Dreams In Zulu

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Photo: store display.

I can’t sleep.  I dream about you constantly.
It’s a tired line but men will do anything to bag a date.  Phupha is dreaming in Zulu.  Dreams are called ama-phupho.  Movie producers and musicians dream of making it in the U.S. because of sheer numbers.  It’s a bigger market, especially if movies and albums are in English.
Hilary Clinton dreamt of living in the White House again and again.  Her dream did not come true. Nobody likes bad dreams, but good ones are in short supply. 
Some Africans dream of going to Canada and the U.S. because overseas education is perceived as superior to local education.  Oppressed people dream of freedom. Some people who have experienced wars have nightmares.
Phu-pha.  The first part is in put, the second part as in palm.
ZULU
ENGLISH
I-phupho.
A dream.
I-phupho e-libi.
A bad dream.
Ama-phupho.
Dreams.
Vuka! Vuka!  Ukhale lani?
Wake up! Wake up! Why are you crying?
Be-ngi phupha.
I was dreaming.
U-phuphe-ni?
What did you dream?
Ngi-phuphe ngi-minza o-lwandle.
I dreamt drowning in the sea.
Lisho uku-thini leli-phupho?
What does this dream mean?
U-Bogumil u-phupha ngo-Antonina.
Bogumil dreams about Antonina.
Ngi-phupha ngawe u-busuku ne-mini.
I dream about you, day and night.
Amanga!
Liar!
Lazlo, yeka u-ku-phupha. Geza i-moto.
Lazlo, stop dreaming and wash the car.
Khohlwa.  Ama-phupho lawo.
Forget it.  It’s nothing but dreams.
By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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