Please note: Igbo (written) language is rich in diacritical marks and accents that convey specific meanings and nuances. However, the Igbo texts highlighted in this post do not include such diacritical marks. It is important to note that the absence of these marks may affect the proper interpretation of the texts (for those literate in Igbo langugage).

Afa Onye bu afa Chi ya: A person's name is their Chi's name.
Ahu wu obiri chi: The body is the temple of one’s divine spiritual essence.
Chi na ewete ihe oga eke na mgbede dewe, ututu awuru okike: Chi brings what it wants to create at dusk, while dawn commences creation/reveals the creative act.
Chi onye adighi n’izu ihe anaghi eme ya: A person whose Chi did not conspire against them has no reason to fear anything.
Chukwu (Chi Ukwu) nyere Ala ofo k’onyeruo mmadu: God gave the sacred Ofo staff to Ala the primal Earth Spirit to eventually hand it to human beings.
Chukwu a naro elozo onye O kelu, kama onye elozona Chi kelu ya: The creator is ever aware of all that he created and so should all creation remain in the awareness of his existence and presence.
Ebe onye dara ka chi ya kwaturu ya: Where a person falls is where their Chi pushed them down.
Ehi na enweghi odu, chi ya na a churu ya ijiji: The cow that has no tail, it is its chi (god) that chases away flies for it.
Mbosi Chi onye kwelu mfu, o banyegodu na mbubo ya o na-efu: The days one's Chi agrees to get lost, if one enters even one's compound farmland, one will get lost there.
Mbosi chi onye kwetalu onwu, orinagodi n’ime ana, onwu ga akpo ya ihu n’ime ana: On the day that one’s Chi agrees to leave this realm in death, even if they hide themselves in a catacomb/hole under the earth, death will meet them there on arrival.
Mmadu anaghi akari chi ya: A person cannot be greater than their Chi.
Mmadu bu chi ibe ya: Humans are (Chi) destiny helpers to each other.
Mmadu ju dibia, dibia a ju Chi ya: What a person asks a dibia, a dibia asks their Chi.
O bu na oru mmadu ka chi ya si eke ya: It is from a person’s work that their chi manifests their best self.
Ofu nne na-amu, ma ofu chi adi eke: It’s one mother that gives birth but it is not the same chi that is created.
Okwu izizi erugo be Chukwu (Chi Ukwu): The First Word or Answer has reached or been programmed into Universal Consciousness.
Okwu mbu ebulugo uzo luo be Chukwu (Chi Ukwu): The first word is the first to get to Chukwu’s residence.
Omalu neta bu onatalu chi nwa nnunu: Vision is but a nature of the bird, thus it cannot be exchanged.
Onatalu chi no n’ihu, akala aka dolu n’obe aka: One’s nature is spelt on their face, while their destiny is literally heaped on their palms.
Onye buru chi uzo o gbagbue onwe ya n’oso: Anyone who tries to overtake their chi will outrun themself.
Onye chi ya akwatughi o nweghi ihe na-eme ya: One who their chi did not pull down will remain unharmed.
Onye gba nkiti Chi ya agba: If one remains silent, unconcerned or aloof, one’s Chi would also remain silent, unconcerned and aloof.
Onye kwe chi ya ekwe: When a person makes up their mind on anything their chi will be in agreement.
Onye nyobe mmuo ofu chi ya: Whoever tries to pry deeply into the spirit will end up seeing their chi.
Onye obuna na Chi ya yi: Every being and their Chi are one and the same!
Onye saa chi, o kene okike: When one is granted the privilege of waking up to behold another day, they should thank the supreme creator.
Uwa bu afia, onye zusia onakwulu chi: The cosmos is a grand market, after trading one returns to god.

Are there other Igbo proverbs on “Chi” that you know of? Share them with us in the comment section below and we’ll add them to this post. Dalu!

F. C. Ogbalu (1965) on Igbo proverbs and states that:

Igbo proverbs are accumulation of Igbo experiences throughout the history of the Igbos. In absence of any written history, they serve as the medium through which much can be learnt about the Igbos. Their past history, their philosophy of life and family structure, their politics and religion can best be learnt through the proverbs (p.5).