The earth is wide, but God is the elder.
Akan Proverb
God Is the Elder
Topic: Ultimate Reality, God, Heavenly Parent
“The earth is wide, but God is the elder.”
African Traditional Religions
Akan Proverb
Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture - a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. Paragon House, 1991, p. 68 [Akan Proverb (Ghana)].
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As in most African cultures, proverbs are the main ingredients in the Akan language. Proverbs (ebe) are small words symbols, anecdotes or stories, which are represented in all respects of Akan culture. A proverb can be a metaphor, allusion, idiom, euphemism, or folk tale. It always has a didactic significance and it is given in context of the beliefs of the Akan people. Proverbs act as a catalyst of knowledge, wisdom philosophy, ethics and morals. They cover themes about God, ancestors, human beings, marriage, family death, values, animals, plants and moves. In fact, all aspects of life of the Akan are embedded in proverbs.”
–Alex Ian Marks [Cultural Significance of Akan Proverbs, An Independent Study, University of Ghana]
Additional proverbs from the Akan people of Ghana
“The earth is wide but it is God that is supreme.”
–[Another version of the above proverb regarding the supremacy of God]
God’s witness is the conscience.
–[Humans are judged by their conscience]
No man’s path crosses another path.
–[All men have equal or direct access to God]
–Alex Ian Marks [Cultural Significance of Akan Proverbs, An Independent Study, University of Ghana]