ZULU CUSTOMS

Intandane enhle umakhothwa unina:
Realisation and recognition of female nurturing power.

It can be said that the greatest king of Amazulu was a mama’s boy - uShaka was greatly influenced by his mother. One of the great shapers of Zulu history was uMkabayi, who was also a warrior princess with her own regiment.

If you educate a man, you are educating an individual, but if you educate a woman you are educating a nation. If you empower a woman, you are empowering the nation

Onina (mothers):
Recognition of mothers.

okaMalaza, umaZulu, umaShongwe this is how a married woman would be addressed in a Zulu culture.

I am kaMalaza, this is how my husband, my in laws and their neighbours would address me in a Zulu manner, Malaza is my maiden name. My mother is maShongwe, my brothers wife is maZulu, these are their maiden names, they are both Mrs Malazas. I am Mrs Mngoma but we will never lose our maiden names because this is how we will usually be addressed. This is a recognition of an equal status of women/sisters to the society. It is a recognition of our elders and ancestors. This has been practiced by our elders throughout history, it is respect .

Izandla ziyagezana:
Hands wash each other.

The statement is the realization of equal contribution of two parties, it can be a man/woman relationship. Two people working together equally sharing have a better chance of success.

Injobo enhle ithungelwa ebandla:
If there is something that needs to be done or something needs to be made we all need to work on it or towards it to make it the best it can be.

The face project has seen the need for mass participation, this opportunity is exciting and gives great hope for the future because we can be all part of it.

Amageja Alingene abalimi:
To the ansisters ngithi hhayi amageja aselingene abalimi , lethwese ihlobo, nansi insimu , bhukulani makhosikazi kushonwe khona sifikile isikhathi.
It translates, the ploughs are ready, the field is set, and spring has arrived – let us to work.

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Posted 02 July 2005, www.face.org.za, author: Busi Mngoma.

Izinkondlo (Poems)

Umendo

by Busi KaMalaza Mngoma

Prayer for my daughter

by Busi KaMalaza Mngoma

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Nansi Inkondlo Yakho

by Busi KaMalaza Mngoma

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Matric dance, What matric dance?

by Busi KaMalaza Mngoma

1992, my matric year
I have just learnt, I have just realised
There was supposed to be a matric dance.

Matric ball, matric dance, what matric dance?
If I can turn back the hands of time
If I can rewind back to 1992.
I would ask him for a dance, sure he would ask me first.
That was my chance to dance with him
My chance to satisfy my youthful desires
Matric dance, what matric dance?
Uyabuza ufarmgirl, uyabuza ufarmjulia
Was that a year for me? Was that a year for us.

Matric dance, what matric dance?
When there is so much to worry about
All a poor small town girl could have thought about is
I have made it to my matric year
Will my name appear?, will I have the taxi money to get to town
To buy Ilanga, and will I have guts to search for my name
I guess I have no choice, lifikile elamanqamu.

Matric dance, what matric dance?
All I worry about is to pull through,
Is to defeat all the madness of that time.
There is just so much to worry about
for a 17 year old matric girl.
Std’s, teenage pregnancies, back street abortions,
Poverty, Poverty, Poverty!
Oh, Lord please save me from this cruelty
Do not lead me into temptation, keep me away from evil.

From my matric classroom let me walk straight to my mother’s house
Ngiyocasha, to hide away from this madness.

Matric dance , what matric dance
My school does not have a library, nor laboratory,
nor textbooks, nor maths teacher
tell me how, how can a 17 year old girl from these conditions
write her national matric paper on HG for her name
to be called on the pass list.
How can then she begins to worry about what dress to wear on a matric dance!

If I can start again, If I can refresh
Firstly I will ask for a Maths Teacher.
Secondly, a Text book
Thirdly, a Science laboratory and a Library (physics & history are part of a syllabus after all)
And then Lastly, I guess most importantly I will then ask
for a DANCE, MATRIC DANCE.

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Just hate No-One

by Busi KaMalaza Mngoma

They say sticks and stones
can destroy our body
but words can destroy our soul

I say sticks and stones
Can destroy our body
But hate can destroy our soul

Hatred dwells within
It is monstrous!
It destroys our fragile soul
Just hate no-one
For with hate, the healing might take longer.

When it seems like the universe is against you
Just hate no-one
For it might be the day that the universe has
Made to bless you.
It might be the day that your wishes will be fulfilled.

When it seems like the whole world is opposite your direction
Just hate no-one
You will never know, someone out there might be in a good mood
Someone out there might just give you a Chance.

When all the illnesses attack your precious body
Just hate no-one
Your body will heal
When someone breaks your heart into small tiny pieces
Just hate no-one
For your heart will heal and go on.

When you feel used, abused, violated, robbed
Discriminated, deceived, disrespected, dehumanised
And undermined
Just hate no-one
For hatred is not the revenge
Revenge will make it even but not heal
But love shall conquer it all.

For with love the Universe
Will not ignore your pain
For with love your Angels
Will not resist you shining through your pain.
For with love your Ancestors
Will be drawn closer to your presence
To embrace you, to be with you in your recovery bed

Just hate no-one
For it is not worth your precious soul
Just hate no-one
For love will set you free
It will give wings
And you will fly like an eagle
And reach the highest places
Where there is no room for the evil souls.

Posted 02 July 2005, www.face.org.za, author: Busi Mngoma.