"It takes a village to raise a child" is an African proverb that emphasizes the communal effort required to raise a child successfully. The proverb suggests that child-rearing is not the sole responsibility of the parents but a communal task involving other family members, neighbors, teachers, and even the community at large. This notion stresses the importance of a supportive social network for both parents and children.
The phrase has been popularized in the West in various forms and was notably the title of a book by Hillary Clinton, "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us," published in 1996. Over time, the phrase has been adapted to speak to broader issues beyond child-rearing, emphasizing that community and collaboration are crucial in almost every endeavor or challenge. It's often invoked to suggest that complex problems require solutions that are larger than any one person or entity can handle.