When in Zulu

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When is nini in Zulu. When will this virus go away?

Ni-ni. You say it like needle. Meetings. Why are some people always late for meetings? When is he getting here? The traffic cannot take it anymore. It is tired of being the scapegoat.

Men freak out when women start asking when. It’s been six years.  Where is this going? When? I want to know when? When are we getting married? It starts with the statement, ‘we need to talk,’ but that’s another blog.

Teens also ask their parents about cars. When are you getting me a car? Parents who don’t play say: get an education, a job and buy yourself a car.

Farmers provide us with food but they cannot control nature. When will it rain, they ask. When are we going back to work? Big question, because of COVID-19. We don’t know so we wait.

ZULUENGLISH
I-zophela nini I-COVID-19?When will COVID-19 go away?
Zobra, u-zofika nini?Zobra, when are you coming?
Dulcie, uzofika nini?Dulcie, when are you coming?
Ba-zofika nini?When are they coming?
Uzoqala nini umhlangano?When will the meeting begin?
I-khonsathi lizoqala nini?When will the concert begin?
I-ngane izolala nini?When will the baby go to sleep?
Tamara no Tadeus, nizo geza nini?Tamara and Tadeus, when will you have a bath?
Si-zovula nini i-stadium? When will the stadium re-open?
I-zikole zizo vulwa nini?When will schools open?
I-bhola lizo vulwa nini?When will soccer open/resume?
A-mabhishi azovulwa nini?When will beaches open?
A-masonto azovula nini?When will churches open?

TRY IT: Use your friends’ names. Ask them when they are coming and when they’ll have a bath.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang

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