"A single tree cannot make a forest." - Malian Proverb

“A single tree cannot make a forest.”

- Malianunity

Meaning

One person alone cannot create a community; diversity and numbers are needed.

Mali's Mande societies organize through confederacies of clans. Unity of diverse groups, not uniformity, creates a thriving society.

Origin

Malian

Language

Bambara

“A family is like a forest: when you are outside, it is dense; when you are inside, you see that each tree has its place.”

Ghanaian

“Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.”

Kenyan

Explore more proverbs about unity