Nonqaba said ...

Safekeeping is thu-ku-sa  in Zulu. Thu-ku-sa  is for both hiding money from pushing drugs and putting away things for safekeeping. Hiding is more obvious, like a child hiding a chocolate behind his back. What are you hiding? Nothing mama. Show me your hand . The chocolate gooey trickles down his fingers. He licks it. Cute, premium cute! Hiding is also hiding from the police and flying to Pyongyang, hoping North Korea doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S. Mama used to thu-ku-sa , hide money and things she will use in future. Oops! She forgot sometimes. We used to thu-ku-sa  things in savings accounts for a rainy day. Credit cards destroyed that. What rainy day? It is spending waya waya  (all the time) as they say South Africa. Thu-ku-sa  is also hiding a full human being because polygamy is illegal in most countries. Some rich men in the U.K. hide mistresses in these townhouses called mews or buy them penthouses in Manhattan. Thu-ku-sa . You say the first part like

Pic: Nonqaba waka Msimang. They want to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump. There is a problem.  That is why he has not sent the tweet: Akuna nkinga (no problem). All languages have the phrase no problem. Disney even has it in the Lion King, HAKUNA MATHATA, although I’ve never seen the movie. ‘Kosi wala.’  (Yoruba, Nigeria). ‘A-yikh’ inkinga.’  (Zulu South Africa). ‘A-kuna nkinga.’  (also Zulu South Africa). Can you give me a ride to the ball game? A-kuna nkinga . May I have the last pizza slice? A-kuna nkinga . Do you take Canadian dollars? A-kuna nkinga . It is a casual way of agreeing with somebody and it applies to light situations. Let’s get married. I hope you are not expecting A-kuna nkinga , because marriage is no child’s play. Politicians cannot expect the same response during campaigns. Vote for me. A-kuna nkinga . A-ku-na….  You say the first part like Alice, the second like kudu and the third one like nice. A problem is inkinga  in Zulu. Nki-nga, yo u s

Black Lives Matter rally, Winnipeg Canada. Photo: Nonqaba waka Msimang. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the reasons why the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office decided to drop the intention to charge Raptors’ President Masai Ujiri, with battery. It’s a legal term. It doesn’t have anything to do with your vehicle’s battery. June 13, 2019, a happy historic day for Raptors, the Canadian basketball team. Masai Ujiri enters the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California to celebrate with his team, after it beat the  Golden State Warriors,  to clinch the 2019 NBA Championship. A sergeant for Alameda County Sheriff prevented Ujiri from entering the arena. He claims Ujiri pushed him resulting in a ‘concussion’. It was a classic case of he pushed me I did not push him. He pushed me. African Americans were relieved it happened at the Oracle Arena. Masai Ujiri could have been shot dead, if it had happened on the streets, because of recorded police history in the U.S. Shoot black

Someone suggests a college reunion. Great response. Alumni arrange leave from work. Cut and paste bank accounts to fund the air or road trip. Sponsors come on board with freebies (indirect advertising). Famous writers and actresses might pull television crews. Two hotels offer a discount for rooms and sauna. A committee draws up a great agenda. The college is over the moon. The reunion might help pump up falling student numbers. Then the two-day affair is finally here. Hotel lobby is quiet. Groups of three/four are checking their phones. Take elevator to the rooms. More people on their phones. ‘Marie, Marie Levert is that you? ’ ‘Just minute, I’m on the phone.’ Welcome cocktail party. ‘I was in Psychology with you, right?’ ‘I’m not sure but let me Google it. There is a class photo somewhere.’ How was the college reunion honey? Don’t know, nobody showed up. Nobody? Only Google. Photo: Nonqaba waka Msimang. By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.  

Disappointed is -du-ma-la  in Zulu. It has a twin brother, expectations. We are disappointed when our expectations are not realized. We hoped to win the election, but we did not get even 20 seats . We are disappointed when sons marry outside the culture or religion. We are disappointed when we don’t get promotion at work, or girlfriends say: “We need to talk.”  This is usually a preamble to bad news. Du-ma-la . It happens to parents a lot because more often than not, they have certain expectations of their kids. They want them to study engineering or computer science. They are disappointed when kids decide to study creative writing or fine arts. Parents of murdered kids are disappointed when judges deliver sentences that do not include prison time, forever. Families also name baby girls Du-ma-zi-le, which is a problem because they have to explain why they were given that name, later on in life.   Du-ma-la . You say the first part like do, the second like mask and the las

“Junior, switch off that phone and let’s go and vote.” “I don’t do voting mum.” “What do you do with your life then? “ I YouTube.” “How old are you?” “Mum you should know. You’re my mum.” “Boy, are you sassing me?” “Sorry mum.” “Son, you are 19 years old. Canadians over 18 can vote.” “But dad, I’m young. I have no problems, except for Solstice.” “You’re not serious about anything. That’s why she doesn’t want your …." “Careful honey. Honey! Honey, don’t destroy the boy.” “Thanks Dad, but seriously, I’m young. I don’t have to vote.” “We were young once, your father and I.” “Canada is not perfect son, but we live here, you and sisters were born here. Voting is the only way to keep Canada’s roof from being blown away by winds, known and unknown. It has happened in other countries.” ©  Nonqaba waka Msimang. All rights reserved. Please don't steal movie concept and sell it to Netflix, Samsung Director X or Oprah.

Rain im-vula  in Zulu. Photo: Nonqaba waka Msimang. How do I pronouce im-vu-la ? O.K. You say the first part like im possible, the second like vu lcanize  and the third like luck. Barbecues/picnics have rain dates. The first preference is having events outside in the sunshine but nature rules, O.K? Garden weddings don’t have the option of changing the date. Too bad if it rains, wedding vows still take place: Yes, I do take Bob as my lawfully wedded husband .   Great fun in rural Africa when walking somewhere and suddenly thunder and rain! People rush to the nearest big tree to hide. One of my favourite scenes in Waiting to Exhale  directed by Forest Whitaker, is Angela Bassett’s character explaining to her daughter that god is not crying. Rain is his way of making sure things grow. Ama-Zulu treasure daughters and give them long names that explain circumstances of their birth and what they mean to the family. Nomvula  is a common girl’s name which means many things. l