Grow in Zulu
NAMES
Khulani: baby boy, which means many people should grow.
Khulisani: baby boy, which means make something grow, maybe more love within the family.
Bakhulile: baby girl, which means many people have grown, family has more members with her birth.
It's important to remember that kids are named for the past, present and future. Parents don't want to repeat bad things that happened in the past, so a baby will get a name that stands for reconciliation.
The present. A baby girl brings great joy if family has four sons and vice versa. A girl born when the father is a pastor in India might be called Noma-India. She might be called Noma-Venda if the father is working in Venda.
The future. Most babies get names that reflect the family's aspirations, like Khulani. The family wants the baby to grow up healthy and respectful. They want him to get a nice job or his own company so that the family can grow in stature. They want him to get married and have children so that the family grows.
Babies also get names based on tradition. For example, names that reflect their surnames. People in South Africa can tell a girl's surname by her name. Take Zama Nyuswa for instance. Her name literally means; daughter of the Ngcobo family.
WEEDS
Weeds are called 'ukhula' in Zulu. They are a nuisance and grow at an alarming rate. They love the rain. One, two, three they've sprouted in between corn stalks robbing them of precious water and space.
Khu-la. You say the first part like cook, the second like lie.
Khu-la-ni. You say the first part like cook, the second like lime, the third like niche.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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