice of other animals about the place of its body most fitting to grow its tusks; he does not want to listen to others.


IT IS UNGRATEFUL TO REPROACH AN ELEPHANT WHEN IT OPENED A TRACK FOR YOU IN THE DENSE BUSH, SHORTENING YOUR WAY
The answer of a benefactor who criticised instead of thanked for the good he did


THE STRENGTH OF THE CROCODILE IS THE WATER
A man’s real helpers are his own kin


DECEITFUL CROCODILE, WHICH SEIZES EVEN THE CALABASHES (TIED TO POLES FOR DRAWING WATER)
A very violent man, or a deceitful woman


WHEN A CROCODILE CHASES A MAN INTO THE RIVER AND OPENS ITS MOUTH, THROW A STICK OF NKANYI INTO IT
Save a man from death with whatever means you have. You may succeed even though all seems lost


WATER DOES NOT WASH THE THINGS THAT BELONGS TO IT; IT CANNOT CLEAN THE CROCODILE OF ITS UGLY SCALES
It often happens that a person belonging to a good family is a rogue. (A man of bad character is not necessarily reformed by good surroundings


THE ZEBRA STRIPES ARE ALL ALIKE
Women are all alike in their doings


WE SHALL ADMIT THEY ARE ZEBRAS ONCE WE HAVE SEEN THEIR STRIPES
We will believe your words when we have seen with our own eyes. We shall acknowledge the case when we are really convinced about it


THE MAN IS MASTER HARE
He is very clever; he can extricate himself from all difficulties through his cunning cleverness


DO NOT LIVE THE LIFE OF A HARE
Do not live on deceit and cunning


THE REAL FISH IS THE FIRST ONE
Be satisfied with your first wife you marry. If you take another one, thinking that she will be better you are mistaking.
AND
Said when a woman has lost her only child and does not get any more children (The idea is that if you let your fish escape, the others will be scared, and you will catch no more)


O FISH DO NOT CRY! YOU SAW THAT THE WATER WAS DRYING UP
Had there been enough water, the fish might have made good its escape. As it is regrets are useless


FISH REMAIN IN THE CURVE OF THE RIVER
Men remain where there is peace.


DO NOT PLUCK A BIRD WHILE YOU ARE STANDING
Do not make secrets public; if you pluck a bird while standing, all the feathers fly away with the wind. Do not spoil the well when you go, where will you drink tomorrow?


BIRDS SUDDENLY TAKE FLIGHT ALL TOGETHER
People eat together. To put food aside for others is vexing: if food is short, all must be short of food together


YOU SING LIKE A LITTLE BIRD
You are like a little bird looking here and there and seeing nothing


WHEN THE LITTLE XINDZAWINI BIRD SINGS IN THE COURTYARD, VISITORS ARE COMING
When the clouds become dark rain is coming


THE HEART OF A MAN IS A BEE
A bee does not remain in the air; it likes the flowers, and stays on them in search for honey. As the bee works the whole day and does not forget its work, not resting, so is the heart of the man, He does not like to remain alone, but finds happiness in the company of those whom he loves


I DID NOT BEGET A HEN, BUT A HUMAN BEING
When a bridegroom comes all the time without finishing to pay his lobola, parents of the girl say: We have no hen to kill (in order to receive you) everyday; let him marry and go home with his wife!


SHE IS A SPLENDID CAJU TREE
This is an expression of admiration before a very handsome girl; also used by a lover seeing his beloved


LOVE DOES NOT CLIMB WHERE PEOPLE CLIMB
Love does not always happen at the best of times, nor only when it is possible. At times it joins those who cannot meet because they are married


I AM NOT A SNAKE WHICH KILLS ITS PREY AND LEAVES IT. I HAVE KILLED TO EAT
When a young man has seduced a girl, and they ask him what he intends to do, he answers with these words to show that he did not seduce her only, but wants to marry her


I HAVE SHOT A WILD PIG WITH MY ARROW WHILE IT RAN AROUND THE HUTS
An expression of a Don Juan who succeeded in the end to get the favour of an unwilling girl. The people do not like such fellows.


WHEN YOU PULL A PUMPKIN, YOU ALSO PULL THE SMALL PUMPKINS ATTACHED TO ITS STEM
If you marry a woman (who has been married already) you must also take care of her children and relatives, bring them up and help them.


LIFE IS SLOW BUT DEATH IS NOT SLOW
To bring up a man takes a long time, but death does its work quickly


A BLACK TRUNK OF A TREE IN THE PLAIN
This expression is used in lieu of another, considered coarse, i.e. People die of mazembe. This implies a disease resulting from the infringement of a sexual taboo


FROM A MOTHER'S WOMB CANNOT COME TWO CHIEFS
Even if they are twins, the one will be senior to the other, they cannot have the same rank, they fight each other for power* the "modern" East and the West power struggle


THE DRUM MUST REMAIN STRETCHED. Or ASSEGAIS MUST REMAIN SHARPENED, Or WHEN THE HUT'S THATCH IS DAMAGED, ONE MUST REPAIR IT AT ONCE, AS ONE DOES NOT KNOW WHEN RAIN MAY COME.
Nobody knows the day war may break out; therefore one must be ready for it


DEATH IS IN THE LEG, WE WALK WITH IT
It is not possible to escape death


BEAUTIFUL (WHITE) MOONSHINE OVER THERE!
A beautiful and promising field and harvest


THE HOUSE IS SUPPORTED BY THE POLES, BIG AND SMALL
An enterprise or a piece of work is pursued by those engaged in it. Its success depends on them, and on their helpers


ONE DOES NOT LOOK IN THE MOUTH OF THE MILK BOY
One expects a milk boy to drink milk by milking into his mouth. He is the one who looks after the cattle. In Lobolo matters for example, it is quite natural for a father to use the cattle or the money for himself. He has provided for his daughter. They also say: The milker of the cow does not pay anything for the milk he drinks himself. The milker of the cow has no small debt. (Even though it does not belong to him).


THERE IS NO TATTOO WITHOUT BLOOD
There is no work, or endeavour without some pain