In Bemba, many proverbs have several and quite different meanings. Usually, the proverb contains two parts. The procedure of telling a proverb is this: He who uses the proverbs says the first and the person to whom it is addressed uses the second. In this collection of proverbs, a colon indicates the separation of these two parts.

In this book, the proverbs have been listed in alphabetical order. Each proverb is followed by a translation and an explanation where this has been found necessary. After this, we give the meaning of the proverb and an equivalent in English. Proverbs whose first word is a noun have been listed either under the first letter of the prefix of the respective noun or under its initial vowel. Siame, H. N.