Before Business Schools, Our Ancestors Had Proverbs: 10 Lessons for Today's Entrepreneur

Long before business schools existed, our ancestors were master entrepreneurs. They traded across continents, built thriving marketplaces, and passed down wisdom that still applies today. This wisdom lives in our proverbs short, powerful sayings that carry centuries of insight into success, resilience, and the art of building something meaningful.

As Chinua Achebe famously wrote, "Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten." They make wisdom digestible, memorable, and actionable. Here are ten African proverbs that every entrepreneur should carry in their toolkit whether you're launching your first business or scaling your hundredth.

1. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Origin: African Proverb (widely attributed across the continent)

The Business Lesson: In the early days, you might move quickly doing everything yourself. But sustainable success requires a team. Partners, mentors, employees, and community these are the people who will help you weather storms, scale operations, and build something that outlasts you. The lone wolf might sprint, but the pack travels further.

Apply it: Stop trying to do everything yourself. Build your team, even if it starts with one trusted advisor or mentor.

2. "Little by little, the bird builds its nest."

Origin: Nigerian Proverb

The Business Lesson: Success doesn't happen overnight. Every small action every customer served, every product improved, every connection made adds up over time. The bird doesn't wait until it has all the materials before starting. It begins with one twig, then another. Your business grows the same way: one step at a time.

Apply it: Celebrate small wins. That first review, that first repeat customer, that first profitable month these are your twigs. Keep building.

3. "There are no shortcuts to the top of the palm tree."

Origin: Cameroonian Proverb

The Business Lesson: Anyone who has climbed a palm tree knows it requires skill, patience, and a willingness to get scratched along the way. There's no lift, no escalator, no hack. The same applies to business. Get-rich-quick schemes fail. Sustainable success comes from putting in the work, learning the craft, and climbing step by step.

Apply it: Be suspicious of shortcuts. Invest in learning your craft properly. The climb is the preparation for what awaits at the top.

4. "Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it."

Origin: West African Proverb (Akan/Ghanaian)

The Business Lesson: The baobab is one of Africa's largest and oldest trees so wide that no single person can wrap their arms around it. Wisdom works the same way. No matter how experienced you are, you cannot know everything. The best entrepreneurs are lifelong learners who seek advice, listen to customers, and remain humble enough to admit what they don't know.

Apply it: Surround yourself with people who know what you don't. Seek counsel. Read widely. Stay curious.

5. "Ubuntu — I am because we are."

Origin: South African Philosophy (Zulu/Xhosa)

The Business Lesson: Ubuntu is more than a proverb  it's a way of life. It teaches that our humanity is tied to the humanity of others. For entrepreneurs, this means your success is connected to your community. A business that serves its people, treats employees with dignity, and uplifts its customers will always outperform one that only extracts value.

Apply it: Build a business that gives back. Your community's success is your success. When they thrive, you thrive.

6. "He who does not seize opportunity today will be unable to seize tomorrow's opportunity."

Origin: Somali Proverb

The Business Lesson: Opportunity doesn't wait. That gap in the market, that customer need, that moment of inspiration if you don't act, someone else will. Procrastination is the thief of progress. This doesn't mean being reckless, but it does mean being decisive. Analysis paralysis has killed more businesses than bad ideas ever have.

Apply it: When opportunity knocks, answer the door. Don't wait until you feel "ready" — readiness comes from action.

7. "The chameleon changes colour to match the earth; the earth doesn't change colour to match the chameleon."

Origin: Senegalese Proverb

The Business Lesson: Adaptability is survival. Markets change, customer needs evolve, technology disrupts. The businesses that last are the ones that adapt not the ones that stubbornly demand the world bend to their ways. Like the chameleon, you must read your environment and adjust accordingly, whilst still remaining true to your core.

Apply it: Stay flexible. Listen to your market. What worked last year might not work this year. Evolve or become irrelevant.

8. "A child who asks questions does not become a fool."

Origin: West African Proverb (Igbo/Nigerian)

The Business Lesson: Pride stops many entrepreneurs from asking for help. They fear looking ignorant. But the real fool is the one who pretends to know everything and makes avoidable mistakes. Asking questions of mentors, customers, competitors, and experts is how you learn faster and fail less often.

Apply it: Ask more questions. Call that mentor. Survey your customers. Attend that workshop. Curiosity is a competitive advantage.

9. "No matter how full the river is, it still wants to grow."

Origin: Congolese Proverb

The Business Lesson: Complacency is the enemy of greatness. Even when business is good, keep pushing. Keep improving. Keep growing. The river doesn't stop flowing just because it's full it continues to move, to expand, to find new paths. Your business should do the same.

Apply it: Never rest on your laurels. Your best month should be followed by the question: "How do we make next month even better?"

10. "However long the night, the dawn will break."

Origin: African Proverb (widely attributed)

The Business Lesson: Every entrepreneur faces dark nights failed launches, cash flow crises, difficult customers, self-doubt. This proverb reminds us that hard times are temporary. If you persist, if you keep working, if you refuse to give up, the dawn will come. The businesses that succeed are often not the most talented they're the ones that simply didn't quit.

Apply it: When times get hard, hold on. The dawn is coming. Keep going.

Carry This Wisdom Forward

These proverbs aren't relics of the past they're blueprints for the future. Our ancestors understood business, community, resilience, and growth long before the modern world put fancy names on these concepts.

As you build your business, remember: you're not just an entrepreneur. You're part of a lineage of traders, builders, and visionaries who've been creating value for generations. Carry their wisdom with you.

And if you're ready to take the next step in making your business visible to the community that's searching for you  list your business on OwoCentral today. Because as our ancestors taught us, we go further together.

Which proverb resonates most with you? Share this post with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear it.