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Mmago ngwana o swara thipa ka bogaleng.
Sepedi proverb · Sepedi
Literally: “A child's mother holds the knife by the sharp edge/blade.”
Meaning: A mother (or devoted parent) willingly takes on pain, danger, and sacrifice — grasping even the blade itself — for the sake of and protection of her child.
Background
A celebrated Northern Sotho proverb on maternal love and sacrifice, built on the striking image of a mother gripping a knife by its blade so that the child is spared harm. It is among the best-known Sepedi proverbs and is regularly invoked in writing and speech about motherhood and parental devotion.
How it is used
Used to praise or describe the sacrifices a mother (or parent) makes, and the lengths she will go to in order to shield and provide for her children; often cited on occasions honouring mothers, in eulogies, and when acknowledging a parent's hardship endured for the family's sake.