Big Fish Are Best Caught With Big Fish-Hooks

Big Fish Are Best Caught With Big Fish-Hooks

            A proverb from the Kerewe language (North-West Tanzania) says ‘emphiempango ekukwatwa nilobho ihango’ which could be translated into English as follows: ‘big fish are caught with big fish hooks’.

As Ukerewe is an island on the magnificent Victoria Lake, Mwanza region in the Western part of Tanzania, it should not come as a surprise that fishing is an important activity for its population. Doubtlessly, fishermen from the island of Ukerewe have plenty of occasions to observe that particular traps are fitting for catching specific species of fish, according to their size and shape. Tilapia which is a big fish requires a different fishing technique than small sardines (called ‘dagaa’ in Swahili).

This proverb is to invite the listener to a close attention to one’s goals and to consequently select appropriate means for their achievements. 

This distinction in size and kind among goals and their respective means is not unknown to Jesus the teacher and preacher. There is indeed according to Him a sharp distinction between the ways of the world and the ways of God. For instance in Matthew 22: 21 we read the following: ‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.’ This is Jesus’ answer to the question whether taxes should be paid to the colonizing authorities. Therefore, for Him, political rulers have their own validity and have to be served accordingly. But it is also the case with spiritual authorities and both realms are not to be confused.

In other words, when a person sets his mind to reach some materialistic realisations or achievements (and the quote here mentions Ceasar as a symbol for the power, glory and wealth of this world) financial means including tax-paying are needed. Money is indeed one of the most important fish-hooks that is to be manipulated in order to achieve them.

On the other hand, when a person strives for spiritual objectives such as ultimate salvation, this person will have to use spiritual means such as upright living, prayer and self-denial, as these are some of the fish-hooks to be used in order to achieve a right relationship with God.

Just as a fish-hook has to share a quality which is to be found in the fish which is aimed to be caught (size or bigness), spiritual means would lead to spiritual achievements as it shares similar qualities. In the same way, manipulation and use of worldly instruments such as money would necessary lead to a very worldly style of life.

Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 explores further the same idea. Within the verse 6 of this chapter Jesus explains: ‘what is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ Nicodemus’ difficulty to understand such a language could be overcome through a consideration of the fact that while God has created the world, He does not share its nature. But the Holy Spirit who can be made present within us shares the one and same nature with God and therefore He is the one empowering us with the capacity to reach Him. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate appropriate fish-hook in order to reach spiritual realities.

John 16: 13 states the following: ‘when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.’ It is because the Spirit is truthful that He may lead us into the truth. The Holy Spirit is our teacher in the ways of God, because He knows God as He comes from God: ‘the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.’ (John 14: 26).

            Africa is today often felt being left behind on modern achievements. This is visible for instance through the lack of production of modern technological items. Yet, seduction for a very wide range of imported and expensive technological tools and gadgets such as it is in the transportation and communication industries is very strong. This is a real strain for national African economies which have each time to pay dearly for the imported goods. Our proverb could be a reminder of the fact that consumption of technological achievements should never be separated from a systemic structure producing it and which includes among other elements a high quality education, an ethic of hard and faithful work, honesty, reliability and the ability to precision. One may not be attained or consumed without the sustenance of the other, or if it is so, it is at the expense of a very dear price.

Besides, there is sometimes a danger into promoting some African cultural particularistic attitudes as they may tempt us to think that it is possible to do the economy of some austere aspects that imposes modern life while desiring to consume its benefits. An overgrown cultural particularistic outlook on life may logically lead to some marginal space into the world economy and not into a satisfying degree of integration into it.

Finally, spiritual and religious leaders are reminded with this proverb of the ultimate purpose in life they are supposed to promote: salvation as a full integration into God’s life. Cares of this world may sometimes distract them and every one of us from it. But through this proverb and its brief explanation, let us all be reminded that fish-hooks of life are not of one kind only.   

If you like this African proverb and its explanation, please consult other examples within the category ‘African Proverbs’ on this website. You may also consult for a very wide range of African proverbs now available on the following website www.afriprov.org