Source: Proverbs from West Africa by C. J. Bender, 1924. Online at the Internet Archive. The book includes only the English text, and nothing more specific than "Bantu" for the source (there are several Bantu peoples who live in Cameroon). See more proverbs from this collection. I've made a slideshow just of this collection also (adding new slides gradually):
Bender was a missionary in Cameroon, and you can find out more about the peoples of Cameroon at Wikipedia.
Below are the proverbs I chose from this book; when I've rephrased, I've included the book's version in parentheses. If there is no version in parentheses, that means I didn't make any changes. You can see the whole slideshow here: African Proverbs.
A tree without roots will not stand.
How will people gather for the dance if the drum is not heard?
(How shall the people gather for the dance, if the sound of the drum is not heard?)
If the calabash has broken, why cry?
(The calabash is broken: why cry?)
[like not crying over spilled milk]
If you bring fire into your hut, don't complain about the smoke.
(If you bring a firebrand into your hut then do not complain of the smoke.)
[for example: a wife, and the wife's relation]
Remind the king of his sandals, and he'll send you to get them.
(Remind the chief of his sandals, and he'll send you to get them.)
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