Celebrate in Zulu

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Celebrate is gu-bha in Zulu.

In her book Becoming, Michele Obama, the former U.S. First Lady talks about kids’ events she used to organise including sleep-overs and birthday parties.  Kids in north America celebrate every birthday whether it is a just a small cake with five candles, or a designer cake with 18 candles and a birthday gift like a car, for the rich and famous. 
Parents in Africa are having a hard time because kids have gone global and want elaborate parties they can showcase on Instagram and FB.  Some girls are quite creative, and say yes, I love you, just a few months before the birthday, with the hope of expensive gifts and a to-die-for party.  Not staging grand birthday parties for girlfriends also leads to break-ups.
Couples celebrate when they got married.

Some people have special birthdays like Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister who was born on the 25th of December.  Malia Obama also has a unique birthday, 4th of July.
Gu-bha is to celebrate a country’s independence, wedding anniversary and other good news.  Gu-bha.  You say the first part like good and the second like bus.

ZULU
ENGLISH
Ngi-gu-bha u-su-ku lo-ku-za-lwa ngo 27 April.
I celebrate my birthday on 27 April.
Ba-gu-bha i-si-kha-thi be-sha-di-le.
They are celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Ba-gu-bha i-nku-lu-le-ko.
They are celebrating independence.
Si-gu-bha i-mi-nya-ka e-yi-shu-mi yo-ku-thu-la.
We are celebrating ten years of peace.
U-zo lu-gu-bha na u-su-ku lo-ku-zalwa?
Are you going to celebrate your birthday?
Nge-ke ngi-lu-gu-bhe u-mama u-the u-ne-ma-li ye-si-ko-le ku-phe-la.
I wont.  My mother said she only has money for school fees.
Si-me-nyi-we u-Jibola u-gu-bha u-su-ku lo-ku-za-lwa.
We are invited.  Jibola is celebrating his birthday.
Ba-me-nyi-we u-Lena u-gu-bha u-su-ku lo-ku-za-lwa.
They are invited.  Lena is celebrating her birthday.
Si-zo-gu-bha i-mi-nya-ka ka-go-go. U-no 80.
We are going to celebrate granny’s 80 years.
By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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