Daphne Barlatt Pratt

Soso Parebul Daphne Barlatt Pratt

Proverbs talk about what a group of people living together as a nation or tribe, think about life. Krio proverbs talk about what the people see happening around them, and about behavioural patterns. Some try to give rules to govern human behaviour, and others state the repercussions of deviating from the behavioural norms of the group. In days gone by, our proverbs were much used by our ancestors in everyday life, to teach children, and help kinsmen, to conform to the norms of the group. That, however, is dying out, and the present generation, especially the many who have emigrated, are forgetting this part of our culture and language. Daphne Pratt has been collecting Krio proverbs for well over thirty years, and has now written them down so that our children and future generations will not lose this rich part of our heritage.