The Boat does not Know the Depth of the Waters

The Boat does not Know the Depth of the Waters:

Commentary on an African Proverb

This Hangaza (Tanzania) proverb has been collected in 2009 as part of a collection soon to be available on the net as an e-book. The original is: “Umubindi ushira uvimye” (Hangaza), which could be translated into Swahili as “Mtungwi hauwezi kujua panapokuwa pamejaa maji”, and in French: “La barque ne connaît pas la profondeur de l’eau.”

The Hangaza ethnic group is a small unit of about fifty thousands people dwelling between Rwanda and the Lake Victoria, within the Tanzanian territory. Their language is close to kinyarwanda, with some small variations. The fact that it is a tiny ethnic minority within Tanzania compels members perhaps to be particularly cautious about their neighbours and to consequently learn to go beyond the ordinary face-value.

A most immediate object of contemplation for the Hangaza people is the great Lake Victoria together with some great rivers immediately next to it. But these sites can also be used for acquiring wisdom. It has been noticed for instance that small boats have the capacity to float above the waters, but it does not mean that they control the waters, nor does it mean that they know what constitutes their inside. Whether the waters are deep, whether there is fish, or crocodiles or bilharzias, the boat cannot say. There is more to it than what is actually seen, even with the gained capacity to float over it. It represents an unmistakable call to prudence and caution with regard to relationships and to new ventures.

 
Biblical Parallels

This proverb is considering prudence and the acquisition of a cute, discerning spirit such as Jesus struggled to teach his disciples and followers. In Matthew 7 verse 15 we have for instance these few words: “beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves”. Jesus invites to go beyond what is immediately seen and explains within the few following verses that what is needed is to really know the quality of the prophets, and which is understood only through some produced fruits, good deeds, results: so many aspects which mean much more than a gentle attractive dress.

Perhaps there is still more to it. Jesus also struggled to make a change within the group of his disciples by inviting them to step away from pure outside ritualism (such as strict obedience to materialistic rules) which in itself reveals nothing about the inner quality and character of a person. A sentence like “there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him” (Mark 7: 15, amazingly the same reference than the quote referred to above, but from another gospel) does invite all of us to convert, that is to turn our attention from the immediate outside superficiality towards the enigmatic (but infinitely more precious) inside character of a person.

This high sensitivity that Jesus shows towards the inner quality of people is precisely what fuels his violent diatribes against the Pharisees. Indeed, they commonly mislead the people by their simple appearance: “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup of the plate, but inside are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matthew 23: 25-28). 

Contemporary Use and Religious Application

This Hangaza proverb is first used as a call to caution and prudence, within the same style as “anything that shines does not do so because of gold”. Within our contemporary world, it would be amazing to consider technical and cultural locus which call to much commitments while being in themselves just a few inches deep: advertising images, propaganda leaflets, computer and television screens. Some of these produce forms of beauty which are only meant to mislead. Besides, this saying invites us to consider into wise perspectives flashing costumes, catchy words and alluring promises which are not uncommon within some public gatherings. Corruptive behaviours are also warned against with such a proverb.

As a French Missionary of Africa who has worked for 16 years in East Africa I am sometimes called to describe Tanzania to French people or France to Tanzanian people, and I am very much aware that what I am able to perform does not often go much beyond superficial presentations. Consequently, it happens to me to feel the need to complete my work with this proverb, meaning that there is really much more to it than what I may cage into my poor words and even pictures for that matter.  

If you liked this comment on an African Proverb, find more within a collection available on http://www.afriprov.org Please look for the rubric: ‘The African Proverb of the Month.’