Our Forefathers Artificial Intelligence — Proverbs

This topic really caught my attention; that is why I want to share my own opinion on it. Proverbs are usually wise, short sayings that generally express the truth and are even used to share pieces of advice or life lessons. Based on my experience, Africa is the continent that uses proverbs more than any other, maybe because of the tradition and culture common between us, most especially in Nigeria, where respect, culture and traditions are top priorities.

As a child growing up, I have had a lot of proverbs from elders even if I wasn't told directly. The Proverbs I have had before include:

WHAT AN ELDER SEES WHILE SITTING DOWN A CHILD CAN NEVER SEE IT EVEN IF HE/SHE CLIMB THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN OR IROKO TREE HE/SHE CAN NEVER SEE IT".

When I first heard about this proverb as a child, it was that, after all, children's eyes are sharper and clearer than adults' eyes, so I believe it is a lie. So when I got home I asked my mom about the proverb, but she didn't reply to me, saying that I am too little for that. In the evening when my dad comes back, I also ask him. He smiled and asked how I came to know about the saying, and then I explained it to him.

Then he said in a normal life activity a child will definitely see more than an elder when he/she climbs the tallest mountain, but that is not what it means since it is an elder that made that statement. He further explained that as an elder, in Africa, it is believed that when someone is old, then he can observe you and tell you what your future will look like. So as I begin to grow, I start relating it to life activities.

• "MANY WORDS HURT MORE THAN SWORDS

Although I was no longer a kid when I found out about this saying. Some people did not really know how to talk; they just opened their mouths wide to insult people. So this saying will really caution them.

• "A MAN IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS." This particular saying was used on my elder brother by my father, and it really hits hard. My dad said this to him one night when he was advising him to know the kind of people I move with or call my friends because the kind of friends you keep determines your future, most especially in this generation. That was how I overheard the proverb.

Yes, sayings and proverbs have proven to be true; although it will not happen immediately, it will only take a little time. Proverbs are mostly used during advice ahead of the future; they are almost meant for people that can think outside the box of the word used in the sentence. The proverbs I have confirmed to be true include:

• A MAN IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS:The first day I heard this saying was from my father's mouth when he was trying to advise my elder brother about the bad companies he keeps, which will not really help his future, so he wants him to change and become a better version of himself. Then he tried his best to change his companies; he moved with people with higher ambition, which I believe was beneficial for him today.

• WORDS HURT MORE THAN SWORDS: Although I haven't heard this saying from anyone's mouth before, I only read it in a literature book. So I related it to life activity: some people really have the intention of doing something or have been consistent in their day-to-day activities, but because it is not yielding a better result yet, people will say all sorts of things that will hurt their emotions.

This is 21st-century culture, and traditions are gradually dying, especially now that it is the computer age. People don't really take the proverb seriously again.

Also, some proverbs are used for talking about farming, hunting, fishing or using ancient words, which I believe as time goes on the generations to come will no longer understand unless they are put in a modern way for them to relate to.But I believe that if Proverbs is taught in schools, on television and across all social media, everything could be in place for generations to come.