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“Ma w’akoma mmra fam berɛ biara a wobɛkasa, na ka nnoɔma a ɛho hia pa ara ho asɛm”
“Keep your heart steady, every moment when you speak, and speak to matters of high import.”
Nana Ptahhotep (Translations by Shemsw Bak MT)“Asɛmpa yɛ tia” or “A good case is argued in brief” Akan Proverb
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Nana Ptahhotep instructs on sticking to the truth, not exceeding it, and focusing on matters of high importance. Earlier in the instructions, Nana advises messengers, “Sɔ nokɔrɛ no mu, mfa biribiara mmata ho” or “Stick to truth; do not exceed it.”
Interestingly, the Akans have a proverb, “Asɛmpa yɛ tia,” or “A good case is argued in brief.” I nabbed this proverb from the book “Speaking for the Chief” by Kwesi Yankah.
About the proverb Ɔbenfoɔ Yankah says,
“This staff represents the very diplomatic essence of the Ɔkyeame, since like the monitor lizard, he stands for peace and order in society. It is used for funerals in the settlement of cases, or appeal hearings…it advocates brevity in speech, since truth in argument need not be belabored.“
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