Meaning of Proverb & Background

Imagine you have a shiny, colourful candy wrapper that looks so pretty on the outside. It makes you excited because you think there’s a delicious treat inside. But when you open it, there’s nothing but empty paper. That candy wrapper is just like a person or thing that might seem beautiful or promising on the outside, but when you get to know them better, they turn out to be not so good.

This African proverb is like a reminder that appearances can sometimes be deceiving.

It talks about something or someone who might look wonderful but is actually not good or valuable. It’s like when people talk about a beautiful woman with an evil character; her outer beauty might catch your eye, but her actions and behaviour are what truly matter.

So, this proverb teaches us to look beyond the surface and not judge things or people solely based on their appearance. It’s like saying, ‘Don’t be fooled by something that looks good on the outside; what’s inside, like a person’s character, is what truly matters.’ Just like you want candy with a sweet filling, you want people and things in your life that are genuinely good and kind.